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<title>Top Latin Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</title>
<dateCreated>Wed Dec 23 01:26:34 PST 2009</dateCreated>
<dateModified>Wed Dec 23 01:26:34 PST 2009</dateModified>
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<outline type="include" text="Pitbull" description="Repping for the oft-neglected city of Miami, Cuban-American rapper Pitbull hit the scene in the summer of 2004, finding big success with his Lil Jon collabo single &quot;Culo.&quot; With a potent mix of crunked-out production, sex-fiend lyrics and Hispanic pride, his debut LP &lt;I&gt;M.I.A.M.I.&lt;/I&gt; (Money Is A Major Issue) catapulted the young emcee into rap stardom, especially in the South and among Latinos. With releases like &lt;I&gt;El Mariel&lt;/I&gt; and &lt;I&gt;The Boatlift&lt;/I&gt;, he has continued making songs with insightful social commentary while proving his ability to move the masses with his club anthems.
- Brolin Winning" category="Southern Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/pitbull/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Wisin &amp; Yandel" description="If Wisin y Yandel's &quot;Rakata&quot; wasn't replaying itself endlessly in your head at the end of 2005, it's probably because you weren't listening to the right radio station. For any lover of the genre, that spitfire track off Luny Tunes' &lt;I&gt;Mas Flow&lt;/I&gt; compilation helped permanently prop open the door that Daddy Yankee's &quot;Gasolina&quot; had kicked open in 2004. Reggaeton had become a mainstay on Latin pop radio and in some way Wisin and Yandel's story mimicked the genre's rise. Born and raised in Cayey, Puerto Rico, Llandel Veguilla and Juan Luis Morera took up rapping early; by 1998 they'd released their debut &lt;I&gt;No Fear&lt;/I&gt; with a string of compilations and releases to follow. After a greatest hits release, the duo called it quits. But fate intervened -- or their solo careers didn't take off as planned -- and they reunited for 2004's &lt;I&gt;La Mission IV en el ano 2004&lt;/I&gt;. Their timing was good -- Universal was launching its reggaeton imprint and the duo was quickly folded under Machete Music's wings.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/wisin-yandel/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Cypress Hill" description="Proud owners of one of rap music's most unique sounds, Cypress Hill first introduced themselves to the world with the 1991 neck-breaker &quot;How I Could Just Kill a Man.&quot; A wide range of fans became instantly enamored with B-Real's freaky nasal raps, Sen Dog's psychotic back-up vocals, DJ Muggs' eclectic collection of acidic loops, and, of course, the group's frequent reference to their favorite hobby. Whereas most rappers fade into the sunset after a few albums, Cypress are still going strong well into the new millenium. In 2004, they released their ninth LP, appropriately titled &lt;i&gt;Till Death Do Us Part&lt;/i&gt;.
