Top 100 Greatest Urbano Albums Of All-Time #'s 50 to 1
49 Wisin & Yandel - Pal Mundo (2005)
What else can be said about Wisin & Yandel's "Pal Mundo" that hasn't already. It is master class on how to do Reggaeton for the clubs and Pop audience without losing that street edge. It is the best of all worlds. Also, Mas Flow Inc's production on this one is timeless.
It may be kind of early for a victory lap for good ol' Alvarito, but he deserves it. This album may not up everyone's alley, but those of us who appreciate know what a great work it truly is.
46 Playero Greatest Hits Street Mix III (1999)
44 Voltio - Voltaje AC (2004)
43 Vico C - En Honor A La Verdad (2003)Vico C's second best selling album, but arguably his most influential one. This is Vico C meets the Luny Tunes "Mas Flow Era" and it works incredibly well, transcending sound, cultural, and generational barriers.
Rosalía has angered some as they even declare this to not be an Urbano album, which doesn't make sense to me. But that's what great art does, provoke strong emotions in others. She took this Urbano thing to a dimension it has never seen before and it is wonderful.
41 DJ Nelson - Flow La Discoteka 2 (2007)
What during its day was reviled by some for not coming close to their previous albums in terms of quality is now hailed as a universal masterpiece. In truth, it was ahead of its time. And it should have been. Luny Tunes spent over a millon dollars (US$) developing the studio this product was completed in. And the sound is outta this world! It made Tainy a star. This album expanded on the original Los Benjamins with an extra album full of high quality songs, you can listen in the vid above.
38 Lito & Polaco - Mundo Frio (2001) *
This is lircal Hip Hop at its best with great beats from R De Rhumba.
35 OGM y Oakley - Preparados (1996) *
34 Eddie Dee - Biografia (2001) *
33 Nach - Poesía Difusa (2003)
Nach provided us with an insightful and introspective Rap album in the mid 2000's that was universally hailed as a masterpiece upon release. Known for his verbose approach to Rap, Nach here does it in a way where it can connect with everyone, unlike some of his later works. Over 20 years later "Poesía Difusa" has aged like fine wine.
Known collaborator of Baron Lopez, DJ Chiclin and Vico C; DJ Crane put out his second album to much acclaim in 1995. He took, mostly unknown talents at the time and gave them a platform to showcase their abilities. Some like Bobby Jacko, Chinito and Funky would become relevant names of the Underground. But others like B Love, Fresh J and Mr. Luis show how abundant Puerto Rico was with talent at the time.
30 Club De Los Poetas Violentos - Madrid Zona Bruta (1994) +This album saved Spanish Rap from obscurity. It pretty much created the scene we know and love today. CPV where decades ahead of their time and some are just beginning to catch up.
29 DJ Adam - Mad Jam (1995) *
The Mexican Rap trio are uber influential. Besides having "Machete Music" named after them, they made one of the greatest Spanish Language Rap albums of all-time. The sound keeps their Mexican roots in tact while providing a refreshing take on Hardcore Rap with Alt Rock fusions. Toy Selectah and Jason Roberts were in charge of the musical arrangements.
26 DJ Joe 4 - Todo Como Antes (1996)
Yes, "Mas Flow" came from "The Flow" and it is a spiritual successor. But often times, the original is superior and in this case that's what it is. A who's-who of participants contribute compositions including Daddy Yankee, Baby Rasta & Gringo, Alberto Stylee, Yaviah, Mr. Notty Boy, Bebé, Eddie Dee among others...
Eddie Dee's crowning artistic achievement was putting together some of the best current talents to craft this masterpiece. The production was handled by Luny Tunes, Playero using the moniker 'The Majestic' and Elvis G.
22 DJ Eric & Master Mitch - Street Style vol 1 Comin' At Cha (1994)Street Style introduced us DJ Eric's legendary soon to be "La Industria" crew. MC Ceja, Lito, Polaco were the core members who remained throughout the crew's duration until their separation in the year 1999. But other participants such as MC King, Black Omar, Glory (on the original non Pina Records version), and Prieto Valdez impress greatly with their audacious contributions.
