The Cuban singer Wampi released his second studio album, You Need to Be Happy, this Friday and celebrated it with the premiere of "Conga Arroyo," a track available on YouTube that proudly asserts his roots in the working-class neighborhoods of Havana.
The album, distributed by Awaken Music Corp. under the Virgin Music Latin US label, arrives just over a year after El Rey de La Habana, his debut that Billboard ranked among the best Latin albums of 2025 and that propelled him onto the international scene.
Along with the video for "Conga Arroyo," Wampi shared a message on Instagram that summarizes the philosophy behind the project: "Those who were born and raised in a neighborhood know that, even when many things are missing, the desire to be happy is always abundant."
"From where we come, great things also emerge," Wampi wrote upon presenting, a phrase that, in light of his journey, increasingly sounds less like a promise and more like a statement of fact.
The lyrics of the song leave no doubts about their intent: «I'm for myself, I don't believe in them, I'm original and have my own mark / Understand that if they are the abuse, then I'm the beautiful thief / I see that they are underestimating me, I'm leaving them behind / Because you all forgot that I'm from Arroyo and I'm coming in strong».
The artist, whose real name is Dasiel Mustelier Oruña, was born and raised in the Poey neighborhood, within the Havana municipality of Arroyo Naranjo.
This Saturday, Wampi released a second reel featuring another excerpt from the song and asked her followers to comment on which neighborhood, area, or municipality they were listening from, turning the debut into an exercise of collective identity.
You need to be happy includes as its only confirmed collaboration "Alocate," alongside the Cuban musician Alain Pérez, an international bassist and singer who worked for nearly a decade with Paco de Lucía and collaborated with figures such as Chucho Valdés and Isaac Delgado.
Wampi described that joint work as "a privilege and an honor" and referred to Pérez as "my uncle," while the musician called him his "nephew" on social media, reflecting the affectionate bond surrounding the collaboration.
The singer explained that his goal with this album was not merely to create the most popular record of the cast, but to produce a work that other artists would have to surpass, a statement of ambition that aligns with his recent trajectory.
In January of this year, Billboard included him among the 26 Latin artists to watch in 2026, highlighting his ability to blend the cast with Brazilian funk, R&B, salsa, and chachachá.
Wampi also holds the title of being the first artist from the Cuban roster to become a voting member of the Recording Academy, the organization that awards the Grammy Awards, a distinction he achieved in June 2024.
His musical training goes beyond the neighborhood: he studied saxophone for nine years at a conservatory, an academic foundation that is uncommon in the area and is reflected in the complexity of his arrangements.
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