- Alex Henning" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/cypress-hill/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Daddy Yankee" description="Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico in 1977, Daddy Yankee (aka Raymond Ayala) got his start singing with DJ Playero while he was still in his teens. After a few appearances on compilations, he released his platinum-selling debut &lt;I&gt;El Cartel De Yankee I&lt;/I&gt; in 2000, which was quickly followed by &lt;I&gt;El Cartel De Yankee II&lt;/I&gt; in 2001. Now firmly established as a star in the crowded reggaeton field, Daddy Yankee began his crossover bid in 2004, when his song &quot;Gasolina&quot; (off of 2004's &lt;I&gt;Barrio Fino&lt;/I&gt;) climbed charts at home and abroad. Ayala's heart doesn't belong to reggaeton alone, however -- he's toured with Olga Tanon and sung with salsa greats Domingo Quinones and Andy Montanez.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/daddy-yankee/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Don Omar" description="Born William Omar Landron in Puerto Rico, Don Omar got his start in reggaeton producing tracks for Hector El Bambino, who would later become known as Hector El Father. His talent caught the ear of other artists, and before long, he was a respected songwriter and artist in his own right. &lt;I&gt;The Last Don&lt;/I&gt; released in 2003, made him a bona fide hero in the community, and VI Records released a live double album a year later. 2005's &lt;i&gt;Da Hitman Presents Reggaeton Latino&lt;/i&gt;, which rehashed Don Omar's hits, rocketed off with the hugely successful single &quot;Reggaeton Latino,&quot; an all-star posse cut, and some remix work from Swizz Beatz. On &lt;i&gt;King of Kings&lt;/i&gt; (2006), the Don adopted a post-apocalyptic warrior alter ego (onstage and on the album cover art) and departed from run of the mill reggaeton conventions by enlisting collaborators like Juelz Santana and Miri Ben-Ari, and working salsa, rock and arabesque rhythms into the mix. He also expanded on subject matter beyond love and adultery; the hit &quot;Angelito&quot; tells the tragic tale of a life cut short by AIDS while &quot;Munecas de Porcelana&quot; is a leftfield lesbian coming of age story. In March 2008, Don Omar and fellow reggaetonero Daddy Yankee squashed their epic beef at a Wisin y Yandel concert in Puerto Rico. By this time Omar gained a wider audience after friend Vin Diesel insisted his single &quot;Bandoleros&quot; be included in the film &lt;I&gt;The Fast &amp; The Furious: Tokyo Drift&lt;/I&gt;; three tracks from his 2009 release, the futuristic-themed &lt;I&gt;iDon&lt;/I&gt;, found their way onto the soundtrack of follow-up &lt;I&gt;Fast &amp; Furious&lt;/I&gt;.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/don-omar/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Baby Bash" description="Baby Bash's first success came as part of the Latin rap group Latino Velvet, where he was known as Baby Beesh. Latino Velvet released two albums and toured consistently, earning a loyal following in California. When the group eventually parted ways, Houston rapper South Park Mexican asked Bash to work on some songs with him. Frequent travels back and forth from California to Texas (coupled with Cali's skyrocketing rents) led Bash to relocate to Houston, where he immersed himself in the burgeoning Latin rap scene. With his heavy beats and fly rhymes constructed around solid hooks, it didn't take too long for the labels to come knocking. Bash released his major label debut, &lt;I&gt;Tha Smokin' Nephew&lt;/I&gt;, in 2003, and scored with the single, &quot;Suga Suga.&quot; In March, 2005, Baby Bash released his sophomore effort, &lt;I&gt;Super Saucy&lt;/I&gt;. The album played like an ode to women, weed and whiskey (Hennessey, of course), and gleaned the radio hit, &quot;Who Wit Me.&quot;
- Linda Ryan" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/baby-bash/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Tito El Bambino" description="" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/tito-el-bambino-2/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Fat Joe" description="Representing for the South Bronx, D.I.T.C., Terror Squad, and Latinos worldwide, Fat Joe has been blazing mics and putting in work since the early 1990s. One of the first Puerto Rican emcees to achieve mass success, Joe debuted on wax in 1993 with his single &quot;Flow Joe.&quot; The album Represent dropped shortly thereafter, and showcased the hungry young rapper's gritty street tales laid over quality production by the likes of Lord Finesse, the Beatnuts, Diamond D, and Showbiz. 1995 saw the release of Jealous One's Envy, a slept-on classic if there ever was one. Joey Crack's rhyme skills had evolved immensely and his tracks were tighter than ever, with DJ Premier providing some choice gems. The album also introduced listeners to a fiery lyricist that Joe had taken under his wing, the one and only Big Punisher. Fat Joe's success in the rap game has also led to other ventures. He owns two clothing stores and a barber shop, and also rocks the visual art (he used to be a serious graf writer) with his gear company FJ 560. He released his third LP Don Cartagena in 1999, as well as Terror Squad - The Album. In 2001, Fat Joe scored a hit with &quot;We Thuggin',&quot; off his fourth solo record Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.). Loyalty dropped in late 2002, followed by the second Terror Squad album, True Story, which featured the mega-smash single &quot;Lean Back.&quot; In June 2005, Joe released his sixth solo effort, All or Nothing. Though Joe was in the midst of a feud with popular rapper 50 Cent, the album did not do well commercially. By the release of his seventh album in 2006, &lt;i&gt;Me. Myself and I&lt;/i&gt;, Fat Joe was in danger of becoming a regional rapper: revered by fans of New York hip-hop, yet largely ignored by those not living in the five Burroughs.
