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By Michael Lopez

What fun is summer without an upbeat music anthem? And if you were to ask the OurStage voters, LyriCa & Ysen's "Genesis" is a perfect way to kick off the season. With its dance-friendly vibes and bumpin' beats, the track helped push L & Y to the top of the "El Headliner" heap, making them the big winners for April!

"When we found out we won 'El Headliner,' we were shocked," Danny "LyriCa" Medina told us in an exclusive interview. "We felt very accomplished and happy."

The Dominican-blooded duo met back in high school and formed a strong bond over their love of hip-hop and tropical music. As LyriCa told us, their roles in the group complement the sounds very well.

"My role is to make the beats and sing leads," he said. "Recently I've branched out into engineering too. Ysen does a great job covering most of the rap territory."

As LyriCa explained, their musical influences run very deep, with a heavy emphasis on reggaeton. Of course, his mission is to make sure the singles have a universal appeal.

"I have a lot of musical influences," he added. "Big Boy, Vico-C, Wisin y Yandel. Ysen's into Tego Calderon and Don Omar. But we really try to make our sounds our own. I really see music as a form of expression without any boundaries."

LyriCa also told us how he and Ysen are currently working on their own individual mix tapes to "test the waters" on a few experiments. Whatever they cook up, one thing's for sure – the influence of "Genesis" will be front and center.

"Genesis is one of my favorite songs," LyriCa went on to say. "We like to call it 'Productive Music,' meaning it sounds good and has a positive message. That's our ultimate goal, to promote good things through our songs."

Well, the duo is certainly off to a good start. If you haven’t heard "Genesis," we highly recommend downloading it from our Free Latin Music page. And to find out more about L & Y, be sure to follow their official tweets!

Have your heard "Genesis" yet? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, El Headliner, Exclusive Entrevistas, Genesis, Hot Stuff, LyriCa & Ysen, Música, Ourstage, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Students at New York's Celia Cruz High School got quite a thrill this week. In between Math and History class, they were treated to a live performance from the one-and-only Juanes!

The Colombian rocker dropped by to play some unplugged songs and promote the importance of education. His appearance worked in conjunction with the Latin Grammy in Schools Program.

"Keep studying, that is the key to everything," he told the cheering teens. "You have the opportunity to change the world. The world is completely crazy, so art is so important. Everyday is a great opportunity to create something different."

Over 100 students got to see El Rockero strut his stuff. Throughout the brief set, he broke into acoustic performances of "Me Enamora," "La Camisa Negra" and his newest hit, "La Señal." Thankfully for the rest of us, there is still a fantastic opportunity to see Juanes go Unplugged again.

Have you ever seen Juanes perform live? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celia Cruz High School, Hot Stuff, Juanes, Latin Grammy In Schools, Música

By Ikam Acosta

Attention all aspiring Latino recording artists, Dame Un Break is back and looking for fresh new talent. If you or someone you know would like to get discovered and receive a chance to get their music video promoted by MTV Tr3s, you won't want to miss this opportunity.

All you have  to do is submit your track to Dame Un Break on Tr3s before June 18, 2012 for a chance to win a one-day recording session with a Grammy-winning producer. Winners will also have a chance to get their own music video filmed in Los Angeles, with round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation included.

All artists are encouraged to enter Dame Un Break and upload their best tracks. Fans can also visit the Dame Un Break page and vote for their favorite artists. Registration is required, but don't worry, it's free. All you have to do is join as an artist or a fan, and go from there.

The voting period for audition videos will take place from July 2 through July 16, but make sure you get your tracks uploaded by June 18 in order to qualify. Contest winners will be announced in late July. Muchísima suerte!

Do you know any aspiring artists who would make kick-ass rock stars?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Contests, Dame un Break, Música, Tr3s

By Michael Lopez

Ready for another excelente "El Headliner?" The fans have spoken yet again and this month, they've crowned Miami local Xcelencia as their winner. And the reggaeton roof raiser seemed very touched by the honor, as he told us in an exclusive interview.

"It felt great learning that I had been chosen as 'El Headliner'," he explained. "I hope to use this success to my advantage and help spread the word about my music. The goal of my music is to Americanize reggaeton. I want to help bring respect to the genre and I want people to see what a great genre it is."

Clearly Xcelencia takes his music very seriously. The half-Cuban, half-Puerto Rican maestro has been creating original sounds for years, first as a DJ and later as a one-man reggaeton band.

"I started out in music when I was very young," he said. "At first I was interested in DJ'ing, but then I became fascinated by production and creating my own original songs. I also love the fact that I can express myself through my lyrics."

Xcelencia was actually born in Puerto Rico and divided younger years between the island and Orlando. Growing up amid two cultures, he was able to incorporate quite a lot of flavor into his songs.

"Being raised between the states and Puerto Rico, I was exposed to a lot of great music," he added. "I've been influenced by everything from hip/hop, to pop, to R&B and reggaeton. Artists like Daddy Yankee and Don Omar were huge influences."