21 El Cartel De Yankee "Los Intocables" (1997)
20 El Bando Korrupto - No Creemos En Nadie (1998)
Don Omar was the first to have a Reggaeton album sell over 500,000 units with "The Last Don" and one can see why. The album has a little bit for everyone. It's commercial and Pop yet very street. But it is probably Don's tropical fusion in "Dile" which brought millions of new fans to the Reggaeton culture.
It's a real shame the Lito y Polaco songs are missing from the audio streaming version. Those tracks are what make the album. The Reggaeton version of "De Chamaquito Yo" is not on this album btw but it was in the music video. Odd choice. Regardless, Pina Records crafted an all-time classic here which is still having a tremendous impact on the culture all these years later.
16 Tony Touch & Nico Canada presentan Guatauba (1996) *
Some call Buddha's Family the greatest various artist album in Urbano music history. That is very understandable for it does both Rap and Reggaeton at such an elite level. Besides Tempo and his Buddha's Family stable mates, Getto y Gastam, the album counts with the participation of Ivy Queen, Sir Speedy, Felo Man, Trebol Clan, Don Omar, Eddie Dee, & Yaviah among others...
Possibly the most influential Urbano album of all time and at one point time, it highest selling with over 6 million units and counting. Yankee brought us an album that appeals to all audiences that enjoy Urbano without abandoning his Underground roots like he did in his later years. DJ Urba & Monserrate along with Luny Tunes and co... do an excellent job on the music production.
12 Vico C - Hispanic Soul (1991)A real eclectic album where Vico dives into Dancehall Reggae, Guaguanco, Merengue, Rap, House and even a ballad. Some of his most memorable hits are here including "Bomba Para Afincar", "Dulce, Sexy, Sensual", "Te Voy a Tomar", "La Inglesa", "Yogurt" and "Tradicion". This is Vico C at his best. The album was co-produced by Vico C & Baron Lopez.
Speaking of eclectic, that is definitely what we got with the imaginative "Broke & Famous". It probably helped that DJ Nelson had such an impressive roster of producers including DJ Memo, Elliot, Montana & Jamsha helping Nely & Tainy on the beats. The equally eclectic Danny Fornaris of Fusssion Musik also contributes some beats. "Broke and Famous" was lauded from day one for being able to be so expansive sonically yet grounded in the Underground Reggaeton roots came from. Not just anyone could do that but Ñejo y Dálmata can and did.
10 Reggae Entre Amigos (1989)Apache Ness y Los Sensacionales showcase their talents alongside the very influential Chicho Man. Both are among Dancehall Reggae En Español's first crooners. Very beautiful music here.
9 The Noise 1 "Underground" (1994)Aggressive, edgy and subversive is the first volume of 'The Noise'. Puerto Rico was in sort of a crisis during this time as their hero Vico C disappeared from the spotlight to deal with personal issues. This led to a new generation of MCs to fill the void. The album was called "The Noise" to commemorate the popular nightclub of the same name.
8 Baby Rasta & Gringo - Sentenciados (2004)
Rasta & Gringo did it all here. They took on the government, lyrically slaughtered opponents and made some of the best Perreo songs in history. "Sentenciados" will go done as a landmark work in the history of Urbano. Beware, the clean version is poorly edited. You want to hear the dirty version of this one to get the right experience.
7 The Legend (1997)"The Legend" is quite legendary. It is often misquoted as a Playero album and though he produces, he is not the only one. DJ Dicky, DJ Goldy & Nico Canada contribute beats for the likes of Maicol y Manuel, Mexicano 777, Daddy Yankee, Rey Pirin, Hector & Tito, Ruben Sam, Voltio and many more... It is a star studded affair and underground Reggaeton at its best!
