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Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!
Today’s music pick puts you at the center of a knockout reggaeton farewell party for one of the genre’s greats.
Genre: Pop, Reggaeton
Label: El Cartel
Release Date: March 24, 2022
Vibe: 💃
In an era of headline-grabbing music rights purchases, which essentially hands the keys of entire legacies over to the highest bidder, it’s heartening to hear an artist determined to go out on his own terms. Case in point with Daddy Yankee, who announced that 2022’s Legendaddy would be his last album. After selling an estimated 30 million records by age 45, you could argue that this record is more of a victory lap than anything else. However, this 19-track swan song goes beyond delivering a greatest hits package to an adoring fan base. It’s a journey through the musical styles, traditions, and narratives that shaped his career and Latin crossover hits in general, helping transform otherwise niche songwriting and production into mainstream-conquering hits. To mark the occasion, the list of collaborators is as impressive as it is diverse, creating a universe where Nile Rodgers, Lil Jon, Pitbull, and Bad Bunny can co-exist.
Let’s start with the pop-reggaeton bangers, of which there are plenty on this record. Whether it’s the Myke Towers-assisted “PASATIEMPO,” the throwback production on “REMIX,” or the chant-worthy “X ÚLTIMA VEZ,” it’s clear that Daddy Yankee isn’t going through the motions. He wants to make this the ultimate party experience. More striking are the deeper cuts, such as the tender, R&B-style “PARA SIEMPRE” and the disco-inflected “AGUA” featuring some classic Rodgers guitar work. There’s also “RUMBATÓN,” a glorious música tropical ****tribute that proves he can still operate at the center of a more traditional Latin soundscape. Even a track like “BOMBÓN,” arguable tackiness aside, has enough of a timeless catchiness that it will surely find longevity next to “Uptown Funk” at wedding receptions worldwide.
Not many artists can go out on this kind of a high note. When one does, they deserve more than a polite bit of applause.
👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