Top 10 Best Reggaeton/Urbano Record Labels Of All Time

 Top 10 BEST Reggaeton/Urbano Record Labels Of All Time

By Reggaeton Party Mane P

As we all know, nothing gets done in the music industry without the support of Record company.  There are touring companies, management conglomerates and most notably, record labels which can often encompass all these categories and more.  Spanish Rap & Reggaeton have seen their fair share of record labels and although not of all them were great, some of them have definitely made history.  Here are the greatest Record Labels in the history of Urbano Music.

Honorable Mention

Dale Play!  - This Argentinian powerhouse has become a company to note and its CEO is ranked as one of the top execs in all the music business.  They have produced releases by the likes of Khea, Cazzu, Duki, Bizzarap, Nicki Nicole and many artists of note.

Jiggiri Records - Tego in his day produced releases from the likes of Voltio, Zion & Lennox, and John Eric on top of his own albums.  He also had Abrante, Pirulo and Chyno Nyno signed too.

Guatauba Productions -  This legendary record label was more of a touring company who would eventually go on to book performances as far as Japan, Italy and China.  They first established El Cartel Records with Daddy Yankee in 1997 before letting DY go and sign with Pina Records in 2001, then with VI Music in 2003.  Guatauba also released full length albums from Rubio & Joel, Daddy Yankee, Benny Blanco (PR) and Cavalucci.  At one point they had Nicky Jam signed too.  But their biggest claim to fame was their 4 part series of the Guatauba albums which were "Tony Touch and Nico Canada Presentan Guatauba" (1996), "Guatauba 2000" (1999), "Guatauba xXx" (2002) & "Guatagatos" (2005).

Diamond Collections - I doubt Pina Records would have become the global powerhouse it was had it not entered a partnership with Diamond Collections in 2001.  Although it only lasted about 2 years, the partnership was very fruitful.  Diamond Collections was a record label jointly founded by Reggaeton pioneers Master Joe & OG Black.  Their first big signee was DJ Blass in the year 2001.  After that, came releases from Maicol y Manuel, Sir Speedy, Sandunguero 1 & 2, and of course the duo themselves.  The label was dissolved in 2004 when MJ & OG Black signed with Miami based Spanish record label "OLE".

Lester Production - Another short lived Record label which only lasted from the years 1995-2001 but produced many memorable works such as the first 3 Nico Canada albums, Gargolas 1 & 2, Hector & Tito's "Violencia Musical" & "Nuevo Milenio", Alberto Stylee's "Exclusivo", Memo y Vale's "Universal Dance",  Dream Team La Union De Los Mejores (1999) & DJ Goldy 3 The Melody.  It was named after its founder, exec and promoter, Lester Production.  He passed away in 2023.  RIP.

10  WY Records

Wisin & Yandel founded their own record label upon leaving Yomi Fresh's label "Fresh Productions" in 2004 to sign with Machete Music.  They were one of Machete Music's first major signees.  The label had an impressive roster of talent including Franco El Gorila, Gadiel y El Lobo, Jayko El Prototipo, Yomille Omar El Tio, Tico El Inmigrante (who was one of Venezuela's top promoters back then), and of course Tony Dize.  On top of that they had Nesty La Mente Maestra and Victor El Ingeniero signed on the production and mixing end.  Despite such a wealthy catalog, when the music business was down circa 2013, Universal Latino execs (the owners of Machete Music) tricked Wisin & Yandel into selling their 'WY Records' catalog back to them for around a million dollars in order for the legendary duo to get their releases and sign their current solo deals.  In an interview with Molusco, Yandel expressed regret for the decision after realizing "Rakata" alone has made several millions of dollars via streaming, but they didn't know back in 2013 how big streaming would become.  It is unclear whether Wisin or Yandel collect a percentage of their WY Records catalog anymore.  They do not collect a penny from their "Fresh Productions" material.

9  Mas Flow Inc 

This record label founded by Luny Tunes in 2004 was very famous, but moreso for its music production more than anything.  Mas Flow Inc is easily the most successful music production company in the history of Urbano music.  From 2004-2006 they collected Royalties from the likes of Nesty La Mente Maestra, Tainy, Doble AA & Nales, Nely El Arma Secreta, Bones "Huesos" and a host of other producers on top of the records Luny Tunes produced themselves.  All in all Mas Flow Inc's production credits have sold over 15 million records worldwide.  

But on top of that, the record label released full length albums from the likes of El Roockie, Arcangel, and Erre XI.  They were erroneously criticized online for supposedly holding back their signed talent like Baby Ranks, Mr. Phillip, Wibal y Alex, Joan & Oneill & Yo-Seph, but this is a misconstruction on behalf of fans.  Wibal y Alex and Joan y Oneill both asked for their releases from Mas Flow Inc in 2006 and had it granted to them.  They individually signed deals with Univision Records and although Wibal y Alex's "Los Dueños Del Bandidaje" came out in 2006, Joan y Oneill's "Sin Fronteras" was shelved by execs in Univision in 2007 despite being completed because the label was shifting away from Reggaeton.

What happened with Baby Ranks was that he donated what he had completed for his solo album to "Mas Flow 2" in order to meet a deadline which is why he had gotten titular credit.  After an extensive tour, he had to restart his album because of it.  But since Universal execs kept postponing Ranks' album, Luny gave him his release in 2007 and his debut album "This is It" came out in 2008 via independent label 'Stardome Entertainement'.  I don't know what happened to Yo-Seph besides him focusing on his education but Mr. Phillips was a successful concert promoter based out of Connecticut.

