New Daddy Yankee Album

[Sekhem]

With more than eight million albums sold, five No. 1 hits on BillboardâEUTMs radio charts a blockbuster film and four chart topping albums to his nameâEU"including the top-selling Latin album of the decade and the top-selling Latin urban artist of the decade according to Billboard Magazine (2010), Daddy Yankee is the single most relevant Latin urban artist in the world. A multiple Billlboard and Grammy award winner who has been named one of the most influential people in the world by both CNN and Time Magazine, Yankee is widely regarded as the artist who spearheaded the popularity of Latin Urban music.

Are you excited for his new album?

Is it the apex of Latin urban music?

Is he still one of the most influential people in the world?

Is he still "relevant" as ever?

Tell me what you think, Newgrounds.

[SineRider]

Honestly, I prefer his older work. This is one of my favorites.

[SineRider]

At 9/7/12 08:55 PM, SineRider wrote: Honestly, I prefer his older work. This is one of my favorites.

Also here is another classic

[Ryanson]

I remember him being nominated for some award 7 years ago.

I didn't think of him as relevant then either.

[Sekhem]

At 9/7/12 08:38 PM, ScaryPicnic wrote: out of 10 what would you rate his new album sekhem?

i trust you as a critic

i'll listen to it later tonight and come back with my track-by-track review

i hope you're excited

[SineRider]

At 9/7/12 09:06 PM, Sekhem wrote: i'll listen to it later tonight and come back with my track-by-track review

i hope you're excited

I'm counting on you too Sekhem, I need to know whether to pick this album up or not!

[Sekhem]

Alright, guys.

I feel that Daddy Yankee is unfairly looked down upon by the highbrow, and even middlebrow, Americans and his albums are reviewed by almost no respectable music journal. Despite his role in popularizing reggaeton in Latin America, he has never really caught on outside of ethnic populations in the United States (the singles Gasolina and Rompe being his only mainstream/crossover hits and he quickly faded into obscurity among the general public). I intend to at least attempt to understand the man that is Daddy Yankee. Here is my story:

I walked into the local Dollar Tree to get into the mindset of an average, working-class American-Latino who would purchase and seriously love his music. I bought offbrand Strawberry Pastries, a cheap soda called 'Red Creme', Crunchy Honey Roasted Peanut Butter, Cocoa Rice Crisps, and a stylish pair of white sunglasses. I then returned home and "bought" his album from a "respectable" online music store. Before listening, I opened a package of Pastries, layered some peanut butter between them, sprinkled some crisps onto the peanut butter, and ate the creation like a crude sandwich. I took a swig of the Red Creme and clicked on the ethnic looking genre cover for "Latin" music on iTunes (pictured below) and placed the sunglasses on my face. I was ready.

Track 1 "Perros Salvajes"

I don't know any Spanish. I won't even bother with trying to translate the lyrics or song titles. I will just translate the music and feelings. This song starts with really hard-hitting synths and Daddy Yankee yells and then immediately breaks into a fast-paced rap that rivals Twista. The vocals and backing track have no correlation. They are two separate songs entirely. Very innovative. 7/10

Track 2 "Miss Show"

"Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey" This is how this track starts off. A simultaneous tribal chant and greeting. Daddy Yankee shows off his sensual song and sings his verses to a hot 'mami'. This is probably going to be very popular in Latin American strip clubs. I want to fuck a Latina girl to this.

Track 3 "Pon T Loca"

Wow. It hits hard with the initial auto-tuned vocals. I don't think it's actually Daddy Yankee. I could be wrong. The auto-tuned Pon T Loca hook is not very effective and despite it's obvious intentions of becoming a pop sensation, I simply cannot see it happening. Sorry, Daddy Yankee.

Track 4 "El Amante (feat. J Alvarez)"

A slick, modern urban beat propels the initial auto-tuned vocals of J. Alvarez. He sings much better than the anonymous singer on Pon T Loca. It seems genuine and he might even naturally be a good singer, when not auto-tuned. This could be a hit on modern RnB radio stations. It's the best song so far. The spoken word outro by Yankee seems unnecessary, however.

Track 5 "Pasarela"

Oh, man. This track revisits the Latin American dance clubs of the past. It feels like a Latin-tinged Kevin Saunderson produced Inner City track from the early '90s. So good. An anthemic Latin house track.

Track 6 "PoâEUTMencima"

An unwelcome return to reggaeton. Boisterous, annoying, and unoriginal. The oriental flavored section of the song that features a quick-tongued anonymous rapper is somewhat funny, though.

Track 7 "La Noche De Los 2 (feat. Natalie Jimenez)"

A middling dance track with a lovely hook by Natalie Jimenez. Honestly, Natalie Jimenez is too good for this track. Her talents are wasted on this bore of a track. She is a standout. I will look for her in the future.

Track 8 "Llegamos A La Disco"

Fuck this track. It is boring musically and has about 8 guest rappers/singers. I don't even know what to do with this. It is also not disco, provided that word means what it does in English.

Track 9 "Switchea"

A return to the club sound of the previous tracks. Unfortunately, it sucks. This is a really terrible track. I'm not sure how many more of these tracks I can take. The synths are interesting at least, but it really does nothing for this awful track.

Track 10 "Limbo"

Phew. A trance track. Oh wait, no it isn't! This track is a lie. Don't be fooled by the intro. It devolves into the standard, boring reggaeton of the previous track. What a shame.

Track 11 "La Calle Moderna"

A very "street" sounding hip-hop beat with a sampled sound of a gun cylinder being spun. This track is much better than the boring reggaeton of the previous tracks. If I understood the lyrics, I might like it more. The "Clock (Glock?) Clock Clock" chorus is somewhat infectious and fun.

Track 12 "After Party (feat. De La Ghetto)"

This track is so much fun. De La Ghetto is fantastic on the hook and contributes the best verse on this album. I have no idea what it's about, but I like it. Musically, it's a pretty standard dance/club beat. It has a fun energy to it, though.

Track 13 "La Maquina De Baile"

Just boring. Another middling dance track with no features to even discuss. Daddy Yankee does his thing over yet another average club beat.

Track 14 "Mas Que Un Amigo (feat. Farruko)"

A tropical, Sean Kingston/Iyaz-esque auto-tuned (on Farruko's vocals) track. It's fairly enjoyable and might be fun if you're at a Mexican beach party, but it's pretty boring if you're listening to a fucking Daddy Yankee album alone in your bedroom.

Track 15 "Baby (feat. Randy)"

Probably the best "pure" reggaeton track on the album. Randy, like almost every guest on this album, is auto-tuned almost beyond belief and it's slightly irritating since he's quite clearly a competent singer. It's decent. Nothing too bad to say.

Track 16 "Lovumba"

EEEEEE-OOOOOOOO

I don't know about this track. If I heard this track in isolation from the rest of the album, I might even think it's okay. As it is, I'm sick of these fucking boring reggaeton/dance tracks that have absolutely no soul or originality though.

Track 17 "Ven Conmigo (feat. Prince Royce)"

A nice piano intro. My ears get a rest. A nice pop hook! Could it be? An enjoyable end to the album? Yes! Prince Royce is my new hero. Thank you. This is a great track. This will do well on radio. It's very well produced. Good job, guys.

I'm glad I don't have to listen to this anymore, but if you listen to singles from this you probably won't be too disappointed.

It's very average.