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By Vanessa  Beatriz Soto

Since the release of his self-titled debut album in 2010, the Dominican-American singer/songwriter Prince Royce has been blowing up the charts and bringing his brand of R&B and pop-inflected bachata music to a young urban audience in the U.S.

This week, Atlantic Records announced that Prince Royce has signed an exclusive record deal with the label, as part of the new imprint, Top Stop Music, which is a joint venture between Atlantic Records and well-known Latin music producers Sergio George and Gregory Elias.

According to Sergio George,

“Royce is a true phenomenon who has already achieved unprecedented success in the Latin music industry, and Gregory and I are delighted to be joining with Atlantic Records to take his career to the next level.  With his extraordinary charisma and talent as a singer, songwriter, and performer, he has taken bachata music to a whole new audience and created a style uniquely his own.  Royce is not only inspiring a whole new generation of Hispanic youth, but fans across cultural and social boundaries."

The singer hit the top of the charts last month, becoming the country’s number-one Latin album. With a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Tropical Contemporary Album as well as four Latin Billboard Awards for his debut record, he is already enjoying widespread recognition for his music.

Prince Royce has even more to celebrate. In addition to this recording contract, and a highly anticipated follow-up album, Enrique Iglesias has asked him to join his 2011 North America tour as a featured artist together with Pitbull!

Watch out for more news on this, as the tour will be coming to a city near you this fall.

Tags album, atlantic records, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Prince Royce, Tour

By Elis T. Ortiz

En un género mayormente dominado por hombres, there’s one woman making herself noticed, and
not just for the long nails and female curves. For the fifth consecutive week, el disco más reciente de Ivy Queen titulado Drama Queen, continues to top Billboard’s Latin Rhythm chart at the #1 spot.

The album’s success is largely fueled por el primer sencillo del disco, “La Vida Es Asi,” a catchy track that begins with an upbeat urban rhythm and melds into a melodic bachata. La Caballota rhymes and sings a story of betrayal and moving on from a bad relationship, un tema con el cual muchos se pueden relacionar.

Fans are showing support by accessing her "Drama Line" and either leaving messages or
adding names to her blacklist as payback for their ex's infidelity. You can join in the fun by calling (310) 341-4676 or logging onto Ivy Queen’s official website.

La Diva del género urbano will be headlining the 2010 Machete Music Tour throughout the US, starting this October 14 in Miami. Ivy will perform in 15 major cities, incluyendo a Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, y Las Vegas. Other urban Latino acts joining her on tour are Tego Calderon, Cosculluela, Angel y Khriz, Chino y Nacho, Jowell y Randy, y Flex. Que mujeron entre tanto hombres!

If anyone can hold her own among these guys, we know Ivy can. Suerte y éxito Ivy!

Will you be calling Ivy Queen’s “Drama Line” and putting your ex on blast? Tell us about it in the comments below or @MTV3!

Tags album, Drama Queen, Ivy Queen, latin, MTV NEws, New Musica, Tour, Tr3s

By Elis T. Ortiz

La reina del “Waka Waka” could be in some trouble with officials in Barcelona, Spain. It seems that Shakira broke some rules while filming the music video for the first single release of her highly-anticipated new album Sale El Sol.

Este primer sencillo se llamará “Loca,” and apparently, that’s exactly what Barcelona’s city council members think of our Shaki. She hopped on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle without a helmet and into the famous Pla de Palau fountain para bailar con sus fans.

These artistic antics could have her facing some fines, since she didn’t have the city’s permission beforehand. Barcelona’s health and safety council prometen estudiar las fotos y videoclips that were taken during the filming of Shakira’s music video in order to issue a “propuesta de sanción.” For the motorcycle helmet infraction, the fine would usually be around $300.

Cueste lo que cueste, we’re sure she can afford it. And for a music video que nos vuelva locos? Well, it may just be worth getting fined!

Source: [Mail Online]

Was Shaki just being irresponsible or do you support her artistic abandon? Dejennos saber en los comments or @MTV3!

Tags album, Chisme, Gossip, latin, Loca, Sale El Sol, Shakira, Tr3s

By Simone Hilliard

When Lady Gaga proclaims her latest effort is "the absolute greatest work I've ever done," and that her next masterpiece is scheduled for a 2011 release, it's easy to see why Gagaloos everywhere are anxiously clamoring for Gagita news wherever they can get it. Today's installment comes from The Fame and The Fame Monster producer RedOne.

While the Moroccan-Swedish powerhouse behind Gaga's monster hits "Just Dance," "Love Game," "Poker Face," "Bad Romance" and "Alejandro" couldn't reveal any specific information about the album, the producer assured fans the new material is worth waiting for.