- Shailesh Rao" category="Street Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/fat-joe/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Nonpoint" description="Hoarse-throated rapcore from Florida. High-volume anger and intensity belted out with rolling funk lines and wailing guitar.
- Marc Kate" category="Rapcore" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/nonpoint/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="South Park Mexican" description="A solo emcee out of Houston, SPM spits straight-up gangsta raps that reflect on a life of hustlin', payin' dues, and reppin' for Latinos. His beats are heavy and catchy with thumping basslines and high-pitched keyboard modulations.
- Brolin Winning" category="Texas/ H-Town" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/south-park-mexican/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Tego Calderon" description="Reggaeton star Tego Calderon grew up in a household where salsero Ismael Rivera was god (&quot;Our Elvis Presley,&quot; Calderon says) and music was central. But Calderon's musical sensibility is less about the salsa of his native Puerto Rico and more about the sounds that move urban Latinos these days: Jamaican dancehall and rap. Calderon's 2003 debut, &lt;i&gt;Abayarde&lt;/i&gt;, climbed the charts as soon as it was released.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/tego-calderon/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Big Punisher" description="A master on the mic and a hero of the people, Big Punisher left an impressive mark on the world of hip-hop. With his phenomenal flows and breath-control magic, he raised the standard for lyrical emcees everywhere. Born and raised in South Bronx, Pun was first put on by Fat Joe on his classic sophomore LP &lt;I&gt;Jealous One's Envy&lt;/I&gt; in 1995. With a slew of collaborations and mix-tape appearances, he earned his reputation as a highly skilled lyricist. In 1997 Pun took the world by storm, releasing his first official single &quot;I'm Not A Player.&quot; Showcasing his intricate verbal skills with freaky sex rhymes over a super-soulful track, it became an instant classic. The following year he unleashed his debut LP &lt;I&gt;Capital Punishment&lt;/I&gt;. With all-star production by the likes of RZA, Juju, and Showbiz, the album shot up the charts, becoming the first hip-hop record by a Latino artist to go platinum (and double-platinum.) The year 1999 saw Pun working with a variety of artists, including the Terror Squad and Jennifer Lopez. Tragically, due to his failing health and weight problem, Big Pun died on February 7, 2000. Although he's gone, his legacy as an extraordinary emcee and much-loved hip-hop hero is secure.
