# TQG

“TQG” (acronym for “Te Quedé Grande”; Spanish for “Too big for you”) is a song by Colombian singers Karol G and Shakira. It was written by the two said artists, Keityn and Ovy on the Drums, and produced by the latter. The song was released on February 24, 2023, through Universal Music Latino, as the fifth single from Karol G’s fourth studio album, Mañana Será Bonito (2023). It was later included on Shakira’s twelfth studio album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (2024).

## Background

On February 10, 2023, Giraldo revealed the cover art for Mañana Será Bonito and revealed the track list, where "TQG" was featured but as a solo song. Later on February 14, 2023, Shakira wished Karol G a "happy birthday" message through social media, adding more speculation to a collaboration, as it was something the singer did to Argentine producer Bizarrap, whom she would collaborate on the song "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53. That same day, Karol G would reveal in an interview with The New York Times that Colombian singer Shakira was featured on the song. The song was released as the fifth single alongside the album's release on February 24, 2023.

## Composition

"TQG" is an acronym for the phrase "Te Quedó Grande"; is a reggaeton track, but it's also considered as a diss. The song's lyrics features "shots" directed at their ex-boyfriends, Puerto Rican artist Anuel AA and Spanish footballer Gerard Pique. The song also presents lyrics sung by Shakira about Pique's current girlfriend, Clara Chia.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Karol G would reveal that she wrote the song in 2022 during an emotionally complex time. She explained that although she had intended to ask Shakira to collaborate, it wasn't intended to happen with "TQG". After listening to Shakira's "Monotonía", collaboration with Ozuna, she decided to send her the song. She added: "listening to that story and where she was at, [TQG] made a lot of sense. I sent it to her and she loved it."
In an later interview with Billboard, Giraldo revealed that the song was written with Ovy on the Drums and Keityn Cruz in a recording session for "Mamiii", collaboration with American singer Becky G. She explained how the song came to be and what it means to her:
   We were trying to figure out what we were going to do, because I had said "yes" to Becky, and now we had two songs, but the topic was the same: heartbreak diss tracks. Then when I saw the story about Shakira and her situation, this song again gained meaning. I really want songs to have a meaning and connect with real stories. I would love for people to simply listen to this song, as a song. Obviously as artists, we write songs based on personal situations we've lived, but at the end of the day, those songs aren't aimed at anyone in particular, or are meant to hurt anyone. I'd love for my music to be divorced from a ton of situations and that people could enjoy them for what they are: songs that tell stories so people can identify with those stories.

## Critical reception

Alexis Petridis of The Guardian commended the ethereal atmosphere that "TQG" has "though frankly it's a bit phoned-in." Ernesto Lechner from Rolling Stone called the song "underwhelming", stating "her much-anticipated track with Colombian icon Shakira, "TQG," feels underwhelming, especially since it arrives only weeks after the media circus that surrounded Shakira's massive new track with Bizarrap."
Select year end TQG :
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
| Rolling Stone | The 100 Best Songs of 2023 | 28 | |
| Remezcla | Best Pop Songs of 2023 | 1 | |

## Commercial performance

"TQG" debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart dated March 11, 2023, becoming Karol G's first and Shakira's sixth top-ten entry on the chart. The song charted twenty weeks on the chart, with the first seven staying within the top 40.
On the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, the song debuted at number one, becoming Karol's sixth and Shakira's thirteenth number one on the chart.
On the Billboard Global 200, the song also debuted at the top spot with 158.4 million streams and 10,000 sales for the week dated March 11, 2023, becoming both Karol G's and Shakira's first number one on that chart.
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), it was the fifteenth best-selling global single of 2023, earning 1.18 billion subscription streams equivalents globally, becoming Shakira's first IFPI year-end single entry and Karol's second following 2022's "Provenza".

