*Updated on May 7, 2:30 p.m.

Rapper Trueno, one of the most compelling voices in Argentine hip-hop music, added a new milestone to his rising career on Wednesday by performing on one of the most influential stages in global entertainment: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

In his show, Trueno brought to the stage two landmark pieces of Argentine urban culture. The first one was a sampling of a hugely popular song by Wachiturros, a gangsta-cumbia boy band from the early 2010s.

The second one was printed on the back of his T-shirt, which read in Spanish “In an industry of fat cats, without weapons or grudges, it’s only about money and not love.”

The phrase was a direct reference to the so-called Heist of the Century, a 2006 bank robbery in Buenos Aires that gained mythical status. Thieves managed to rob US$19 million using only toy weapons and disappearing from sight through an underground tunnel and into a raft that sailed through the sewers of San Isidro. In the vault, they left a stencil-written message to the police: “In a filthy rich neighborhood, without weapons or grudges, it’s just about money and not love.” The heist turned into both a Netflix documentary featuring the robbers themselves and a fiction film starring Argentine star Guillermo Francella. 

Blending sharp lyrics with a deep sense of identity rooted in Buenos Aires Trueno (24) represents a new generation redefining Latin urban music. His journey — from local freestyle competitions to collaborating with global icons and performing on international television — highlights both his talent and the worldwide rise of Argentina’s music scene.

Flow and charisma

Born Mateo Palacios Corazzina in 2002, he grew up in the La Boca neighborhood, where hip-hop culture and social realities of 20th-century immigrants shaped his artistic perspective.

He first rose to prominence in freestyle rap battles, where he won the Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos Argentina in 2019, showcasing his quick thinking, flow, and charisma. 

That victory opened the door to a successful recording career.

His debut album Atrevido (2020) introduced him to a wider audience, but it was Bien o Mal (2022) that confirmed his international impact, blending hip-hop, trap, and Latin influences while addressing themes such as inequality, national pride, and youth identity. 

Tracks like Dance Crip, Solo por vos, and Tierra Zanta became major hits across Spanish-speaking countries. Notable feats in Bien o Mal include J Balvin, Bizarrap, Duki, Nathy Peluso, and legendary protest singer Víctor Heredia. 

Trueno has also expanded his reach through high-profile international collaborations. Notably, he performed live with British musician Damon Albarn and his band Gorillaz in 2022 Quilmes Rock festival. 

He was recently featured on Gorillaz’s track The Manifesto, further showcasing his versatility and global appeal. The collaboration helped introduce him to new audiences beyond Latin urban music and paved the way to the popular NBC late-night talk show.