"Levanta Tu Bandera" by Seibold x Manwell: The Song in Anjelah Johnson-Reyes's "Ugly Baby"

The song that plays in Anjelah Johnson-Reyes's comedy special "Ugly Baby" is "Levanta Tu Bandera" by Seibold x Manwell — a bilingual English-and-Spanish pop-hip-hop anthem about pride, identity, and showing up loud for the people you come from. If you heard it while watching "Ugly Baby" and Shazam'd the song to find this page, you're in the right place. Below you'll find the full lyrics, where to stream it, what the title means, and the story behind the track.

There's a real reason the song fits the special. "Levanta Tu Bandera" was co-written by Nashville songwriter-producer Rick Seibold and Jose Manuel Reyes — known to fans as Manwell, a founding member of the Grammy-nominated group Group 1 Crew. Manwell is also Anjelah Johnson-Reyes's husband, and he helped his wife self-produce "Ugly Baby." So the flag-raising anthem you caught in the special was, in part, written by the comedian's own husband. Released in 2025 on Mighty Maverick Music, the track runs at a confident 143 BPM and builds to a chorus made to be sung back at full volume.

Last Updated: May 2026

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Flag high that's my motto Lookin' like I won the lotto Yeah I'm Puerto Rican and I rep that tell the homie this is where the con goes I put my town on the map They love me wherever I'm at Me gusta I like it like that

[Pre-Chorus] Toda mi gente va ganar If we believe it va pasar And won't nobody hold us down no I do it for my people do it for my people

[Chorus] Levanta tu bandera Put 'em up where you from Show the love that's what's up

[Verse 2] Worldwide where I travel Passport in my saddle Money talks so I babble Man crypto yeah I dabbled Work hard and I play hard where I come from that's a battle Barely made it out gotta thank God Stayed away from beef where the cattle

What is "Levanta Tu Bandera" by Seibold x Manwell?

"Levanta Tu Bandera" — Spanish for "raise your flag" — is a celebrate-yourself anthem about pride: pride in your country, your hometown, your family, and the people who raised you. Manwell sings it full-throated, sliding between English and Spanish the way a lot of bilingual listeners actually talk. The verses move from personal swagger into a wider, us-against-the-doubt message about a whole community winning together.

The emotional center of the song is exactly that community. The hook is built to be chanted back by a crowd — raise your flag, put 'em up where you're from, show the love. It's the kind of track that works at a stadium, a parade, or a backyard cookout, anywhere people want to be loud about their roots. That celebrate-your-people spirit is a big part of why it lands inside a special about heritage, family, and becoming a mother.

Musically, it's pop-hip-hop with a global tilt — punchy programmed drums, bright horn-style stabs, and a vocal that is equal parts rap cadence and sung hook. At 143 BPM it sits in an upbeat mid-tempo pocket, never sitting still, with the arrangement leaving wide-open space for the chorus to land like a crowd moment.

When did "Levanta Tu Bandera" come out?

"Levanta Tu Bandera" was released on May 23, 2025. It arrived a full year before Anjelah Johnson-Reyes's "Ugly Baby" premiered, so the song already had its own life on streaming before fans started hearing it inside the special and reaching for Shazam.

Where can I listen to "Levanta Tu Bandera"?

You can stream "Levanta Tu Bandera" by Seibold x Manwell here:

What does "Levanta Tu Bandera" mean?

The title translates literally to "raise your flag," and the song uses that flag as a symbol — less about one specific country and more about everything you would plant a flag for. Spanish-speaking listeners catch a few extra layers along the way. "Toda mi gente va ganar" means "all my people are going to win." The line "if we believe it, va pasar" mixes English and Spanish, with "va pasar" meaning "it's going to happen." "Me gusta" simply means "I like it."

The first verse plants its flag directly — "yeah I'm Puerto Rican and I rep that" — then widens out from there. By the time the hook arrives, the song isn't about any one person anymore; it's an invitation. Put your flag up, wherever you're from. In a special about family and roots, that message reads less like a party chant and more like a thesis statement.

Who is Anjelah Johnson-Reyes?

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is a Bay Area-born stand-up comedian, actress, and producer. Many people first met her through her viral "Bon Qui Qui" character, which started on MADtv, and her run on MTV's Wild 'N Out. She has built a long touring career and a loyal audience over more than fifteen years in comedy, with stand-up that leans heavily on her family, her faith, and her Mexican-American upbringing.

"Ugly Baby" is her seventh hour-long comedy special and her directorial debut. Rather than sell it to a streaming service, she self-produced and self-financed the project and released it free on YouTube on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, 2026 (Deadline) — a choice aimed at reaching the widest possible audience over the holiday weekend.

What is "Ugly Baby" about?

"Ugly Baby" is built around Anjelah's journey into motherhood in her 40s. She talks openly about fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum life, alongside material on relationships and the gap between generations. The special was filmed across two sold-out shows at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Because it landed free on YouTube, it found a large audience quickly — which is exactly why so many viewers heard "Levanta Tu Bandera," reached for their phones, and Shazam'd it. You can watch the full special free on YouTube.

