New Blood and the odd works of the DJ Raymond Crew... and are they the secret sauce to "Bizcochito" by Rosalia? Possibly.

 New Blood and the odd works of the DJ Raymond Crew

by Reggaeton Party Mane Uno

Being someone fascinated with the Underground era of Reggaeton (1994-2001) I am deeply intrigued by the works forged at the hands of DJ Raymond and company.  The first official DJ Raymond album (although there were rare home tapes that came first) was the legendary "Reggae Shock vol 1".  Unlike other albums from that era, there are 0 participants on that album that went on to become big names unless Luigi 21 Plus is Funky Mike like someone told me several years ago.  I could never confirm but they do sound alike.  

DJ Raymond "Reggae Shock vol 1" is renowned classic work within the Reggaeton history book and not Raymond's only one.  Even though his sound was weird from the offset, his first production wasn't that odd to the point it would turn people off.  That would change only a year later with DJ Raymond Reggae Shock 2 in 1996.

The most known singers from DJ Raymond Reggae Shock 1 were David J who participated in some notable classic productions like DJ Adam "Mad Jam 1", DJ Guichy, and DJ Goldy vol 2 "Hardcore Reggae Mix".  And Bam Bam who gained more fame as a music video director, famously directing Daddy Yankee's "Somos De Calle" Remix video where several artists of renown like Arcangel, De La Ghetto and Cosculluela participated.  I don't know if Bam Bam continued making vids post co-vid and David J is a complete mystery to me like 80% of the talents from the underground days.  Shout out to the awesome Daryk DK who interviews some of these underground legends, you can see his web series here where he even interviewed the great DJ Raymond.

Raymond is still active as recent as 2024 djing in clubs and pubs around Puerto Rico.  Before that in the 2010's he was releasing underground blend tapes via the web, remixing famous songs with your protoypical Reggaeton Dembow sounds.  But in the 90's, DJ Raymond was one of the top Underground dj's in Puerto Rico.  His works were even featured on Playero Exitos 95 and the masterpiece U Records 3 Reggae Jam Mix which brought the DJ's Adam, Chiclin, Crane, Manuel and the aforementioned DJ Raymond to create an album with their respective crews of singers.  These were the days when the dj's were the stars at the forefront of the Reggaeton culture.

But, possibly, among Raymond's greatest contributions were helping the legendary dj/producers Urba and Rafy Mercenario get started in the mid to late 90's.  Even though I had heard Reggae Shock 1 and 2 in passing by 1997, (I can never complete volume 2 which some people say is downright awful, although it has aged better over time), my first truly memorable experience with DJ Raymond's music came in an obscure Puerto Rican magazine first released in 1998 known as Street Rhythm magazine.  Reggaeton magazines were so rare back then (and they're extinct now) that in order to get people to buy them, they would come with Cd's that often had exclusive songs, sometimes with some big names attached.

But Street Rhythm 1 is kinda bad.  And the beats are just weird with a very young Rafy Mercenario having not quite found his sound yet.  I was about 11 years old when that magazine came out.  The album has some notable names like Bigademus, Bimbo, Kalil and Rubio & Joel who probably have the best song.  But it is just weird.  And honestly that has been DJ Raymond's legacy... he made the strangest Reggaeton music of all time.

Music Video for DJ Raymond - New Blood (2002)

I just have to mention "Apocalipsis Boricua".  I have actually seen someone act baffled with how strange this album is.  And I was equally perplexed upon hearing it.  "Apocalipsis Boricua" came out in 1999 and this was the first DJ Raymond product the legendary DJ Urba worked on along with Rafy Mercenario.  And there are some big names on that both future and present.  Nicky Jam, Magnate y Valentino, Pancho Indio Crew, Rubio & Joel, OGM & Oakley, Ranking Stone, Camaleon among others contributed to DJ Raymond's magnum opus of weird.  I think "Apocalipsis Boricua" is the weirdest Reggaeton album with big names ever made, but it has aged beautifully.  I did not really start appreciating it until the 2010's.

Now listen to this song by Magnate y Valentino when they used to be known as "Los Nenes" back then...  What modern day Reggaeton classic does it sound like?  *Jeopardy song plays* *buzzer*  It kinda sounds like Rosalia's "Bizcochito" don't it?  Now before anyone gets in a frenzy and claims the beat is stolen... no.  I thankfully know what might have happened and did my research.  Michael Uzowuru is credited as producer along with Rosalia.  So this may be presumptuous on my behalf and if it is I apologize.  Let me explain why I don't believe Bizcochito sounding like Apocalipsis Boricua is a merely a coincidence.

