Daddy Yankee Tries to Keep Reggaeton Alive

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno

      While the hotness of Reggaeton has cooled over the last year and a half, Daddy Yankee is trying to keep it going. He’s announced that his new album, The Cartel: The Big Boss, is set to drop on June 5. This will be his first studio album since 2004’s “Gasolina”-lead Barrio Fino, way back when reggaeton was the “in” thing.

      “Reggaeton needs a change and I’m changing too,” Daddy Yankee said.  “You can’t rest on the past. This album is very different. My roots are still there but now there’s more, sides of me people haven’t seen, including hip-hop. And I know the power music has too. I’m a leader in Latin culture. The album talks about the role we’re playing in society. For people that don’t know what’s happening, we need to let them know what’s going on.”

      The album will feature appearances from Fergie, Jim Jones, Nicole Scherzinger (of The Pussycat Dolls), Akon, and Will.i.am; with production from Akon, Will.i.am, Mr. ColliPark, Scott Storch along with Reggaeton producers Eli "El Musicologo", Tiny Tunes, Diesel and Menace.