Singer Prince Royce released a 2015 track, “Back It Up,” featuring Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, and the refrain: “ Dámelo papi chulo,” or “Give it to me, papi chulo.” It debuted at #27 Billboard’s Hot Latin charts. The lyrics describe the singer’s night out with a hot man on the dance floor. The song peaked at #25 on Billboard charts in the United States but reached #1 in France, #2 in Belgium and Italy, and #3 in the Netherlands. The phrase papi chulo gained popularity with the 2003 release of the single “ Papi Chulo …Te Traigo El MMMM” by reggaeton artist Lorna. Yeah, Im single, baby girl, but how bout you though. Papi chulo carries some of these connotations along with it into contemporary use, though the term is more often used today as slang for a sexy, confident man who dresses well. In the 1990s, when Mexican-Americans were referred to as chulos, the term carried with it overtones of class-lower-income gangsters and recent immigrant laborers were insultingly referred to as chulos. By the late 1980s, chulo was an insult, referring to an effeminate man or a pimp. Its lyrics specifically encouraged listeners to dance for your papi (i.e., your man). The term papi was probably popularized among English speakers when Latina artist Jennifer Lopez, of Puerto Rican descent, released the song Papi in 2011. You and I, let’s live a special day every day. The English baby, used as a term of endearment for spouses and children alike, is similar. The candy you have chosen isn’t just sweet, it’s a bit different.
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A direct translation of papi chulo from Spanish is “pimp daddy,” with papi being a diminutive form of “father” (and used like “baby”) and chulo meaning “pimp” but also “attractive,” “cocky,” or “cool” in colloquial settings.Ĭhulo alone has a storied history in American English. The box is now open, yeah I’m feeling so fly.