One day several years ago, out of sheer curiosity, I saw an interview of Rosalia's producer El Guincho talking about how he created the mega hit "Con Altura".  Turns out that the beat was thanks to a hidden contributor in DJ Urba who shared "blueprints"/files with El Jincho which helped him find the sound he wanted for "Con Altura"  This is not the first time Urba secretly contributed to a world smash hit.  DJ Urba is also the ghost producer for the drums on "Despacito" after Daddy Yankee felt the original producer "El Dandee" didn't have the Reggaeton drum patterns down right.

DJ Raymond collection of Music Videos for DJ Pito - New Eras, DJ PP - Dembow Style & DJ Raymond Reggae Shock 2

For most of you who probably don't know what production blueprints are unless you have worked on music as a producer or artist yourself.  They can vary.  They can be collection of drum kits, acapellas or straight up production files of even famous beats that producers often share with one another for Digital Audio Workstations like Logic, Protools, Ableton, FL Studio (also known as Fruity Loops) etc...  I know this because I make music myself and have had works shared with me and vice versa, though I did most of the sharing.

Now, El Guincho did not do "Bizcochito" officially, but he is one of the producers credited on "Motomami".  So it is remotely possible "Bizcochito" is one of those left over "blueprints" DJ Urba shared with El Guincho from his days with DJ Raymond.  It wouldn't be the first time.  Producers leave behind blueprints in studios all the time and other producers then build on those blueprints to create something new.  Although some of them straight up steal, let's just say what it is.  And I know there are world famous renowned producers that don't know how to make a beat from scratch, but have made millions of dollars thanks to blueprints they either bought, stole or had gifted to them.  

Luny Tunes had a lot of their blueprints stolen back in the day as other producers mimicked their sound after copying those files without permission from studios they would leave their production blueprints behind in.  A famous anecdote expressed by the producers themselves is that the mega hit "Ay Vamos" started out as a random file Sky & Mosty happened to come across on which they then built upon.  To this day, they don't know who created the base blueprint for "Ay Vamos" but their production company at the time 'Infinity' had somehow obtained ownership of that and many other blueprints for music production inside the 'Infinity' studios.

But back to DJ Raymond.  After losing my original copy many years ago, I was glad to find out DJ Raymond's 2002 album "New Blood" was on YOUTUBE.  I remember searching for this one for years and not finding it but someone finally uploaded it a couple of years ago.  Now "New Blood" is not a good album, far from it, but it has a couple of hidden gems and some of Urba and Mercenario's beats here are top notch.  Honestly, this blog entry was just born out of my need to conserve this almost lost production.

U Records 3 music video featuring the DJ Raymond crew

DJ Raymond's "New Blood" is nearly the same exact concept as Sangre Nueva with ironically the same title but in English.  For those that may not know what Sangre Nueva was.  It was a production by Hector El Father & Naldo designed to showcase new talent.  But there are some vets on "New Blood" like Rafy Love from the legendary Underground trio 'Los Boys' (RIP Angel & Jason Love).  D.I, known for singing with DJ Joe is also on it and I think he was the other guy from Doble Impacto (not to be confused with Joel D.I who also worked with DJ Joe in duo and solo).  Gary Clan who had some relative success as an artist and club promoter in PR is also on it.  It is a piece of history I am glad to find out the work has been preserved.

One last thing the DJ Raymond crew did way back in 1998 was give Tego Calderon his big break.  This was on their album 'The Cruce Underground 2' (vol 1 was produced by DJ Chiclin & DJ Stefano).  Calderon used to go by Tego Tec back in the day.  Tego was almost part of the legendary DJ Adam Mad Jam back in 1995 and even recorded for it, but ultimately the song was cut from the final tracklist as Adam felt Tego had not found his voice yet.  Ironically, I heard that Tego's song on The Cruce Underground 2 is the exact acapella left off of DJ Adam Mad Jam released finally 3 years later but produced by DJ Raymond and co.  Anyways, to conclude I am gonna leave a list of every DJ Raymond album I am aware of and ratings even on the albums I did not finish for I heard all of them, and completed most.

List of DJ Raymond and co. works (not including blends or beat tapes) Click on the album titles to listen and/or download.

DJ Raymond - Reggae Shock vol. 1 (1995)  Rating: 9/10  This album was included on In The House Magazine's commemorative best Urbano albums of the century list back in the year 2000.  It was the edition with Lito y Polaco on the cover if anyone has it and would like to share it online.  I lost mines.

U Records 3 - Reggae Jam Mix (1995)  Rating:  10/10  All-Time classic album.  The re-release has been ruined by BM Records who put out a poorly mixed version of the album to DSP's  (listen and you will know what I mean).  Don't worry I got y'all with the Side A and Side B version of the album as originally intended.  This has some notable names like Frankie Boy, Bobby Jack & Chinito, K.I.D, H Man and P Man, Burufat among others...

