Zion babyyyyyyy

So Zion is dropping his album, La Melodia Perfecta, this summer through Baby Records/Universal Motown. I recently had the chance to sit with Zion and speak a bit about some of the issues that have surfced as of late. So let's hit 'em one by one...

-- Arcangel --- Zion tried to be diplomatic about this one but, if you read between the lines, Arcangel is on his way out. Zion admits that TECHNICALLY, Arcangel is still with Baby Records, but he doesn't count him as one of the label's artists (instead, he mentions De La Ghetto proudly). Which is all to say that it looks like the situation is on its way to being resolved andZion may soon let duke go...

--Lennox -- Again, Zion was diplomatic about this one, but he did insinuate that Lennox wasn't as motivated to work as he was and that their relationship had deteriorated over the years (especially as their visions began to go further apart). He also intimated that he'd originally wanted to sing with Mackie (Lennox's older brother), but that he soon left to live in NYC and, when he returned, Yaga and Mackie had formed their own group. Yaga and Mackie still took Zion under their wing, but Mackie asked that he sing with Lennox. The way Zion told the story made it seem like the union wasn't organic to begin with and therefore, because of the natural order of things, destined to unravel... Frankly, I think their voices complemented each other well, but everyone knows Zion was the lifeblood of the group (Lennox just added some of the grittiness and the ad libs) and, in that sense, I can see why Zion felt like going his own route...

--His album -- The release was pushed up, which is a great thing given that there aren't too many reggaeton albums slated for that time and that "Fantasma" continues to get spins. Another interesting factoid? There are about 4 English tracks slated to appear on the album....

Wisin y Yandel concert at PR's Jose Miguel Agrelot

Here are pics from Wisin y Yandel's "Los Vaqueros" concert at Puerto Rico's Jose Miguel Agrelot colliseum. They sold out three concerts, which is pretty impressive given they were backto-back. They opened the show singing "Electrica,' "Mirala Bien," "Entregate, and, for a suge of momentum, "Rakata." Like most reggaeton concerts, theirs boasted lots of guest appearances: Aventura, Luis Fonsi, Don Omar, Tego, Franco El Gorila, Gallego, and even Hector El Father.

I'm kind of surprised that Hector came through... I guess that means they all peaced up 'cause according to some insiders, Hector wasn't exactly feeling Don Omar (he said in an interview that he realized "Yankee was the real one"... an interesting twist of events since Hector was one of the folks responsible for kickstarting Omar's career). I'm not sure what the root of the tension between him and W&Y was BUT, I'm guessing that since they were riding with Don Omar hard, Hector chose to distance himself a bit... But again, I guess this means he peaced up with them (although there might have been label pressures or contractual obligations involved, but let's think on the positive side....)

I wonder how long it'll take before W&Y split. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it seems like most reggaeton groups break up and, well, Wisin is a bit gregarious for Yandel (Iknow the yin and yang theory but that only goes but so far....)

DJ Nelson drops Flow: La Discoteka, Vol. 2

DJ Nelson recently dropped the 22-track compilation album, which features everyone from Tego Calderón to Arcangel and Gringo. It's being distributed by Universal Latino, but I must say the promotion for this album has been minimal. I'm curious to see how it fares on the charts... I wish the Latin music biz would get it together and start sending the press advance albums or holding listening sessions... Albums drop left and right without people finding out until after the fact, which is a baaaaad look.

For some reason, the Latin music media don't seem to grasp that most mags have a 3-4 month lead time,and they pitch artists after their albums have already dropped -- at that point, if a mag does anything on that artist, the public finds the story to be old news by the time the issue drops. I've heard a lot of labels say they don't send advances or do listening sessions because of piracy concerns but, let's keep it gully --that's as big an issue in hip-hop as it is in any other genre, and urban labels still cater to the long-lead press. Watermarked albums, samples, and good ole listening sessions (even private ones in label offices) are absolutely necessary for artists to get the proper exposure... Hmmm, maybe I need to do some consulting up in here! lol

New video from Valentino

Valentino, formerly of the duo Magnate y Valentino (notice how pretty much very duo except Wisin y Yandel, Yaga y Mackie, Alexis y Fido, and Rakim y Ken-Y has disbanded) is starring in the video for "Tu Quieres," the next single off "Los Compadres: La Perfecta Ocasión," which unites Valentino, Gocho, y Mario VI. The single was penned by Valentino and produced by Eliel. The video for it was recenly shot in the beaches of Isabela, a beautiful town along the island's northwest. In the video, he plays a man in love and it's full of scenes with grgeous sunsets in a so-called solitary island... The single (and the album as a whole) is meant to get audiences ready for his solo debut, which is slated for release laer this year.

In other news...