- Brolin Winning" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/big-punisher/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Ozomatli" description="Every single funky note floating around L.A. has somehow found its way into Ozomatli's heady brew of rap, Latin, funk and soul. The army of east L.A. musicians known as Ozomatli (whose name originates from that of the Aztec god of dance) have caused an immediate sensation with their incendiary live shows and hyperkinetic mix of styles that bridge the gap between African, Latin and American music. At their blazing best, Ozomatli take the finest of '70s funk and give it an energetically contemporary twist of the arm." category="Latin Rock" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/ozomatli/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Flex" description="He may just be the first bona fide romantic &lt;I&gt;reggaetonero&lt;/i&gt; to emerge on the scene. Flex uses the beats that drive reggaeton, but you won't hear him telling women to &quot;dale&quot;...he's more of a gentleman than that. Unfortunately this young gentlemen also struggles valiantly to stay in tune -- and loses a little more frequently than we'd like. But Flex's sheer pluck and self-belief counts for a lot, as does his unusual embrace of reggae rhythms. There's nothing wrong here that a few singing lessons can't fix.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Latin Pop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/flex-5/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Alexis y Fido" description="Raul &quot;Alexis&quot; Ortiz and Joel &quot;Fido&quot; Martinez have been in the reggaeton scene since they were teenagers trading verses with their buddy Wisin. But they didn't drop their debut until 2005, and what a debut that was. &lt;I&gt;Los Pitbulls&lt;/i&gt;' first single, &quot;Eso Ehh!&quot;, spent weeks in the top spot on the Latin &lt;i&gt;Billboard&lt;/i&gt; charts, and it's become a reggaeton anthem just a rung below songs like &quot;Gasolina&quot; and &quot;Rakata.&quot; A 2006 hits album collected their many mixtape contributions in one place, and that was followed by an appearance in the 2007 reggaeton flick &lt;I&gt;Feel the Noise&lt;/i&gt;. Their subsequent release, &lt;I&gt;Sobrenatural&lt;/i&gt;, kept up the pace with two charting singles and two Latin Grammy nominations, and in 2009, the group dropped &lt;I&gt;Down to Earth&lt;/i&gt;, a masterfully produced release that stepped well beyond reggaeton's once-rigid boundaries.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/alexis-y-fido-3/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Ivy Queen" description="Reggaeton's resident rude girl, Ivy Queen (aka Maria Ivelisse Pesante) was born on March 4, 1972, in Anasco, Puerto Rico, and grew up in New York City. A gifted singer, Pesante actually got her start as a songwriter; at the age of 18 she moved back to Puerto Rico, where she began working with local star DJ Negro and ultimately joined the group Noise. She quickly started penning hits for Noise, and in 1997 she released her solo debut, &lt;i&gt;En Mi Imperio&lt;/i&gt;, which spawned hits like &quot;Como Mujer&quot; and established Pesante as a voice to be reckoned with in the male-dominated reggaeton world. A 1999 collaboration with Wyclef Jean on &quot;In the Zone&quot; helped bring her to the attention of American audiences, but her career really took off when reggaeton rode the coattails of Daddy Yankee's mega-hit &quot;Gasolina&quot; into the international limelight. A string of excellent albums cemented her place as &lt;i&gt;the&lt;/i&gt; diva to be reckoned with, with songs like &quot;Yo Quiero Bailar&quot; and &quot;Que Lloren&quot; becoming essential spins for any dancefloor.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/ivy-queen/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="El General" description="Widely acknowledged by younger reggaeton stars as the granddaddy of the genre, Panama's El General (aka Edgardo Franco) never got the fame he deserved. Radio stations weren't ready for his tropical-infused Spanish-language dancehall when he dropped &quot;Tu Pum Pum&quot; in 1988, and the song became a hit with very little radio support. Record industry executives kept telling him this dance fusion was just a fad, but the hits accumulated year after year -- among them the anthemic &quot;Muevelo,&quot; &quot;Te Ves Bueno&quot; and &quot;Caramelo.&quot; In 2004 El General released his last album, &lt;I&gt;La Ficha Clave&lt;/I&gt;, which included Celia Cruz's final duet, and then announced that he was moving on to pursue opportunities in film and television. At age 36, he'd been in the music industry for 16 years. As he bowed out, the genre he helped create began to cross over into the mainstream on the strength of songs like N.O.R.E.'s &quot;Oye Mi Canto&quot; and Daddy Yankee's &quot;Gasolina.&quot;
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/el-general/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Calle 13" description="Like their northern counterparts, most reggaeton and Latin hip-hop acts brag about their connections to the streets or their exploits in the clubs, but Calle 13 brothers Residente and Visitante grew up more concerned about their art-school credits than street cred. Their mother was an actress with Teatro del Sesenta, a renowned local acting troupe, and their father was a former painter. The boys wear this pedigree on their sleeve, and their two albums, 2005's self-titled debut and 2007's &lt;i&gt;Residente o Visitante&lt;/i&gt;, are journeys into the outer regions of reggaeton. Flourishes of salsa and tango are blended into their poppy hip-hop beats, and emcee Residente's raps are both technically complex and lyrically playful (and, on their sophomore album, delightfully obscene), making this group the pranksters of the generally serious reggaeton scene.
