Miami’s edition brought out “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Ooooh)” singer Lumidee, “Move
Ya Body” duo Nina Sky, and the “Like a G6” star Dev.
New Times collage. Photos by Gabriela B. dos Santos
Y2QUÉ turned back time on Saturday night at ZeyZey, with attendees donning their best early-2000s fits. The Y2QUÉ parties have been making their way through major U.S. cities, including New York and Los Angeles, each stop featuring a rotating lineup of early-00s icons and rising DJs.
Miami’s edition brought out “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Ooooh)” singer Lumidee, “Move Ya Body” duo Nina Sky, and “Like a G6” star Dev, alongside emerging talent like New York’s Eddin and Miami’s own Bozito.
In hindsight, the early 2000s were a pivotal time in Latin music history, as the songs and artists helped push the urban Latin movement from the barrios and underground parties into the American mainstream.
Among Miami’s lineup was 103.5 the Beat radio host and veteran DJ Mr. Mauricio, who shared his insight on the Latin influence of the Y2K era. “I think the obvious names like Daddy Yankee, Nicky Jam, and Don Omar are the foundation of urban Latin music in the Y2K years. I also think N.O.R.E. isn’t given his just due for ‘Oye Mi Canto’ and opening the American audience to urban Latino music.”
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Y2K Latin sounds are echoing through today’s most prominent artists, from Karol G sampling the beat of “Oye Mi Canto” in “Latina Forever” to Nicki Minaj’s use of Lumidee’s “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Ooooh)” in “Red Ruby da Sleeze.”
Y2QUÉ isn’t just about throwbacks; it puts Latin culture front and center. “We created Y2QUÉ as an extension of our artistry. The name itself is a play on the Y2K era with a Latin twist. We’re celebrating the era while also highlighting the Latine artists that impacted the era,” said Nina Sky.
In addition to spotlighting Latin impact, Y2QUÉ brings emerging DJs together with the early-00s stars who inspired them. “It’s very important to us as artists and DJs with a platform to make sure we always highlight emerging artists,” said Nina Sky.
One of the opening acts at the Miami event was local DJ Bozito, who previously played with Nina Sky at the 2024 Remezcla and Espolòn Tequila event. “It feels very full circle. I’m a ’90s baby, born in Venezuela, who grew up watching MTV, thinking this world was too far from my reality. Going from pretending to be a pop star in my room to now feeling like one in real life is making my inner child happy,” said Bozito.
Bozito charmed the crowd with her eclectic set of remixes and edits of old-school reggaeton and hip-hop. Midway through her set, Nina Sky made a surprise appearance at the merch table to sign vinyl and greet fans.
Rain threatened Lumidee’s performance, but the crowd kept dancing straight through the downpour. She fired them up, leading a chant of “F*** you, rain!” as ZeyZey management rushed to set up tents. The crowd went wild when “Icy,” the Canadian ice skater–turned–drag queen, came out to dance with her. Lumidee closed her set with a full-throated “Never Leave You” sing-along.
Nina Sky hit the stage to an ecstatic crowd, with Natalie stepping out to sing while Nicole held it down on the decks before the two reunited on the mic. They worked the entire stage, coming right up to the edge as fans screamed along, and even slipped in a tribute to the queen of Latin pop, Gloria Estefan. By the end of their set, they took the party off the stage altogether, climbing down into the crowd and turning the entire floor into their dance floor.
With more Latin music topping the Billboard 200, more Latin artists headlining U.S. festivals, and the first trap-reggaeton artist set to appear on the Super Bowl stage next year, the 2020s are shaping up to be a promising decade for Latin music lovers. As for Y2QUÉ, 2026 will give fans even more to celebrate. “Y2QUÉ will be hitting many other cities in 2026, with some of your favorite artists from the era. Make sure you follow @y2queparty on IG for updates,” said Nina Sky.