**Vh1 recently aired the "Bling: A Planet Rock" documentary about the horrible mining situationsin diamond hotspot Sudan. Tego Cldeón was in the film, alongside Paul Wall and Raekwon (I'm not even sure why they brought Raekwon along since he's never really been known to rock jewels like that, but hey). Anyway, during an interview I had with Tego some months ago, he spoke about filming the documentary and expressed some discontent with the whole experience. Apparently, Tego was ready to make some pretty syrong comments denouncing the government in Sudan and really speaking his mind. But, as these things work, because of legality issues, he was told he couldn't say a lot of the things he wanted to say and was instructed not to ask certain questions. According to Tego, he felt like documentaries were meant to tell the raw, uneditd truth and that's what he signed up for,but instead, he felt like he had ended up doing a reality TV show. So all the talks he's been hosting about blood diamonds are his way of making things right, of creating more of an awareness of the situation without censorship of a sort.

**Speaking of Tego, he's set to appear in the Franc Reyes-directed, John Singleton-produced film Ilegal Tender, starring Brooklyn-bred Rican/Dominican actor Rick Gonzalez.

*** In a recent interview, Fabolous said he plans to collaborate with Daddy Yankee in the future -- if the two can make their schedules work, that is.

*** J.Lo's Reggaetón movie has yet to receive a release date... Could it be because Omarion and Giancarlo Esposito (neither Latino) are the lead characters? Like whoa.. What was she thinking?

Daddy Yankee presenting at Premio Lo Nuestro 2007

DY presented the Best Rock En Espanol award at the Premios Lo Nuestro awards.

I dig his speech BUT it's been a while since rock was a controversial, rebellious youth movement that the government attempted to suppress, so while I appreciate his efforts to explain reggaeton's connection to rock on a historical level, I think the speech comes off as an attempt to explain why it is that he's presenting an award in a genre with which he's uninvolved. But nevertheless, given the unlikely pairing of presenter and category, he pulled it off as best he could.

His outfit though? Nah man. The jean jacket with the matching jeans has been played out since '85, and that trucker hat is just fugly. DY sometimes kncocks it out the park with his style, but this wasn't one oft hose occasions (though it's leaps and bounds better than that weird bandanna thing he wore to the Premios La Juventud in '05....lol)

Daddy Yankee wins at Premio Lo Nuestro 2007

If you didn't catch the Premios Lo Nuestro ceremony, DY won Best Urban Music Album for Barrio Fino En Directo. Even though he had the most inappropriately matched people giving him the award (whose idea was it to have Alejandra Guzman pesent this category?), he gives a nice acceptance apeech and, for the first time ever, thanks his wife Mireddys (who looked gorgeous that night!!). Most people don't even know she exists (DY was notoriously privateabout his wife and kids until recently...even though all the most tabloids in PR knew all of his BI, but I guess he was trying to keep it under wraps in the US for as long as he could) so it was refreshing to see him take a minute to express his love and gratitude on air.

I gotta say, even though I'm DY's biggest fan, I'm not sure why the album was nominated seeing as it only had a few new cuts ("Gangsta Zone," "Machuando," "Rompe," Machete Reloaded"). And Wisin y Yandel won Best Urban Music Song, ad i definitely think Rakim y Ken-Y deserved this one for "Down" -- that song was HOT!

Calle 13 back in April with Residente O Visitante

My LEAST favorite "reggaetón" group (they're a pop group, y'all -- be serious... the only thing reggaetón about them were the collabos with Voltio!) is back in April with their sophomore album, Residente O Visitante. Before y'all go there, I'm not hating on these cats -- they're art school kids, they have a funky style,and they're not afraid to be goofy or to be innovative. I do get irked by Residente's attempts at adopting a streetwise demeanor since, as they say, real recognize real and this cat is about as 'hood as his funny-lookin' brother. Hard-knock life? Hardly!

That being said, their first single is definitely a creative affair. It features the work of Gustavo Santaolla (the two-time Oscar winning composer) and incorporates a fusion of tngo, reggaetón, and pop. "Tango del pecado" ("Tango of sin") essentially tells the tale of a forbidden love -- a wealthy woman falls for a poor musician and is scorned by her family and friends -- but, in true Calle 13 fashion, it's a parody.

In the video, Residente plays the boyfriend and his real-life girl, ex Miss Univese Denise Quiñones, plays the burgeois girl. Is he trying to say his life imitates art? Whatever. Residente's mom is an actress and his dad a musician -- the kid grew up in a middle-class household, went t college to study fine arts, etc. I doubt Denise's parents were all that upset... Besides, if the dude has that much in common with a beauty queen, he obviously ain't as 'hood as he purports. Status ain't hood, dunny.