And clearly Xcelencia wasn't just enamored with performers. He told us music production is a passion of his too and he was able to implement it into his latest single, "Gravedad."

"I'm really proud of 'Gravedad' because I was involved in the whole process of the song. I wrote it, I produced it, everything to do with that project came strictly from me."

He went on to add how his passion for excellence helped garner him his now famous stage name.

"It's funny, people in the studio started calling me Xcelencia," he told us. "The 'X' part of it sounded cool, so I went with it and it stuck!"

And as far as Xcelencia's future is concerned, he's confident that he will be an "El Headliner" to remember. Currently he's working on his first full-length album, followed by high concept videos and a live show.

You can follow Xcelencia's happenings but keeping up with his official website.

Have you heard "Gravedad" yet? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, El Headliner, Exclusive Entrevistas, Gravedad, Música, Ourstage, Reggaeton, Tr3s Exclusives, Xcelencia

By Ikam Acosta

The hit song 'La Señal' from Juanes has gone to the number one spot in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, México, and 10 other countries in Latin America. It has also climbed to the top of the charts in Spain and Chile, bringing it to one of the top 5 spots on their music charts.

The song was featured on Juanes' MTV Unplugged album and is a long-awaited single from the Latin rocker. Juanes' Unplugged album is produced by Juan Luis Guerra, known for his philanthropy and musical genius. It will be available on May 29 for everyone's listening pleasure.

Other songs from the Juanes Unplugged album include: Fíjate Bien, La Paga, Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor, Es Por Ti, Todo En Mi Vida Eres Tú, A Dios Le Pido, Hoy Me Voy (featuring Paula Fernandes), Volverte a Ver, La Camisa Negra, Azul Sabina (featuring Joaquín Sabina), Para Tu Amor, La Señal, Me Enamora, Odio Por Amor, and Fotografía (featuring Emanuella Bellezza).

Juanes will embark upon a major promotional tour of his music just before his Unplugged album is released. The Colombian heartthrob is scheduled to hit Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Chicago, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. He will also be visiting Spain, Mexico, and Colombia to celebrate his new record.

Juanes' MTV Unplugged album will be the first time the artist will be releasing a live record. The album includes new versions of his more favorite tracks, produced by legends such as Juan Luis Guerra, performed and recorded at Miami's New World Symphony Center in Miami Beach.

The Juanes MTV Unplugged performance will be televised in Latin America on MTV and in Brazil via VH1, on May 27. It will air in the United States on May 28 on MTV Tr3s. The Juanes MTV Unplugged album will be on sale on May 29 on CD, along with the DVD version as well.

What is your favorite Juanes performance?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Juanes, Música, MTV Unplugged

By Ikam Acosta

Colombian singing sensation Juanes will be hosting the 10th annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars Gala in Miami this year, along with his wife, Karen Martinez.

Other presenters at the event will include David Bisbal, Juan Luis Guerra, Daisy Fuentes, Giselle Blondet, Raúl González, and Blanca Soto. Tremendo line-up! St. Jude Hospital does not play around. They have been offering services to children with cancer and other terminal diseases, and working with celebrities to make their causes known worldwide. Please tune into their cause and let others know they can help. FedEx has been a St. Jude sponsor since 2002.

The May 19 event will honor Juan Luis Guerra for all his contributions helping the children of the Dominican Republic. Guerra also happens to be producing Juanes' upcoming MTV Unplugged album, and Juanes is a previous Angels & Stars Gala honoree.

Do you have any favorite celebrities that contribute to a charitable cause?

Tags Blanca Soto, Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Daisy Fuentes, David Bisbal, Giselle Blondet, Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes, Karen Martinez, Raul Gonzalez

By Michael Lopez

Congratulations are in order for the Latin-American duo Grupo Legacy. Frontmen Andy Spades and Frankelly successfully took down the newest "El Headliner" crown thanks to their addicting single "Vuelo en el Viento." Andy recently spoke to us about the victory and how proud he is of Grupo's music.

"We feel truly blessed," he told us. "And there has been so much support from MTV Tr3s. We've been promoting our music nonstop for the past few months and now it's really starting to pay off."

Indeed it has. The Miami-based duo recently got the opportunity to perform at the Calle Ocho festival, which Spades called "amazing." They've also been touring heavily and spending a lot of time in the studio recording their new album.

"We're working hard on the album," Andy explained. "It should be coming out in about eight months. This one's going to be unique because we tried to incorporate pieces of both Frankelly's and my backgrounds."

Frankelly, who provides the smooth vocals, originally hails from Venezuela and brings a lot of the country's sounds into his writing. Spades was born in the Dominican Republic and told us that he sprinkles in his own cultural flavor too.

"A lot of Frankelly's influences are from his home country," he said. "And mine are from my country. We have so many styles that we can work with and I think that’s what helps create Grupo Legacy's unique sound."