- Sam Chennault" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/calle-13/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Orishas" description="A Cuban crew based in Paris, Orishas draw from their cultural heritage, infusing their hip-hop tracks with ample amounts of exotic percussion and Salsa-tinged rhythms. It's a unique and flavorful mix. Quality production and high-octane Spanish rhymes are in full effect, as evidenced on their albums &lt;i&gt;A Lo Cubano&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Emigrante&lt;/i&gt;.
- Brolin Winning" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/orishas/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Lil Rob" description="San Diego's Li'l Rob has a tendency to keep reality in check in his rhymes. He steers clear of extolling the virtues of the glamorous hip-hop lifestyle, preferring to rap about the things he sees on the streets of Southern California. Namely, cars, girls and a certain popular, smokeable herb. Lil Rob is also prone to using samples outside of the hip-hop canon. In past tracks, he's sampled bits from doo wop greats, the Cadillacs while his song &quot;Street Days&quot; lifts directly from Chuck Berry's &quot;School Days.&quot;
- Jon Pruett" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/lil-rob/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Nina Sky" description="Growing up with a stepfather who DJ'd and exposed them to many different styles, identical twins Natalie and Nicole Albino from Queens, N.Y., became interested in music at a young age. Eventually, they both started singing and writing songs, in addition to learning multiple instruments. In 2000, they hooked up with production crew the Jettsonz, who in turn introduced them to veteran New York DJ Cipha Sounds. They performed at endless auditions and talent shows while refining their sound; their first single, &quot;Move Ya Body,&quot; highlighted the duo's sleek R&amp;B-meets-pop fusion and quickly became a runaway hit. After signing with Next Plateau/Universal, Nina Sky released their self-titled debut album in the summer of 2004.
- Brolin Winning" category="Contemporary R&amp;B" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/nina-sky/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="R.K.M. &amp; Ken-Y" description="Rakim and Ken-Y found themselves heading to the top of the reggaeton heap in 2006, just as the first generation of reggaeton's vaunted duos were disbanding. But the two Puerto Rican artists, who'd worked the house-party circuit in Puerto Rico for years, bucked that trend. Audiences rewarded them with adulation: The idiosyncratic single &quot;Down&quot; sat at the No. 1 spot in the charts for weeks. The duo's success is due in no small part to Ken-Y's silken, boyish croon, which cuts the intensity of Rakim's gruff flow and makes their reggaeton palatable to a broad cross-section of fans.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/rkm-ken-y-2/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Arcangel" description="" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/arcangel/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Makano" description="" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/makano/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="N.O.R.E." description="Originally known as Noreaga, N.O.R.E. first emerged with Capone on their &quot;L.A., L.A.&quot; single and brilliant debut &lt;I&gt;The War Report&lt;/I&gt; (1997). While his partner in rhyme was sent back upstate, Nore went to work, releasing a strong first solo album &lt;I&gt;N.O.R.E.&lt;/I&gt; in 1998. His decidedly unconventional rhyme cadence and unusual slang made him a very original emcee, and one that most heads either love or hate. His first single as a solo artist, &quot;Superthug&quot; was a landmark in the burgeoning club-thug movement and introduced the phrase &quot;what what&quot; into the annals of hip-hop vernacular. Constantly working, Nore has appeared on an astounding number of other records, collaborating with Big Pun, Pete Rock, and a slew of high-profile artists. In 1999 he released &lt;I&gt;Melvin Flint - Da Hustler&lt;/I&gt;, which disappointed some fans with its glitzier beats. CNN's long awaited follow-up &lt;i&gt;The Reunion&lt;/i&gt; dropped in 2000, and N.O.R.E. came back hard in 2002 with &lt;i&gt;Grimey...God's Favorite&lt;/i&gt;, featuring the Neptunes-produced mega hit &quot;Nothin'.&quot;
