WestCOL
Colombian streamer (born 1998)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luis Fernando Villa Álvarez (Spanish: [ˈlwis feɾˈnando ˈβiʝa ˈalβaɾes]; born February 2, 2001),[5] better known by his online alias WestCOL, is a Colombian online streamer and executive producer. He became the most followed streamer on Kick in 2024,[6] having risen to fame through his gaming content.[7] His career has been marred by controversies which have garnered media and legal attention.
December 24, 1998
WestCOL | |
|---|---|
WestCOL in 2025 | |
| Born | Luis Fernando Villa Álvarez December 24, 1998 Ciudad Bolívar, Antioquia Colombia |
| Alma mater | Tecnológico de Antioquia[1] |
| Occupation | Online streamer |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Height | 158[2] cm (5 ft 2 in) |
| Kick information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2023–present |
| Followers | 3.6 million[3] |
| Twitch information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2018–2023 |
| Followers | 1.5 million[4] |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Subscribers | 1.65 million (July 2025) |
| Views | 322 million (July 2025) |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Medellín, Antioquia |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Works | |
| Years active | 2024–present |
| Labels |
|
Career
Villa began his career as a content creator in 2015, uploading videos to YouTube. In 2018, he transitioned to Twitch, where he gained recognition for streaming games such as "Minecraft" and for "Just Chatting" sessions.[8] By 2023, Villa shifted his primary platform to Kick following Twitch's gambling policy changes.[9]
Content focus
Villa's streams feature content including Minecraft, live audience interactions, and real-life events including his boxing.[10] He took part in the Américas Kings League with his club, West Santos FC, alongside Arcángel.[11][12][13]
In October 2025, Villa received an "irrejectable offer" to join the emerging Baller League project, leading to his departure from the Kings League. In December 2025 it was confirmed he would join Baller League USA.[14][15]
He is also known for his casino streams and collaborations with creators including Adin Ross and Sergio Agüero.[16] Among his collaborations is a joint stream with IShowSpeed,[17] a creator known for energetic and comedic content. Álvarez has a close friendship with Colombian reggaeton artist Blessd,[18] frequently sharing moments with him both online and offline.[19]
Public image
Controversies
Villa's career has been marred by controversies which have garnered media and legal attention.
In a 2022 video, Villa made violent and discriminatory remarks about LGBT people. He said he would kill his son with seventeen bullets if they were gay, and that he would attack his child with a stick if they were transgender.[20][21][22] A citizen sued him for the comments, and the Constitutional Court of Colombia ordered Villa to publish on his social networks a message about the dangers of hate speech and discrimination against LGBT people. The Court also ordered Villa to attend training on LGBT human rights.[23][24][22] Villa apologized and said the statements were dark jokes.[20]
On Instagram during the Qatar World Cup, he glorified the lynching of women in the Middle East and made misogynistic comments about women from Pereira, Bucaramanga, Medellin, and Cali.[25][26]
In 2023 during a livestream he referred to the Colombian city of Ibagué as a "hellhole", said it would never be a significant reference for foreigners, and made other disparaging remarks about the city. Mayor of Ibagué Andrés Hurtado joined the public backlash, declaring Villa "persona non grata".[27] Two lawyers filed legal actions to demand a formal retraction of his statements and called for stricter regulation of online content.[28]
Villa was prohibited from entering El Salvador in 2024 when he attempted to attend Gamergy, an esports and gaming event, after making misogynistic comments during a live stream. He stated, "When I went to El Salvador, I didn't see any attractive women," sparking significant backlash. Yamil Bukele, the president of the Salvadoran National Sports Institute, announced that Álvarez would be banned from the event, citing the need to uphold the respect and values promoted by Gamergy.[29] Villa defended his comments and refused to apologize.[30]
Music
W Sound
In 2024, Villa launched a collaborative music project, "W Sound", which combined urban music production with rotating collaborations with artists and producers. Based in Medellín, the project is a partnership between Álvarez and producer Ovy on the Drums, aiming to explore new musical styles within the Latin urban genre.[31] W Sound has been compared to the work of Argentine producer Bizarrap due to its collaborative format and emphasis on visual storytelling. It has drawn criticism for its lyrical content.[32][33]
Discography
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Bub.[34] |
US Latin[35] | ARG[36] | CHI[37] | COL | ECU[38] | PER[39] | SPA[40] | WW[41] | ||||
| "Soltera (W Sound 01)" (with Blessd and Ovy on the Drums)[42] |
2024 | — | — | — | 22 | 1 | 4 | 22 | — | 58 | Non-album singles | |
| "Mi Novio Tiene Novia (W Sound 02)" (with Valka and Ovy on the Drums)[44] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "SQ (W Sound 04)" with Ryan Castro and Ovy on the Drums)[45] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||
| "La Plena (W Sound 05)" (with Beéle and Ovy on the Drums)[46] |
2025 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| |
| "Undercromo (W Sound 06)" (with Ovy on the Drums and Dei V) |
7 | 7 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 65 | 9 | 98 | |||
| "—" denotes that the song did not chart or charting information is unavailable. | ||||||||||||
Personal life
Awards and nominations
| Awards | Year | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Latin Music Awards | 2025 | "La Plena" (with Béele and Ovy on the Drums) | Best Collaboration | Won | [50] |
| Best Viral Song | Won | ||||
| Latin Grammy Awards | 2025 | Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance | Nominated | [51] | |
| Los 40 Music Awards | 2025 | Best Latin Collaboration | Nominated | [52] | |
| Premios Lo Nuestro | 2026 | AfroBeats of the Year | Pending | [53] | |
| Urban Song of the Year | Pending | ||||
| Urban Collaboration of the Year | Pending | ||||
| Premios Juventud | 2025 | Best Urban Track | Nominated | [54] | |
| Premios Nuestra Tierra | 2025 | "Soltera" (with Blessd and Ovy on the Drums) | Best Urban Collaboration | Nominated | [55] |
| Premios Tu Música Urbano | 2025 | "La Plena" (with Béele and Ovy on the Drums) | Top Song - Afrobeat | Nominated | [56] |