DISC 1 Mission RapDISC 2 Mission Reggae
6 Boricua Guerrero "First Combat" (1997)
This doubles disc album is notable for including American Mcs of renown collaborating with some of Puerto Rico's best. You have Big Pun with Yaviah, Fat Joe with Mexicano, Q Tip of A Tribe Called Quest with Don Chezina and most famously, Daddy Yankee with Nas. The second disc is full of Reggaeton produced from the likes of DJ Goldy, Playero & Nico Canada. It is a masterful work and full of great music, top to bottom.
Mas Flow 2 CD 1Mas Flow 2 CD 25 Luny Tunes & Baby Ranks - Mas Flow 2 (2005)
"Mas Flow 2" is the greatest commercial Reggaeton album in history. It is accessible to all audiences but underground and street at the same time. Luny grew up influenced by Playero & The Noise so he knew how to combine the best of both worlds. He went Pop without straying from the underground roots which is hard to do. An all-star list of participants fill the album. And you have so many classic songs. "Rakata" by Wisin & Yandel, "Mayor Que Yo", "Mirame" by Daddy Yankee & Deevani, "El Tiburon" by Alexis & Fido ft Baby Ranks, "Castigo" by Hector El Father, "Verme" by Notch & Baby Ranks, "Dejala Volar" from Tito El Bambino, "Te He Querido Te He Llorado" from Ivy Queen and so many others... Many of these songs would appear on other albums later but they appeared on Mas Flow 2 first.
4 Makiza - Aerolineas Makiza (1999)Ana Tijoux & Makiza brought an eclectic Funky sound to Latin Rap with 1999's "Aerolineas Makiza". The subject matter ranges from introspective songs about mental health struggles, political and family issues to jams just about vibing and stuff. It is a supremely influential work and often cited as the greatest Hip Hop album ever recorded in the Spanish language.
3 Tempo - Game Over (1999)Tempo brought a new level of frustration and insight into the underworld of Puerto Rico. It was rebellion and chaos with a conscience. He knew what he was living was wrong, but was gonna do his best to get through hell and make it out into heaven. At the same time he provided some bailoteo Reggaeton to make the girlas dance. But the Hip Hop at the time was quite revolutionary. No one else was rapping like Tempo and Mexicano did on this album during the time.
2 Tego Calderon - El Abayarde (2002)"El Abayarde" from Tego Calderon was the first album that made pundits take Reggaeton seriously. Before then, they mostly looked at it as a joke or simply Club Music but nothing that could provoke deep thought or influence culture in a positive manner. But when "El Abayarde" came out, Tego showed people you can be street, still perrear but be very intelligent at the same time. Most of the lyricism and social commentary on the album was reseverved for the Rap tracks, but on "Loiza" Tego showed you can take a stand and still have a catchy Dancehall Reggae Rhythm behind it. Then there's the next level punchlines on "Guasa Guasa" and "El Kambumbo" something most MCs of the modern generation don't know how to do. "El Abayarde" is Tego's first album after a decade struggling to get noticed and it is the best work we could have hoped for from anyone.
1 Playero 37 "Underground" (1993/94)Playero 37 is the most influential Urbano album in history. There was Playero 37 and everything that came after it. It invented the modern sound of Reggaeton as we know it today. Of course, Luny Tunes and DJ Blass' production abilities with original structured melodies elevated everything in the 2000's but Playero created the blueprint. Without Playero Reggaeton would be nowhere. It is much more than he's the guy who gave us Daddy Yankee. He is the driving force behind the transition from the Vico C and El General era to the music we hear today over 30 years later. When you listen to El Alfa or any modern Dembow, you are hearing Playero's influence on every bar. Bad Bunny and Rauw Alejandro famously sampled Playe in recent releases and they aren't the only ones. Dozens of relevant artists have sampled Playero's works over the years and it all started with #37. On top of everything, every song on the album is good. There is not a single bad track. It is the perfect Reggaeton album and one of the few ever made to achieve perfection.
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