- Brolin Winning" category="Hitmakers" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/nore/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Reggaeton Latino" description="" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/reggaeton-latino/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Angel y Khriz" description="Budding reggaeton stars Angel y Khriz have been generating buzz since Hector &quot;El Father&quot; signed them to his MVP label and featured their platinum single &quot;Cazando Voy&quot; on 2002's &lt;I&gt;MVP&lt;/I&gt;. The duo moved from guesting on mix tapes and other artists' songs to releasing their debut, &lt;I&gt;Los MVP's&lt;/I&gt;, in 2005. The single &quot;Ven Bailalo&quot; hit big, winning a nomination for Latin Billboard Reggaeton Song of the Year in 2006. The group moved to Machete for their second record, 2008's &lt;I&gt;Showtime&lt;/I&gt;. The duo's softer-edged reggaeton borrows liberally from &lt;I&gt;bachata&lt;/I&gt; and other regional styles, while their two-voice attack strikes a balance between singing and rapping without losing the edge that makes reggaeton work.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/angel-y-khriz/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Voltio" description="Julio Voltio was in the right place at the right time: born in Puerto Rico, he grew up in the Parque Ecuestre section of Carolina where he met future reggaeton star Hector &quot;El Bambino&quot; and reggaeton artist Rey 29. The trio started rapping and formed the small-time group Masters of Funk, which entertained much of the neighborhood for several years before folding. They left no record of their existence, but in 1997 a comic recording Voltio made with his friend Karel ended up getting the duo on a reggaeton compilation. Their future seemed assured when they were signed by Pina Records, but the label sadly sat on their debut for three years and gave it inadequate press support when it did launch. In 2003, Tego Calderon approached Voltio about moving over to White Lion as a solo artist and Voltio jumped at the chance. He released his self-titled debut in late 2005.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/voltio/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="NB Ridaz" description="The group formerly known as the Nastyboy Klick saw their fortunes change when they switched their name to NB Ridaz in 2001. Who knows what worked the magic, but their bilingual 2004 release &lt;I&gt;NB Ridaz.com&lt;/I&gt; spawned multiple fan favorites, including &quot;Notice Me,&quot; &quot;So Fly&quot; and &quot;Pretty Girl.&quot; Fans like their easy rhythms, romantic lyrics and the occasional use of the &quot;talk box&quot; -- reportedly a gift from the Troutman family.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/nb-ridaz/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Dyablo" description="" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/dyablo/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Brownside" description="Mexican gangsta posse comes with hardcore rhymes and funky beats. Slow and steady verses are rife with Latino pride and murderous imagery, while watery synths and heavy duty basslines set the pace.
- Brolin Winning" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/brownside/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Vico C" description="A veteran emcee and producer, Vico C has been cooking up hits for over a decade, finding chart success in Puerto Rico as well as the States. Fusing hip-hop, reggae, and traditional Spanish music, he's released over a dozen albums since the early 1990s, and laid beats for such artists as Lisa M. and Francheska. In 2001 he dropped his first live album, entitled &lt;i&gt;Vivo&lt;/i&gt;." category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/vico-c/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Down AKA Kilo" description="" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/down3/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Chingo Bling" description="He went to a prestigious boarding school, majored in marketing and business administration at Trinity University, and started his own business. Sound like Chingo Bling's biography? Technically it's not -- it's that of Pedro Herrera, the mastermind behind the divisive emcee. Herrera first devised Chicano alter ego Chingo Bling as an on-air skit when he was a DJ on a student radio station, but as the joke evolved, Herrera began recording mix tapes of &quot;Chingo&quot; rapping, which he would sell out of the trunk of his car in Houston. He released two albums on his own label, Big Chile Enterprises -- 2004's &lt;I&gt;Tamale King&lt;/i&gt; and 2005's &lt;I&gt;Chingo for President&lt;/i&gt; -- both of which were hotly anticipated. The releases made him a star in the Southwest, and his shtick, which some critics likened to a Latino &quot;sambo,&quot; drew the attention of Spanish-language television. Warner signed Chingo Bling in 2006 and released &lt;I&gt;They Can't Deport Us All&lt;/i&gt; in 2007.