In Part 2 of our conversation with Peruvian-American singer Marcel Ledoux, we explore music, identity, and the pressure to be culturally “authentic.” Marcel opens up about his artistic evolution, the tension between creativity and belonging, and what it means to reconnect with your heritage — even if you didn’t grow up speaking the language. 🎙️ We talk Drake, Bad Bunny, NSYNC, the power of vulnerability, and Marcel’s upcoming music project — built around identity, healing, and real-life emotions. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Previously on Growing Up Spanglish… 01:00 – Optimism bias & the illusion of safety 02:00 – A Black men’s book club, sparked by his son 03:00 – Why Bad Bunny feels authentic (and Drake doesn’t) 06:30 – What it means to “plant your flag” for your people 08:00 – Genre-hopping vs. cultural ownership 09:00 – Is Drake just playing a role? 10:30 – Take Care, vulnerability, and the “cool guy” shift 13:00 – Genre rules: why hip hop doesn’t get grace 14:00 – Shaboozey, cowboys & country rap 15:00 – When the music doesn’t match the story 16:00 – Can artists still evolve and be real? 17:30 – Artists who changed the game: GOAT talk 20:00 – Why authenticity always wins 21:00 – Marcel’s own musical evolution 24:30 – Happy-sad music & resisting the industry “product” 26:30 – Writing through depression: “Everything’s Fine” 29:00 – Why Marcel struggles with the “product” of being an artist 30:00 – Paying homage vs. crossing a cultural line 31:00 – The moment he was given “permission” to claim his Peruvian identity 34:00 – Roxy’s final words: This is your green light to explore your heritage 🎧 Part 1 is live now — go back and listen if you missed it! 👇 Like, rate & share if this episode spoke to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices