Reggaeton: Hector El Father, Tego Calderon, Don Omar

Here's an update on the reggaeton scene.

Los Rompediscotekas

Biggest news in the genre was the release of the eagerly anticipated Los Rompediscotekas, marketed as the first important collaboration between Puerto Rican reggaeton MC's and popular East Coast rappers. A deal between producers Hector El Father and Jay-Z, and even a guest performance by the Def Jam CEO on the first single (Here We Go Yo), feeded the buzz around the album. But one look at the tracklist is enough to realize Los Rompediscotekas is not the 'imporant collaboration' it pretends to be: only two other tracks feature US rappers (Fat Joe and Memphis Bleek), and both are very weak.
But, all the hype put aside, Los Rompediscotekas is a deliciously over-the-top reggaeton album, with Hector El Father as the undeniable king of the tongue-in-cheek lyrics, X-rated videos (remeber Dale Castigo?) and dirty beats that made reggaeton big. Buying the album won't be necessary, if you live anywhere in the Americas you'll hear these tracks continuously for the next five years, and you'll be singing along with this kind of lyrics, full of double-entendres and sexual connotations:

Vamos, chiquilla, no se suelten de las manecillas
Cya, y con tu amiga hagamos una tortilla [...]
Mami, vas a doblar las rodillas
Cya, voy a secarte la gargantilla

There's one decent song on the album, by Wisin y Yandel (known from their song with R Kelly, Burn It Up). "El Telefono" isn't that original (telephone bleeps must be the most used sample in history, and the chorus is supposedly plagiarism (link in Spanish)) but it's quite contagious, and the song is hot enough to dance to. Enjoy!

Other News
Zion y Lennox have decided to stop working together. They were more or less my favorite reggaeton duo.. so as a tribute, here's once more their best song, "Don't Stop".

The new Tego Calderón album is due the end of this month, and the Puerto Rican underdog is already heating up the expectations by doing a few great collaborations. Ñejo's "No Quiere Novio" is lifted to a higher level by his natural flow. No radio material, but a nice rap song with (again) a contagious chorus.

And last but not least: a new Don Omar song. Well, not really new, as I mentioned it as one of the few good songs off his King of Kings album in my review. It's called "Salió El Sol", has a groovy ragga-like riddim, and it'll instantly bring summer to your ears!

Wisin y Yandel ft. Hector 'El Father' - El Telefono mp3 lyrics buy@iTunes
Ñejo ft. Tego Calderón - No Quiere Novio mp3
Don Omar - Salió El Sol mp3 lyrics buy@iTunes