It’s been over two decades since singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s death but her name has recently seen a resurgence in headlines after, just last year, she both inspired a limited-edition capsule collection from MAC Cosmetics (after a fan-driven petition) and received an honorary wax statue at Madame Tussauds. As further proof of her longstanding influence, the Tejano icon will get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame later this year. And as today marks the 22nd anniversary of the day her life was tragically cut short, we’ve rounded up the artists who still see her as an inspiration.
Solange
It was only a few months ago that Solange was interviewed by her big sister for Interview magazine and was asked to pick a favorite between Selena’s classic hits: “No Me Queda Mas” or “I Could Fall in Love.”
Though Solo ultimately ending up choosing the former, after dubbing it an “unfair” question, it’s the latter she decided to sing to honor her fellow Texan while performing as part of a Pre-Super Bowl concert in Houston.
The Weeknd and Nicki Minaj
Despite the Weeknd’s newly-formed relationship with Selena Gomez, when his “Party Monster” track dropped last year, many attributed his use of the first name within its lyrics to refer to that of Quintanilla. After all, the shout-out (at the :49 mark) honors a certain body part the Tejano singer, not Gomez, proudly boasted and was understandably known for.
“Angelina, lips like Angelina / Like Selena, ass shaped like Selena.”
As further proof, when Nicki Minaj dropped “Regret in Your Tears,” one of the tracks from her Remy Ma-ignited “three pack,” she called out (at the 1:19 mark) the singer’s adored shape in the same exact way.
“I count up the racks like Serena / Plus I got that ass like Selena.”
Frank Ocean
In a more somber tribute, Frank Ocean found himself relating to the slain star on the nearly 10-minute-long closer to his Blonde album, “Futura Free.” As he reflects on his career, Ocean recalls the death of Selena, who was tragically shot by her fan club founder-turned-boutique manager, and compares it (at the 3:02 mark) to the unforgiving and untrusting lifestyle fame can bring.
“You say I’m changing on you / I feel like Selena / They wanna murder a nigga / Murder me like Selena.”
Wyclef
Unsurprisingly, Wyclef‘s song “Selena,” from his Carnival Vol. 11…Memoirs of an Immigrant, samples the titular star. On the track, ‘Clef tells the story of when he was first introduced to the late legend’s music by featured guest Melissa Jimenez.
“That’s when I asked Melissa / ‘What’s that song?’ / She said, ‘That’s Selena playing all night long’ / I said, ‘Where you from?’ / She said, ‘Mexico / We got that bidi bidi bom bom .’”
Naturally, the track then samples Selena’s song of the same name as ‘Clef tells of his yearning desire to have met the star.
“Oh, Selena / Oh, Selena / She’s got that fire / Mexicana / Raised in America / I wish I had a chance to meet her / Selena.”
Lil B
An unexpected pairing, Lil B looped a lyric from Selena’s aformentioned “No Me Queda Mas” to create the beat for his little-known “Party BasedGod” freestyle. Though he slurs over most of it, a chopped and down-pitched vocal can be heard in the background lamenting: “Que nunca paso / Es el mas dulce recuerdo / De mi vida.”
It can be heard much more clearly on the instrumental:
And it pulls from the 1:56 mark of the original track:
King Louie
Another surprising homage, Chicago rapper King Louie enlisted Toronto singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez to repeat a standout lyric from Selena’s “Como La Flor.” Over an acoustic guitar-driven beat, Reyez repeats “Como me duele,” as early as the :20 mark, before singing her own chorus in the same melody and rhythm of the original classic.
Hear the original at the :55 mark.
Other covers include Jennifer Lopez and Adrienne Bailon‘s “I Could Fall In Love”; JoJo and Bruno Mars’ “Dreaming of You”; Keke Palmer’s “Amor Prohibido”; and Selena Gomez’s “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.”