The Grupo Legacy "sound" is layered with tropical elements, including horns, drums, and bouncy bass beats. Andy explained to us how his DJ background helps him craft the rhythms and though he doesn't necessarily sing on "Vuelo," he played a major role in creating its lyrics.

"Vuelo was actually based on a girl I was dating while I was DJ'ing," he said. "I wrote it to show her the types of things I was working on."

Spades has a lot more stuff he's working on at the moment too. Just visit the official Grupo Legacy site for a taste of the guys' new music. And if you haven't downloaded "Vuelo en el Viento" yet, we highly recommend adding it to your party playlist.

Have you heard "Vuelo en el Viento" yet? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Andy Spades, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Calle Ocho, El Headliner, Exclusive Entrevistas, Frankelly, Grupo Legacy, Música, Ourstage, Tr3s Exclusives, Vuelo en el Viento

By Michael Lopez

Well, another South By Southwest (SXSW) festival has come and gone, leaving behind a sensory overload for the eyes, ears, and imagination. This weekend the event got to show off its musical ambitions, which included performances by 50 Cent, Eminem, and Juanes. And they were a great way to cap off nine days of phenomenal entertainment.

SXSW began its run in Austin two Fridays ago, with the premiere screening of Cabin In The Woods. A highly-anticipated horror/comedy from sci-fi mastermind Joss Whedon, it got the movie portion of the festival off to a thrilling start.

The other big SXSW movie of the week was 21 Jump Street. The Jonah Hill comedy had its at premiere at Texas' Paramount Theater and has since gone on to shatter box office records nationwide. Other festival film debuts included Jack Black's Bernie and Babymakers from the Broken Lizard comedy troupe.

SXSW also had plenty of gadget highlights for Texas techies. Sean Parker (who helped launch Facebook and Napster) made a memorable appearance, hosting a panel about how to spread charity via the web, together with former vice president Al Gore. Reps from Pandora were present too, illustrating interactive developments for their online music site.

Other geeky goodies from the festival included a new Facebook app that lets you create more user-friendly videos (courtesy of Viddy) and a location-based Foursquare rival from tech giant Uberlife.

But the SXSW events that drew the most attention came courtesy of Juanes, Bruce Springsteen, and 50 Cent. Everything related to music attracted huge crowds, particularly Springsteen’s Thursday keynote address. For two hours, "The Boss" delved deep into his musical past and offered quite a lot of insight into how he make records.

"There is no pure way or right way of doing it. There's just doing it," he said before the cheering audience.

By the time Friday rolled around, the concerts were in full swing. At the Austin Music Hall, 50 Cent brought out Eminem for a riveting performance of "Patiently Waiting." Across town at Fader Fort, The-Dream wowed the crowds with a very invigorating live set (which included an amazing rendition of "Walkin' on the Moon").

But the place we wanted to be most Friday night was Austin’s Moody Theater. There Juanes tore up the stage, performing his signature hits and a Woody Guthrie cover (in English, no less!). Flossing a "PEACE" shirt and an acoustic guitar, El Rockero shared some deep affections with the crowd.

"[SXSW] is the greatest experience of my life," he said. "I'm so happy and so thankful. It's changing my life. I just feel it. It's inspiring me, and that's the best."

Have you ever been to a SXSW event? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 21 Jump Street, 50 Cent, Babymakers, Bernie, Blogger: Michael Lopez, bruce springsteen, Cabin in the Woods, Eminem, Hot Stuff, Joss Whedon, Juanes, Música, Movies & CineMás, Pandora, Sean Parker, South By Southwest, SXSW, Technology, The-Dream

By Michael Lopez

It seems like Bruce Springsteen has a very famous Colombian fan. Latin rock god Juanes has openly spoken about "The Boss" as an inspiration and even caught a Bruce concert this past weekend.

Snapped outside of the Apollo Theater, Juanes was all smiles after Springsteen's big show. He went on to explain how he appreciates Bruce's "working class anthems" and introspective lyrics.

"[I really enjoyed] his energy on stage with the political nature of his music," El Rockero said after the concert.

And it's probably a good idea for Juanes to take a few Springsteen refresher courses. He'll be opening for "The Boss" at SXSW this week and may even throw in a cover song or too (if we're lucky).

Would you like to see a Juanes/Springsteen duet? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, bruce springsteen, Juanes, Música, SXSW

By Ikam Acosta

Get ready, Juanes fans! The new single from the Juanes MTV Unplugged show, titled 'La Señal,' gets released today, much to the anticipation of Juanes fans everywhere.

'La Señal' will be one of three new singles off of Juanes' MTV Unplugged album. The single was produced by Juan Luis Guerra, who joined Juanes onstage during the live recording of the show.

Juanes MTV Unplugged will also feature new interpretations of his more popular songs, as well as a few other surprises and guest appearances. 'La Señal' will be the first single from Juanes MTV Unplugged since it was recorded in February.

Make sure you go check out 'La Señal' and let us know what you think!

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Celebrities, Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes, Juanes MTV Unplugged, Música