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Texas/ H-Town" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/chingo-bling/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Nejo &amp; Dalmata" description="" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/nejo-dalmata/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Xtreme" description="" category="Bachata" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/xtreme-2/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Zion (Latin)" description="" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/zion-latin/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Brown Boy" description="" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/brown-boy/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Hector El Father" description="Hector El Father didn't have a reputation for ... well, &lt;I&gt;moderation&lt;/i&gt; in his heyday as one half of pioneering reggaeton duo Hector &amp; Tito. As a &lt;I&gt;bambino&lt;/i&gt;, he was part of the first wave of reggaeton coming out of Puerto Rico, with all the rawness and hedonism that implies. The group was the first to sell out a stadium in Puerto Rico, and their ensuing success took them around the globe. After they called it quits in 2005, Hector renamed himself &quot;El Father&quot; and signed with Roc-A-Fella. However, by 2008 he had experienced a change of heart about his profession and the dissolute life it encouraged; photos emerged of his baptism and conversion to devout Christianity. To fulfill his contractual obligation he released &lt;I&gt;El Juicio Final&lt;/i&gt;, an album that details his lack of fulfillment in the midst of his success and his subsequent turn to God. He's scheduled to retire from music in fall 2008.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/hector-el-father/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Mala Rodriguez" description="Spain's reigning queen of hip-hop, Mala Rodriguez's low-key rapping and defiant attitude have made her a hero to Latin audiences. She released her first album on Universal in 2002, and her off-hand delivery and filthy funk backing made her an instant success. If you listen closely, you can even hear strains of flamenco-style singing in songs like 2004's &quot;La Nina.&quot;
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/mala-rodriguez/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Delinquent Habits" description="This L.A.-based Latino trio delivers hot, Spanish-peppered rhymes set to booming beats, exotic percussion and blazing horns. Kemo and Ives rock the spicy barrio flows, while O.G. Styles sets up the hype tracks and furious scratching.
- Brolin Winning" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/delinquent-habits/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Cucu Diamantes" description="She was born Ileana Padron in Havana, Cuba, but it wasn't until she'd moved to New York City that CuCu Diamantes -- the singer, the socialite, the underground Latina icon -- emerged. There, Diamantes first joined up with fellow Cuban Juan Carlos Formell (son of Los Van Van's Juan Formell) to sing backup in his band Cuba Libre. Not long after, Diamantes was hired by Blue Note's A&amp;R division. While there, she met producer/musician Andres Levin, and the two clicked immediately. They began writing songs together, and it was just a matter of time before Diamantes was pulling in acquaintances to form Yerba Buena, the Grammy-nominated group that folded funk, &lt;i&gt;cumbia&lt;/i&gt;, Latin soul and hip-hop into an enticing stew. After two albums, the group's momentum slowed, and Diamantes struck out on her own in 2009 with the appropriately titled &lt;I&gt;CuCuLand&lt;/i&gt;. It picked up where Yerba Buena left off, mingling that band's salsa/soul with personal, torchy songs and even more eclectic musical influences.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Cuban" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/cucu-diamantes/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Luny Tunes" description="Luny Tunes are to reggaeton what the Neptunes were to rap at the turn of the 21st century; their beats have animated just about every hit on the books, from Daddy Yankee's ubiquitous &quot;Gasolina&quot; and &quot;Lo Que Paso, Paso&quot; to Tego Calderon's &quot;Guasa, Guasa&quot; and Wisin y Yandel's &quot;Rakata.&quot; Born Francisco Saldana and Victor Cabrera in the Dominican Republic, both grew up in Puerto Rico listening to underground Puerto Rican rap. Through some strange twist of economic fate, they both ended up in Massachusetts in the 1990s, forced to temper their musical aspirations with reality as they worked as a cook and dishwasher, respectively, at Harvard University. When the chance came to produce a few tracks in Puerto Rico, they hot-footed it back there to give music-making a shot. Luck and talent collided when Ivy Queen became the first big-name reggaeton artist to work with them, and pretty soon their prowess made them indispensable to the scene.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/luny-tunes/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Fulanito" description="Fulanito emerge from the DJ/dance culture in Latin New York City, blending House beats, rap sentiment and the Caribbean flavors of Dominican music. Hugely popular with young Latinos, they represent a new generation crossing musical borders with the requisite gear and dance moves.