RedOne dropped some hints with Billboard about the new LP:

"It's going to be shocking, shocking, shocking! You never want to go too far from your brand -- people love you for a reason. But we still want to give them something with a kick, something that makes them say, 'Oh my God! We didn't expect this!'

When you heard 'Bad Romance' after 'Poker Face,' it was like the best thing you've ever heard. We want that type of reaction. I think that's part of my job and her job -- to keep her evolving."

RedOne (aka Nadir Khayat) confirms that he has worked with Gagaloo on two tracks and describes both as "massive" hits-to-be:

"We try to take the sound and make it bigger and more interesting every time. And every time and era has its sound; you always want to be the first to jump on it."

RedOne and Gaga's studio synergy has proven its platinum power time and time again. The duo collaborated on nine tracks on her first two albums.

RedOne recalled their initial meeting:

"When I met her I just felt her energy -- and of course she was dressed in that special way [that] caught my eye. She had this energy and was so knowledgeable of music. She makes an impression on you right away. Immediately I thought, 'I can do something big with this girl.'" 

Something big, indeed. Gaga is certainly poised to be the voice of a new generation!

Are you excited for her latest LP? Weigh in below or @MTV3.

Tags album, Lady Gaga, Música, MTV NEws, New Musica, RedOne, Tr3s

By Sharmaine Jones

The Fat Joe and 50 Cent saga continues. Fat Joe's last stab at 50 occurred at a listening party for his tenth studio album The Darkside Volume 1, ending a song with “We gone throw the biggest party when Curtis die.” Now, with Fat Joe's album being out for a little over a week along with sound scan numbers, 50 is striking back!

Fiddy took to Twitter to post a link of a new video he released, mocking Fat Joe's album and its projected first week record sales:

“I Love Fat Joe!! http://ning.it/aSx76g”

In the video, 50 takes credit for the lackluster sale of Joe's album and pretends to be remorseful. He also includes different clips of people crying for added effect.

"I just listened to Fat Joe's record and this is all I have to say." 50 then puts up a copy of Fat Joe's Darkside, Volume 1 which has an animated smiley face crying with tears pouring down its face. "I didn't mean to do this to you Joe."

50 then shows clips of different people crying for added effect. The video ends with a message reading: "Only 5,000 copies sold...d*mn Joe!"

Mr. Don Cartagena seems to be cool with the success of his album, sharing the stats on Twitter:

“Congrats to @joeycrackts for selling 12,320 copies of The Dark Side this week & being the #2 indie album!!! Via E1!!!!!“

He also took made it a point to publicly shrug off the haters:

“Why they mad at me for putting out good music real music music they can't make!!! DARKSIDE!!!”

Fat Joe's album ranked within the top 30 Records on Neilson Sound scan. Not bad, or surprising because the album is poppin! Aside from the popular tracks “If it Aint About Money (Feat. Trey Songz)” and “Ha Ha (feat. Young Jeezy) the rest of the album's total vibe and lyrical content is on point.

On the track “At Last Supremacy (featuring Busta Rhymes),” Joe spits:

“Critics writing dissing me / its only right I turn the page / The streets is missing me / they loved me in my early days.”

We guess Fat Joe's mantra “J.O.S.E.” (Jealous Ones Still Envy) is still in effect since 50 went out of his way to create a “dis” video!

Will 50 Cent's video help or harm Fat Joe's record sales? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags 50 Cent, album, Chisme, Fat Joe, Gossip, latin, The Darkside Volume 1, Tr3s

By Elis T. Ortiz

There is no doubt that the undeniable King of Pop Michael Jackson will continue to delight worldwide audiences with his infectious music, well beyond his untimely death. In the movie "This Is It," we all got to feel a little closer to Michael and witness parts of why he was king. No solamente era talentoso, but he knew his craft inside and out, creating his art with a steadfast work ethic.

It’s this perfectionism that has Will.I.Am protesting the release of a new Michael Jackson album in which he will have no creative control. De acuerdo al integrante de los Black Eyed Peas, who actually collaborated with Michael in 2008, the late pop superstar would never have released any track that he didn’t feel was perfect.

When asked about the high demand from Michael’s fans to hear more from the artist, Will.I.Am responded, “So what? You don’t disrespect someone when they’re gone. … How much can you suck from his energy? … Freaking parasites!”

Michael’s brothers Jackie and Marlon are said to be working on the album with a projected release by end of this year, but no comment from the Jacksons has yet to reach the press on Will.I.Am’s opposition.

Queda en claro que Will.I.Am feels strongly that this album should never be heard.

Source: [Associated Press]

What’s your take on this? Would you buy a new Michael Jackson album that was not finished by him? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags album, Chisme, Gossip, latin, michael jackson, Tr3s, Will.I.am

By Simone Hilliard

After a three-year hiatus, A.B. Quintanilla and the All Starz are finally back with brand new music today (July 27), with the release of La Vida de un Genio.

