Reggaeton Music Reviews:
Vico C, Desahogo
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No other artist takes the game to next level like
Vico C. For over fifteen years he has pioneered, established and reinvigorated
the world of hip hop and reggaeton. Like a force of nature, he has almost
single handedly taken it upon himself to push things forward. With each
passing album, Vico's sonic innovations have served as a template for
others to follow. His latest, "word" Desahogo (Universal,
2005) marks another leap forward from the Santurce Rapper. As in previous
outings , En Honor a La Verdad(2003) Vico mixes Hip Hop and Reggaeton
with salsa and ballads. This makes the record a pleasure to listen to,
as it breaks the monotony that one can experience while listening to
some of the less focused reggaeton records out there.
The album opens with the now traditional Vico C "intro". followed
by the outstanding, "Desahogo" a mid tempo hip hop number,
it builds up a rant against alcohol, sex and violence and the corrupted
politicians that run the system. In true Vico C style, the song never
feels preachy or moralistic- if only more rappers were willing or capable
of adding a "message" to their beats the world of hip hop-
reggaeton would be a better place.
Next comes the album highlight, "Se Escaman"
- featuring Eddie Dee, which has got to be one of the maddest tracks
(in Spanish or English) to have come out in recent memory. With the
most memorable beat since Missy Elliot's Get Ur Freak On, unleashing
a killer hookline , the songs builds up speed and it never lets up until
the final line "Esto es para que vean que no todo lo que vende
es sexo". The rhyme delivery is also spot on, making it Vico's
best track since the release since 2003 "El Bueno El Malo y El
Feo".
Next cut, "Lo grande Que Es Perdonar" with
Salsa great Gilberto Santa Rosa, glimmers between salsa and hip hop
while Vico and Santa Rosa both rhyme and sing - giving the track that
old school "Fania" salsa label vibe. The track answers the
question of what Hector Lavoe would sound like if he were around to
sing hip hop.
"No Es Cuestion De Estar Pegao" blends
hip hop with " bomba"(a Puertorican, African call and response
music genre). The track has an old school air to it's lyrics, implementing
one of Vico's all time classic rhymes as he flows "Desede los tiempos
de Don King Kong ,desde los tiempos del Escambron, desde los tiempos
de Iris Chacon". The record ends with "Echale" featuring
Ivy Queen. This is the only full fledged reggaeton track on the Cd.
Sonically, the track is an update of Ivy's "No Puedes" and
once it gets the remix treatment it will become part of many D.J.'s
sets.
Ultimately, this is not your normal hip hop reggaeton record. It has
ballads and Vico does some actual singing. Desahogo, certainly doesn't
try to cash in on the current commercialization and hype of surrounding
hip hop/ reggaeton - one that we all know he helped to create. This
release will demand an open mind, nevertheless it has some of the best
tracks from Vico C's career. This is without question Vico's third classic
album in a row. But beware, this is not a record for beginners, the
beats are all there, but it also requires your attention and aims to
take you, the listener, to next level.
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CD Tracks:
1. Intro- Voy Spoken Word
2. Desahogo
3. Se Escaman - (with Eddie Dee)
4. Lo Grande Que Es Perdonar - (with Gilberto Santa Rosa)
5. No Es Cuestion De Estar Pegao
6. Te Me Puedo Escapar - (with Cultura Profetica)
7. Tu Corazon No Aguanta Pela - (with Giovanni Hidalgo)
8. Vaminos Po' Encima - (with D'Mingo/La Mala Rodriguez)
9. Comapanera
10. Esta Es La Esquina
11. Mami
12. Echale (with Ivy Queen)
13. Outro- Se Acabo
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