- Robert Leaver" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/fulanito/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Control Machete" description="Control Machete is Mexico's first hip-hop band to find success outside of their native country. Lyrics dealing with the experiences of illegal immigrants, popular culture, and drugs are set to the kind upbeat production reminiscent of early Cypress Hill.
- Linda Ryan" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/control-machete/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Tony Dize" description="Up-and-coming &lt;I&gt;reggaetonero&lt;/I&gt; Tony Dize has been working to get a foothold in the reggaeton world for years. Despite working with most of the major producers (including Luny Tunes), he wasn't getting much traction, and a track he recorded with Hector El Father, &quot;Estrujala,&quot; didn't make it onto Hector's 2004 &lt;I&gt;Los Anormales&lt;/I&gt; comp. Not to worry: A year later, Dize collaborated with longtime friends Wisin y Yandel on &quot;Sensacion&quot; from the groundbreaking &lt;I&gt;Pa'l Mundo&lt;/I&gt;. The collaboration helped open doors, and Dize released his major label debut, &lt;I&gt;La Melodia de la Calle&lt;/I&gt;, in 2008.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/tony-dize/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Next Level" description="Latin trio delivers radio-friendly pop rap and R&amp;B love jams. Understated synths, thick bass, and catchy beats are provided by Keith Verano, backing the group's high-pitched vocal styles.
- Brolin Winning" category="Contemporary R&amp;B" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/next-level/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Hector &amp; Tito" description="Also known as &quot;Los Bambinos,&quot; HÃ©ctor Delgado RomÃ¡n and EfraÃ­n &quot;Tito&quot; Fines NevÃ¡rez were born in Carolina, Puerto Rico just as New Wave was starting to inspire angular hairstyles in the U.S. As kids, the duo studied dance and singing, while Tito polished his chops with bands including the Noise and the Point Breakers. He and Hector joined the band Parque Ecuestre in 1997, but a year later the &quot;bambinos&quot; broke off from the group and released their first album as a duo, &lt;I&gt;Violencia Musical&lt;/I&gt;. Over the next few years they worked with other stars of the up-and-coming reggaeton scene, including Baby Rasta and Gringo and Lito y Polaco, and benefited from the production skills of deejays including Goldy, Blass, Playero, Luny Tunes and Eliel. In 2002 their fame spread beyond Puerto Rico with the release of &lt;I&gt;A La Reconquista&lt;/I&gt;, and by the time they reached their mid-20s, they had assumed their rightful places in the emerging reggaeton pantheon.
- Sarah Bardeen" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/hector-tito/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="Zion y Lennox" description="" category="Reggaeton" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/zion-y-lennox/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
<outline type="include" text="A Lighter Shade of Brown" description="Los Angeles duo come with catchy jams proudly flaunting their Mexican heritage and a penchant for fun. Heavily funked-out basslines, crisp beats, and Flamenco guitars back mellow, high-pitched flows about low riders, picnics, and partying south of the border. They scored a big hit in 1991 with &quot;On A Sunday Afternoon.&quot;
- Brolin Winning" category="Latin Rap/Hip-Hop" url="http://feeds.rhapsody.com/a-lighter-shade-of-brown/data.opml?rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Finternational-hip-hop%2Flatin-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.opml" />
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