The name Bruno Mars holds substantial importance in the music world.
Since 2010, Mars has crafted songs that hit the soul, evoking a range of emotions with his powerful vocals, layered melodies and strong lyrics.
As one of the most talented artists today, Mars has won 15 Grammy Awards, two Emmy Awards and has had nine No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. If that wasn’t enough, Mars has sold 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best- selling music artists ever.
A top song of his, “Just the Way You Are,” is diamond-certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with more than 10 million copies sold.
Among his impressive discography, Mars has written dozens of successful songs for other artists, including “All I Ask,” for Adele in 2015. He later collaborated with Cardi B on “Finesse” in 2018 and “Please Me” in 2019.
Never slowing down, producing hit after hit, Mars officially became the first artist to reach 150 million monthly listeners in Spotify history as of Jan. 27, 2024.
But that number might waver with the release of Mars’ newest single.
“Fat Juicy & Wet” is the title of his latest hit. Collaborating with rapper Sexyy Red, Mars takes his music in a different direction from his previous work.
My mouth dropped when I first heard the lyrics.
I was taken aback and had to double-check to make sure that his name was truly listed below the track, saying a silent goodbye to the love-song musical persona we all knew and loved.
Now, not all of his songs fit into the same genre. Even though some of his sadder, emotionally driven love songs have caught the attention of the masses, he bounces between different sounds of funk, soul and pop — consistently pushing the boundaries of music.
But to say he’s departing from his original style would be an extreme understatement.
Marketed as a “strip club anthem,” explicit lyrics with a strong sexual nature and provocative themes suggest more than just a desire to break from his previous catalog.
Mars has always been about groove and soul, but this takes it one step further. This song is more about shock value than artistry.
It makes me question whether this is a bold experiment or an evolution in sound.
Online speculation suggests Mars’ collaboration is linked to a $50 million gambling debt to MGM Resorts International. Rumors claim he is paying it off with the money he earned from his residency at Park MGM in Las Vegas.
Mars promoted his new song with a joke about the recent rumors that he gambled his way into a deep hole of debt. “KEEP STREAMING! I’ll be out of debt in no time,” he posted on his Instagram story.
His recent collaborations could be another way to help him pay his “dues.” In addition to Sexyy Red, he is featured on BLACKPINK’s Rose’s track “APT,” which has held strong in the top 10 list for weeks.
More recently, Mars worked with Lady Gaga and released “Die With a Smile” which hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
Mars first alluded to rumors last summer when he reposted a video of influencer Kaeli Dance dancing with the caption: “Lady Gaga on her way to get Bruno Mars out of debt.”
MGM has denied all accusations that speculate Mars is in debt to them and calling his supposedly racked-up charges at the poker tables “completely false.”
In June 2024, when asked in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal about addressing the gambling rumors, Mars jokingly declined.
“I love the lore that I am a Las Vegas lounge singer in debt to the mob,” the artist said. “I can work with that.”
And at this rate, Mars could pay off the debt in no time, with 2.3 million streams for “Fat Juicy & Wet” already securing a spot in Spotify’s top 40.
So whether Mars is paying off his gambling debt or reshaping his musical identity, this song confirms his evolving range, shift in audience and has redefined his signature groove.
