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Daddy Yankee
El Cartel: The Big Boss
Daddy Yankee:  El Cartel: The Big Boss

$6.99
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Album Review

Released: 2007
Label: Interscope
Selection #: 171661
Reggaetón superstar returns to the fertile ground he has so ably cultivated before. Impacto, Ella me Levantó, Fuera de Control, Who’s Your Daddy.
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1 Jefe
2 En Sus Marcas Listos Fuera
3 Cambio
4 Fuera de Control
5 Impacto
6 Ella Me Levanto
7 A Lo Clasico
8 Bring It On
9 Who's Your Daddy?
10 El Celular
11 Ven Damelo
12 Papi Lover
13 Que Paso?
14 Mensaje de Estado
15 Tension
16 Soy lo Que Soy
17 Corazon Divina
18 Plane to PR
19 Me Quedaria
20 Todos Quieren a Raymond
21 Impacto [Remix]
  
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Album Review

It took Daddy Yankee a long time to follow up "Barrio Fino" (2004), the most successful and influential reggaeton album to date, but when he finally unveiled "El Cartel: The Big Boss" three years later, the wait seemed worthwhile. It's a well-conceived album with a wealth of commercial potential. It not only pushes the hybrid Latin style forward creatively; it also broadens Daddy Yankee's appeal considerably, teaming him with pop-rap household names like Fergie and Akon while playing down some of "Barrio Fino"'s Latino-specific lyrical themes in favor of potent club-bangers that are as conducive to body language as they are to Spanish. Admittedly, the three-year wait between "Barrio Fino" and "El Cartel" was eased by the December 2005 release of "Barrio Fino en Directo". That CD/DVD package served a few purposes, beyond functioning as a profitable stopgap released just in time for the holiday shopping season. For one, it signaled the beginning of Daddy Yankee's relationship with Interscope; previously, he'd relied on the major labels only for distribution. Secondly, it repackaged the hits from "Barrio Fino" as live recordings, in the process showcasing Daddy Yankee's ability as a live performer with a willingness to tour internationally. Perhaps most importantly, though, "Barrio Fino en Directo" included a handful of strong new recordings -- including the singles "Rompe" (a number one Latin hit) and "Machucando" (number two), along with bilingual collaborations with Snoop Dogg ("Gangsta Zone") and Paul Wall ("Machete Reloaded") -- that were a clear indication of what could be expected on "El Cartel". Indeed, "El Cartel" is largely comprised of both potential hits and mainstream-crossover collaborations (Fergie, Akon, will.i.am, Nicole Scherzinger, Scott Storch), with most of the latter also qualifying as the former. Highlights are numerous, and they're spread across the album: in particular, the nine-track stretch that extends from "Fuera De Control" (the only Luny Tunes production here, surprisingly) to "Papi Lover" is a nonstop delight, though the three-song stretch near the end of the album including "Corazón Divina," "Plane To Pr," and "Me Quedaria" also stands tall and closes the album on a satisfying note. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide

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Other albums by: Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee:  Barrio Fino En Directo (1CD/1 Bonus DVD) Listen Parental Advisory Daddy Yankee
Barrio Fino En Directo (1CD/1 Bonus DVD)

$6.99 2-CD Set

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