U Records 3 SIDE A Listen Here

U Records 3 SIDE B Listen Here

DJ Raymond - Algarete Home Tape (1995) *This is fairly good but the sound quality is incredibly poor.  I don't know who the MCs were but they were top notch and very able.  But I cannot rate because of how atrocious the quality is.  If I find it, I will try to remaster it, but I think it was recorded on the left one channel, not even mono.  Rating:  7.5/10  Unavailable for the time being.

DJ Raymond - Reggae Shock 2 (1996)  I heard most of it once a long time ago for the first time in the 2010's.  It ages better.  I used to own a copy and could never finish it.  As a kid, I thought it kinda stunk.  Now, I can appreciate him making a product more for B-boys than the Reggaeton crowd.  It still is far from great though.  Rating: 6/10

DJ P.P - Dembow Style (1996)  A hidden gem.  Enjoy listening to a young Kartier "El Que Brilla Con Luz Propia" as part of the duo 'Guys On The Mic'.  Cano Man's song is here is a banger!  Rating:  8/10

DJ Pito - The New Eras (1997)  Rating:  7/10  This one is produced by Dr. NDA along with DJ Raymond.  He also did DJ Raymond 2 and The Cruce Underground 2 as well.  Guessing from his style, I believe he also did "Dembow Style".

The Cruce Underground 2 (1998)  This one definitely has its moments.  You can tell Rafy Mercenario is honing in on a unique sound here which I think began with "Dembow Style".  This album was presented by famed exec producer "Harrys Entertainment".  Rating:  7/10

*Tego's song on The Cruce Underground 2

Street Rhythm Magazine vol. 1 (1998) This one has some brief interesting moments.  It sounds a lot better many years later.  Still kinda bad.  Rating:  4.5/10

*give me some time, if I find my copy I will upload to YOUTUBE.  Unavailable for now.

DJ Raymond - Reggae Shock 3 El Nuevo Mundo (1998)  This is the most star studded DJ Raymond album.  Wisin & Yandel, Ruben Sam, Nicky Jam, Camaleon, OGM & Oakley, Frankie Boy, Los Panchos (Indio & Gizmo), Baby Ranks, Rubio & Joel, Bimbo, Baby Shabba among others participate.  It ain't bad but is very minimalist.  Rating:  7/10

Apocalipsis Boricua (1999)  I dare say many years later, this one is a hidden gem.  It is so imperfect with some of the weirdest beats and songs ever, but over time it has aged very well.  Some notable names participate like Ranking Stone, Magnate y Valentino, Rubio & Joel, Nicky Jam, Boricua Selecta (Alexis' former group), W.I.D.Z (from DJ Adam's crew), OGM & Oakley, K-2 Young (The Noise 7, Cuentos De La Cripta, Playero 41 pt 2 RIP), Camaleon & Los Panchos (Indio & Gizmo).  Rating:  7.5/10

DJ Raymond 3 part II (1999) I heard it and do not remember it.  It is Super rare with only some new songs.  This is the only you cannot find online for now.  No rating.  *unavailable possibly forever*

DJ Raymond - Best of the Best Greatest Hits (2000)  This one contains mostly remixes of some of Raymond's most well known songs.  It has its moments.  Rating:  6.5/10

Apocalipsis Boricua 2 - Infinity (2001)  This one is another hidden gem and one of the better DJ Raymond albums.  Some big names here like Rubio & Joel, Eddie Dee, Baby Banton, Mikey Perfecto, H Man & P Man, Johnny Prez among others... Coo-Kee and DJ Adam help out with a couple of beats.  Rating:  7.5/10

DJ Raymond - New Blood (2002)  It is worth a listen.  Some beats here are very good and there's a few decent songs.  Rating:  6/10

DJ Raymond vol. 4 - Reggaeton (2003)  The last official Raymond album ever with beats from Mercenario and Urba.  Some notable names here too like David Deambulante, Pancho Indio Crew, Gary Clan, Shaka Black, Baron (Mas Flow Inc), Rey Blasto, D.I and Drago & Cobra (a pretty underrated duo).  It is mostly dirty Perreo and a departure from most of Raymond's other works.  Rating:  5.5/10

DJ Raymond - Roots of Reggaeton (triple album) [2006]  This is a 3 disc album of mostly remixes and some unreleased material like the Divino & Baby Ranks song.  Lots of notable names as it is a collection of sorts but with mostly new beats.  It has its moments.  Rating:  6/10

I hope you have enjoyed this read worthy listener.  Take care!