Monterrey has long been a breeding ground for musical rebellion, nurturing artists who challenge the norms of Latin genres, with boundary-pushing acts like Plastilina Mosh, Molotov, El Gran Silencio, and Inspector, among others. One of those bands blending styles, cultures, and sounds in ways that broke the mold is 3BallMTY. The Monterrey natives have masterfully blended tribal, electronic beats, and regional Mexican rhythms, and continue to bring together audiences who might not normally share the same playlist. At their concerts, it’s not unusual to see a mix of cowboy boots, streetwear, and rave gear all dancing to the same beat.
3BALLMTY’S LEGACY AND NEW ERA
What started as an underground sound in Monterrey quickly evolved into a full-blown cultural movement, thanks to three visionary DJs who weren’t afraid to experiment. 3BallMTY didn’t just create music — they created a lifestyle. Their explosive fusion of tribal, electronic, and regional Mexican rhythms gave birth to a new wave of expression, one that extended beyond the speakers and onto the dance floor. At the heart of it all were the iconic pointy boots worn by dancers who turned heads with every stomp and spin. Once a symbol of niche street style, these “Tribal Boots” became a cultural statement, making their way to mainstages and music videos, proudly representing a movement that was as much about identity and community as it was about the beat.
The band also redefined the role of DJs within the Latin music community. Their success not only helped elevate the Tribal culture in Latin America, but also transformed the perception of DJs from background players to main-stage headliners, but today, many Spanish-language DJs point to 3BallMTY as the reason they’re getting recognition at major festivals and on the global stage.
Now, a decade after their last U.S. tour, the demand to see them live speaks volumes with fans responding with overwhelming enthusiasm, selling out shows within minutes of tickets going on sale.
INTERVIEW WITH 3BALLMTY
You announced your return with a new US tour, and right away, multiple LA VUELTA tour dates became SOLD OUT. How does it feel to see that reaction from your fans?
DJ SHEEQO BEAT: We are extremely happy. Tickets went on sale on March 7th for the La Vuelta Tour and in the first five minutes the first date announced (New York) became sold out. We had to add new dates to the sold out venues, and that’s what we have been doing since. We weren’t expecting this big response because we haven’t been back with a full US tour since 2014. But this is the perfect moment to break all the established outlines we had and share new music with our fans during La Vuelta Tour.
The band will also perform in massive festivals this year like Baja Beach in Rosarito and Sueños in Chicago. How are you preparing for those big stages?
DJ ERICK RINCÓN: We prepare everything quite meticulously. For example, I have separate music files for each festival, for Sueños, for Empire in Guatemala, and more. It’s not always the same setlist, each date has a special sound that we prepare in advance. That’s my job and what we do everyday. We look for songs and edit the music before each big event.
We also know that production is very important to the band. What can we expect in terms of lighting and visuals?
DJ ERICK RINCÓN: We are working closely with the production team and collaborating with those creating onstage visuals. We are summing unique ideas to create something incredible
In this new era of tribal, how have things changed musically?
DJ OTTO: Our music has always been Tribal, but just like we did back in 2010, each year new people join the genre. These people continue to add new sounds and musical trends to the genre, and today we see Tribal in a better moment than a decade ago.
There’s a big tribal community with a variation of sounds. There’s the Tribal Guaracha, Tribal Tech, and all these groups are adding an evolving sound to the genre and making the community even bigger.
Collaborations have been key in your career. How do you choose who to work with?
DJ SHEEQO BEAT: We collaborate with artists we like, and we also want to make sure they like our projects. We take that into consideration because then there is more chemistry when creating music, and you can achieve more things. Sometimes the artist already has a song in mind that they would like to create with us, and vice versa.
What can you tell us about this upcoming album?
This album (La Vuelta Tour) has great collaborations, one of them is with a Mexican Reggaeton artist called Dani Flow, who also joined a 3BallMTY video. Dani is someone who has followed our career, knows our sound, and because of that, the song is turning out really great! We also have collaborations with with singer Alexandra Stant and with Conjunto Amanecer, among others.
We have about 11 tracks already. It is an album that listeners with any type of musical taste can enjoy, because we added Tribal as the companion piece of each song. It’s our fourth album but our strongest yet.
Which artist has caught your attention for a potential collaboration?
DJ OTTO: We have always wanted to collaborate with Deorro and it is finally happening, which I think it’s very, very cool.
DJ ERICK RINCÓN: I have thought of collaborating with Sam Smith. I’m hoping we can do that in the near future.
Random question: What’s one thing that you absolutely must have in your suitcase when you go on tour?
DJ ERICK RINCÓN: It has to be perfume, You generally can’t fly with too much perfume so I always have to move it to a different container but I can NOT travel without perfume.
DJ SHEEQO BEAT: I always travel with a nice outfit that I can use onstage and another one to relax. Because we have days where we just travel, so having a comfy outfit is important. And also my meds, because I have asthma. Unrelated but critical to carry.
DJ OTTO: I always have to travel with a speaker in case we need to listen to music for a set or if we need an extra one.
What other cities were left out of the tour that you’re really eager to visit?
DJ ERICK RINCÓN: This is such a complete tour, that we are only missing a few cities, one of them is Miami. The date is still tentative but it is definitely a city that I personally love. Another one is North Carolina and Virginia.
DJ SHEEQO BEAT: We have been to Miami as guest performers or to do promotions but now, with this new tour, we are hoping for it to be one of the stops and give the fans a show from 3BallMTY.
And finally… What music are you listening to right now?
DJ ERICK RINCÓN: Raggeaton, trap Latino and a lot of artists from Puerto Rico. That’s what i’m usually listening to along with electronic music.
DJ SHEEQO BEAT: I’ve been listening to a lot of Nata and Peso Pluma, and other new artists with high-energy music and corridos tumbados. I really like their upbeat sounds and everything they are doing inspires me. It reminds me of us, when we were barely starting and had our big moment, but their stuff is at another level. They are not only great singers, but have great musicians behind them. It’s the right mix to sugarcoat your ears.
DJ OTTO: I also like the wave of Regional Mexicano artists, house music and Raggeaton.
3BALLMTY’S NEXT CHAPTER BEGINS
As 3BallMTY gears up for their long-awaited return to U.S. stages, it’s clear that their impact has only grown stronger with time. What began in Monterrey as a bold experiment in sound has become a cultural force that continues to shape the future of Latin music. With a new album on the way, sold-out shows across the country, and a renewed musical energy that bridges generations and genres, 3BallMTY is proving that their journey is far from over, and if La Vuelta Tour is any indication of that, it means it’s only getting louder.
Story by: Sahula Diaz-Castrejón