The album features a slew of star appearances, including: Marciano Cantero (from los Enanitos Verdes), Julio Voltio & DJ Kane in “Hipnótika” (which was selected as the first single); Los Dinos & José Feliciano in “Nací para Sufrir” (Born to Suffer); Reyli in “Nunca te Voy a Olvidar” (I Will Never Forget You); Luis Enrique in “Invisible,” and many more.

On the album's star power, A.B. had this to say:

“When we decided to make the record, we wrote a list of all the singers that we wanted to invite, imagining that it would be a dream impossible to accomplish. But we were very surprised when all of them started to accept.”

Besides planning the new LP, A.B. spent the last 3 years reconnecting with his family and even dedicated this album to his father who has always believed in him.  

“He is the main reason behind my decision to become a musician. When I was really young, a producer that had offered me some songs ended up giving them to someone else. When my father saw me crying over it he told me: ‘Instead of crying you should be writing your own songs. Don’t leave your room until you have one.’”

Sound advice!

Are you excited for A.B.'s LP and the Los Dinos reunion? Weigh in below or @MTV3.

Tags A.B. Quintanilla, album, La Vida de un Genio, Música, release

By Simone Hilliard

Fresh off her 2009 release of She Wolf  and a popular globe-trotting tour, La Loba's staging a triumphant return to her roots when her upcoming all-Spanish LP Sale El Sol hits stores this September.

Shakira shared details with Latina at last week's "Premios Juventud":

“My new album is completely different from ‘Loba. It reminds me a lot of Donde Estan Los Ladrones and Pies Descalzos. It’s called Sale El Sol and it’ll be ready starting in September, I hope."

Shaki went on to explain how she poured her soul into the project:

"I’m really happy. It’s an album that I wrote with my heart in my hand. It has a lot of romantic songs, a lot of rockera tracks, and a very prominent Latin side to it. I went to the Dominican Republic to look for new sounds, merengue and “callejero” sounds, and I found some amazing things. It’s an album that’s very diverse, but also very personal. I recognize a lot of myself in it.”

Sounds like a hit! If the album is anything like "Gitana," then we're sure La Loba's fans will be pleased.

Are you excited for Shaki's new/old Spanish sound? Weigh in below or @MTV3!

Tags album, Música, New Musica, Sale El Sol, Shakira, Tr3s

By Simone Hilliard

Lady Gaga is one busy lady! In the midst of her sold out tour, Gagita stopped by the "Today" show this morning (July 9) to perform "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Bad Romance," "Alejandro" and other chart topping hits off her multi-platinum LP, The Fame Monster.

But aren't Gaga's little monsters clamoring for new music from their idol yet? While her third album won't be released until early next year, fans who are itching for a new fix need only wait for August 3rd, when Gaga will release a remix disc in the U.S.!

This will be the first American release for The Remix, which is already an international hit after arriving overseas earlier this spring.

In a press release, Interscope Records said the U.S. version of the set will include 10 tracks from The Fame and The Fame Monster, covering hits including “Just Dance,”  “Paparazzi,” “Bad Romance” and “Telephone” -- all remixed by highly acclaimed DJ’s and artists.

The album has already sold over 500,000 copies internationally, topping the charts in the UK, Japan and Canada.

Will you buy Gaga's The Remix or wait for her third album? Let us know below, or @MTV3!

Tags album, Lady Gaga, Música, MTV NEws, MTV Tr3s, Remix

By Michael Lopez

It’s hard to believe that last week marked the 11th anniversary of Carlos Santana’s incredibly popular and well-received Supernatural album. Of course, many purists would say that it may not be his BEST album (you’ve got to remember this guitar god’s been putting out records since the 1960’s), but it’s definitely a worthy addition to his catalog.

If you still haven't played Supernatural in it's entirety, we've got you covered; earlier this year, Carlos personally remastered and reissued the album as Supernatural (Legacy Edition), complete with a 2nd disc of bonus tracks! Some of the new standouts include a dance remix of "Corazon Espinado," featuring Mana, a never-released Bob Marley cover, and an instrumental version of everybody’s favorite, "Smooth."

Supernatural is a must for any audiophile. The album is noteworthy in that gave this Latino legend a much deserved resurgence with young listeners all over the planet. Supernatural sold over 25 million copies worldwide, topped the charts for 12 weeks in the U.S. alone, won nine Grammys, and made that Rob Thomas jam one of 1999’s hottest summer anthems.

"Oye Como Va" mi remastered Supernatural album and long live Carlos Santana!

Source: [AntiMusic]

Who’s the next Latin music artist primed for a comeback? Weigh in below, or @MTV3!

Tags 2010, album, Carlos Santana, Supernatural