Who are Seibold and Manwell?

Rick Seibold is a Nashville-based songwriter and producer. He runs Mighty Maverick Music, the catalog and publishing company behind this release, and his songs have turned up across television, film, trailers, and sports broadcasts.

Manwell — Jose Manuel Reyes — is a songwriter, artist, and TV personality best known as a founding member of Group 1 Crew, the Grammy-nominated group he helped start before moving into solo work and songwriting. He is also married to Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, which is how a Seibold x Manwell song ended up scoring her special.

Together, the two have built a run of bright, bilingual, celebration-minded tracks. If you liked "Levanta Tu Bandera," here are other Seibold x Manwell songs worth adding to your playlist:

"Time Of Our Lives" — a wide-open, hands-in-the-air celebration song.
"Turn It Up (Olé, Olé, Olé)" — a chant-driven party anthem built around the classic stadium cheer.
"I Want It All" — confident and ambitious, made for a big moment.
"Let's Celebrate" — exactly what the title promises, built for good news and full rooms.
"I Like Everything About This" — an upbeat, feel-good track in the same bilingual pop lane.

When does Seibold x Manwell release new music?

Seibold x Manwell put out music regularly through Mighty Maverick Music, and their songs keep finding their way into TV, film, and trailers. The easiest way to keep up is to follow the duo on Spotify and YouTube once you've found "Levanta Tu Bandera," and to check the blog at rickseibold.com, which logs new releases and placements as they happen.

Why "Levanta Tu Bandera" fits "Ugly Baby"

If you're wondering why this particular song ended up in this particular special, a few things line up:

It's a family project. Manwell co-wrote the song and is married to Anjelah. A track partly written by the comedian's own husband, playing in the special he helped her produce, makes the placement feel earned rather than random.
The themes rhyme. "Ugly Baby" is about heritage, family, and becoming a mom. "Levanta Tu Bandera" is about pride in where you come from. The two ideas sit naturally side by side.
It's bilingual. Anjelah's comedy has always lived comfortably in both English and Spanish, and so does this song.
The energy is right. At 143 BPM with a crowd-chant hook, the track brings lift and momentum without ever stepping on the comedy.
It celebrates the audience. A flag-raising anthem treats the people watching as the people being celebrated — a fitting note for a special released free, on Mother's Day, for anyone who wanted it.

Quick reference

Song: "Levanta Tu Bandera (Raise Your Flag)" Artist: Seibold x Manwell Type: Single Release date: May 23, 2025 BPM: 143 Label: Mighty Maverick Music Placement: Anjelah Johnson-Reyes's comedy special "Ugly Baby" (YouTube, premiered May 10, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

Q: What song plays in Anjelah Johnson-Reyes's "Ugly Baby"? A: "Levanta Tu Bandera" by Seibold x Manwell — a bilingual English-and-Spanish pop-hip-hop anthem about pride and identity.

Q: What does "Levanta Tu Bandera" mean in English? A: It means "raise your flag." In the song, the flag stands for pride in your family, your hometown, and your people.

Q: Who made "Levanta Tu Bandera"? A: It was co-written by Nashville songwriter-producer Rick Seibold and Manwell (Jose Manuel Reyes), a founding member of Group 1 Crew. Manwell is married to Anjelah Johnson-Reyes.

Q: Is "Levanta Tu Bandera" in Spanish or English? A: Both. Manwell moves between English and Spanish across the verses and the hook, and that mix is a big part of the song's energy.

Q: Is there a music video for "Levanta Tu Bandera"? A: There is an official audio version on YouTube. The song lives mainly on streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube.

Q: Where can I watch "Ugly Baby"? A: The full special is free on Anjelah Johnson-Reyes's YouTube channel. It premiered on Mother's Day, May 10, 2026.

Q: Is "Ugly Baby" on Netflix or another streaming service? A: No. Anjelah Johnson-Reyes self-financed the special and released it free on YouTube rather than selling it to a streaming service.

Q: Is "Ugly Baby" Anjelah Johnson-Reyes's first comedy special? A: No — it is her seventh hour-long special, and her directorial debut. She self-produced and self-financed it.

Q: Who is Manwell? A: Manwell, born Jose Manuel Reyes, is a songwriter and artist and a founding member of the Grammy-nominated group Group 1 Crew. He is also Anjelah Johnson-Reyes's husband.

Q: Does Seibold x Manwell have other songs? A: Yes. The duo's catalog includes "Time Of Our Lives," "Turn It Up (Olé, Olé, Olé)," "I Want It All," "Let's Celebrate," and "I Like Everything About This."

Welcome to the catalog. If you found this page after Shazam-ing "Levanta Tu Bandera" during "Ugly Baby," there's a whole run of bright, bilingual, celebration-first music waiting — and a good chance the next song you play on repeat is already in it.