## Awards and nominations

Award and nominations for "TQG" :
| Year | Ceremony | Award | Result |
| 2023 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Latin Song | Nominated |
| 2023 | Billboard Latin Music Awards | Hot Latin Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | Billboard Latin Music Awards | Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event | Nominated |
| 2023 | Billboard Latin Music Awards | Sales Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | Billboard Latin Music Awards | Airplay Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | Billboard Latin Music Awards | Latin Pop Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | BreakTudo Awards | Latin Hit | Won |
| 2023 | Heat Latin Music Awards | Best Collaboration | Nominated |
| 2023 | Latin Grammy Awards | Song Of The Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | Latin Grammy Awards | Best Urban Fusion/Performance | Won |
| 2023 | Latin Grammy Awards | Best Urban Song | Nominated |
| 2023 | Latino Music Awards | Song of the Year | Won |
| 2023 | Latino Music Awards | Best Urban Song | Nominated |
| 2023 | Latino Music Awards | Viral Song | Won |
| 2023 | Latino Music Awards | Best Urban Music Video | Won |
| 2023 | Los 40 Music Awards | Best Video | Nominated |
| 2023 | Los 40 Music Awards | Best Urban Collaboration | Nominated |
| 2023 | MTV Millennial Awards | Global Hit of the Year | Won |
| 2023 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Collaboration | Won |
| 2023 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Collaboration | Won |
| 2023 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Latin | Nominated |
| 2023 | NRJ Music Awards | International Collaboration of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | Premios Juventud | Girl Power Track | Won |
| 2023 | Premios Juventud | Best Urban Track | Won |
| 2023 | Premios Juventud | Best Pop/Urban Collaboration | Won |
| 2023 | Premios Juventud | Social Dance Challenge | Won |
| 2023 | Premios Musa | International Latin Song of the Year | Won |
| 2023 | Premios Musa | International Collaboration of the Year | Won |
| 2023 | Premios Tu Música Urbano | Collaboration of the Year | Nominated |
| 2024 | BMI Latin Awards | Award Winning Song | Won |
| 2024 | Latin American Music Awards | Song of the Year | Won |
| 2024 | Latin American Music Awards | Favorite Urban Song | Nominated |
| 2024 | Latino Music Awards | Best Urban Song | Won |
| 2024 | Latino Music Awards | Best Urban Music Video | Won |
| 2024 | Lo Nuestro Awards | Urban/Pop Song of the Year | Won |
| 2024 | Premios Nuestra Tierra | Best Urban Song | Nominated |
| 2024 | Premios Nuestra Tierra | Best Urban Collaboration | Won |
| 2024 | Premios Nuestra Tierra | Best Music Video | Won |
| 2024 | Spotify Plaques | One Billion Streams Award | Won |

## Music video

The music video for "TQG" was directed by Pedro Artola and was released on Karol G's YouTube channel on February 24, 2023. The concept of the visual is heavily inspired by the plot of the film The Truman Show (1998).

## Live performances

On March 10, 2023, Karol G performed "TQG" for the first time in Puerto Rico for a three-day stadium show promoting the release of Mañana Será Bonito. On July 10, 2023, Karol G performed "TQG" for the Today morning show. The song was performed once again by Giraldo on August 4, 2024, for the Lollapalooza music festival. From August 10, 2023, to July 23, 2024, Karol G embarked on the arena-stadium Mañana Será Bonito Tour, where the song was present throughout the set list. On September 12, 2023, during the MTV Video Music Awards, Shakira performed the song as part of her medley, as she received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. On February 11, 2025, Shakira embarked on the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, set to last through November 16, 2025, where "TQG" is present on the set list.

## Charts

2024 year-end chart performance for "TQG" :
| Chart (2024) | Position |
| Romania Airplay (TopHit) | 153 |

## Certifications

Certifications for "TQG" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | 3× Platinum | 120,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 40,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Platinum | 200,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Platinum | 100,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Gold | 25,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Platinum | 10,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 9× Platinum | 540,000$^‡$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Gold | 10,000$^‡$ |
| Streaming |||
| Worldwide | — | 1,180,000,000 |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

Release history and formats for "TQG" :
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label |
| Various | February 24, 2023 | Digital downloadstreaming | Universal Latino |
| Italy | March 3, 2023 | Radio airplay | Universal Latino |
| United States | March 28, 2023 | Rhythmic radio | Universal Latino |