Gabito Ballesteros Honors the Legacy of Ariel Camacho With His New Spotify Single, ‘Te Metiste’

It has been 10 years since the world lost corridos tumbados godfather Ariel Camacho, but the influence of the Sinaloan singer-songwriter remains stronger than ever. His signature requinto and minimalist style paved the way for a new generation of artists now dominating international stages, like Natanael Cano, Peso Pluma, Fuerza Regida, and Christian Nodal.

Included in this group is Gabito Ballesteros, who was publicly encouraged by Ariel to keep pushing forward with his career. Today, Gabito is the eighth-most-streamed artist on Spotify in Mexico, and along with Spotify, he is honoring Ariel’s legacy with the release of his Spotify Single, “Te Metiste,” one of the greatest hits by Ariel and his band, Los Plebes del Rancho.

“For many, Ariel is an idol. Not just because of his age but because of how he started from the bottom, picked up a guitar, and made it happen,” Gabito said while recording the Spotify Single. “Many of us followed that path, and that’s why we relate to him so much. We owe a lot to Ariel Camacho, and that will never change.” 

Gabito is not the only artist who has felt the positive effects of Ariel’s impact. Globally, Música Mexicana has grown by nearly 450% over the last five years, and Ariel was a key figure in making this phenomenon possible.

“Ariel Camacho was one of the first artists to bring sierreño to the mainstream. Before him, this genre was entirely regional, deeply rooted in northwestern Mexico,” said Alejandro Grageda, Artist & Label Marketing Lead at Spotify Mexico. “After his passing, artists who grew up listening to him started blending his style with trap and hip-hop elements, shaping the evolution of sierreño into what we now know as corridos tumbados.”

Ariel’s songs have not only remained relevant in the years since his passing, but the impact of his music has grown stronger over time. Streams of Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho have increased by more than 130% in the last five years, and new generations continue to embrace his music, with more than 40% of his listeners on Spotify aged 24 years or younger.

“In the past, the biggest icons of Música Mexicana were well-established figures like Vicente Fernández or Los Tigres del Norte. But Ariel Camacho broke that tradition, proving that a young artist could stay true to the ranchera essence while keeping it fresh,” Alejandro added. “His rise coincided with the explosion of social media and music streaming in Mexico, which helped his songs, videos, and content go viral and gain traction on Spotify.”

For those just discovering Ariel’s discography, there are many must-listen classics, but “Te Metiste” (#1), “Hablemos” (#2), and “El Karma” (#3) are Ariel’s most-streamed songs on Spotify. In total, eight songs from Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho have made it onto Spotify Mexico’s Top 100, while his music is featured in more than 18.7 million fan-created playlists.

1. “Te Metiste”
2. “Hablemos”
3. “El Karma”
4. “2 Veces” (featuring Christian Nodal)
5. “DEL Negociante”
6. “No Lo Hice Bien
7. “Qué Caro Estoy Pagando”
8. “Por Enamorarme”
9. “El Señor de los Cielos”
10. “Según Tus Labios”

Ariel’s streams outside of Mexico have also surged by approximately 80% in the past five years, with the U.S., Guatemala, and Chile being the top consumers of his music abroad.

1. Mexico
2. USA
3. Guatemala
4. Chile
5. Colombia
6. Honduras
7. Costa Rica
8. El Salvador
9. Canada
10. Nicaragua

Without a doubt, the padrino of corridos tumbados remains more alive than ever on Spotify.

Find Gabito’s cover of “Te Metiste” and other timeless hits from the icon in the playlist Ariel Camacho Por Siempre.