8  Flow Music

DJ Nelson's legendary record label has been a host to so many successful artists over the years.  First established in 1996 with his classic "Reggaeton Live vol. 1" album, Flow Music has been a global powerhouse since then and continues to be an influential force within the Reggaeton music business.  Here are some of the talents signed to Flow Music over the years:  Luny Tunes & Noriega, Jay Wheeler, J Alvarez, Nejo y Dalmata, Las Guanabanas, NottyPlay, DJ Memo, Andy Boy, DJ Sonic, Nandee Rhythms, Javi Perreke, Aldo & Dandy, Elliot El Mago De Oz among others...

7  BOA Musica (Spain)

The premiere record label for Urbano music in Spain.  They have released classic albums from the likes of Nach, Tote King, Shotta, Violadores Del Verso, 7 Notas 7 Colores, Solo Los Solo, Club De Los Poetas Violentos and SFDK to name a few.  They are still producing relevant talent from today's scene such as Los Chikos Del Maiz and Little Pepe.

6  Oilers Corp/NRG Music Corp

El Chombo's famous record labels have put out some of Panama's most famous series of productions such as La Factoria, La Mafia, Spanish Oil, Super Galleta, Xpedientes, Planet Ganja and of course, Los Cuentos De La Cripta.  He discovered the likes of Lorna, Jimmy Bad Boy, Predikador and DJ Pablito who were all signed to his label at some point in time.  He also had partnerships with the likes of Danger Man, Aldo Ranks and DJ Andy.  Sadly, most of this catalog is non listenable via traditional media outlets unless you use VPNs.  Last I checked, most of these productions are on Spotify but only accessible from a Panamanian geolocation.  I don't know if that is still true all these years later.  Thankfully, you can find most of these albums via YOUTUBE though.

5  RIMAS

Currently, the most successful independent label in all of music, not just Urbano nor Latin music.  But they are more than Bad Bunny.  RIMAS is also responsible for the current successes of talents like Eladio Carrion, Mozart La Para, Tempo, Subelo Neo, Mora, Cris MJ, ROA, Amenazzy and they have the entire Alex Gargolas catalog although they cannot release The Cream 2 and 3 due to sample clearance issues.

4  Machete Music/VI Music

Machete Music is literally the most successful record label in the history of Urbano, selling over 30 millon records during their lifetime.  But the reason they are #4 instead of #1 is that it wasn't all through their ingenuity, it was through intelligent partnerships with other record labels like El Cartel Records, VI Music, Pina Records, White Lion Records, WY Records, Mas Flow Inc, Flow Music and many others...  They were smart enough and had a big bankroll from Universal Latino at the time to enter into million dollar partnerships with many well established names and companies.

Machete Music was founded in 2004 by Toy Selectah Hernandez (from Control Machete of which the label is named after), Gustavo Lopez (former president of Universal Latino) and Juan Vidal (CEO and founder of VI Music).  Machete Music essentially swallowed VI Music and all their partnerships with the likes of Don Omar, Daddy Yankee, DJ Nelson and others...  There is not much known about Mr. Juan Vidal as his profile online has always been very elusive meanwhile Alex Gargolas and Mario VI became the executive faces representing his company.  But Toy Selectah became an Executive A&R at Machete and Gus Lopez was the president during its most successful years.  Interesting note, Jhayco (yes, Jhay Cortez) worked as an A&R in Machete Music from 2018-2021, this was during the years Machete was mostly an Urbano research/marketing division and no longer releases material except for Jhayco's "Famouz".  I believe Machete still serves as the Urbano research division for Universal Latino to this day.

The list of artists and their successful productions released by Machete Music is enormous.  Here are some along with their numbers (equivalent streaming units included):  *Daddy Yankee - Barrio Fino (6 million units sold), Don Omar - King of Kings (2 million units sold), Wisin & Yandel - Pal Mundo (4 million units sold), Luny Tunes & Baby Ranks - Mas Flow 2 (1 million units sold), Wisin & Yandel - Los Extraterrestres (1 million units), *Daddy Yankee - Talento De Barrio (2 million units), Wisin & Yandel - Los Vaqueros (1 million units), Jhayco - Famouz Reloaded (500,000 units), Don Omar - Meet The Orphans (2 million units), Trebol Clan - Los Bacatranes (500,000 units), **Sangre Nueva (500,000), ***DJ Nelson Flow La Discoteka 1 y 2 (500 thousand units each), Hector El Father - The Bad Boy (300 thousand units), Wisin & Yandel - La Revolucion (1 million units), Wisin & Yandel - Los Lideres (2 million units), Don Omar - MTO2 New Generation (1 million units), ****Gargolas 5 The Next Generation (250 Thousand Units), RKM & Ken-Y - The Masterpiece (1 million units), Arcangel - El Fenomeno (400 Thousand Units), El Roockie - Semblante Urbano (200 Thousand Units), Nesty La Mente Maestra (200 Thousand Units), Jowell y Randy - El Momento (300 Thousand Units), Angel & Khriz - Los MVP (1 million units), Angel y Khriz - Showtime (200 Thousand Units), Don Omar - Los Bandoleros (500 Thousand Units), Don Omar - Los Bandoleros Reloaded (300 Thousand Units), *****Tres Coronas - Nuestra Cosa (200 Thousand Units), Nicky Jam - Vida Escante (400 Thousand Units), RKM & Ken-Y - The Royalty (300 Thousand Units), Eddy Lover - Perdoname (500 Thousand Units), + Tony Dize - Melodia De La Calle (500 Thousand Units).

*Album now belongs to Concord Music Publishing

**Album now belongs to Cholo from Gold Star.

*** Album now belongs to DJ Nelson

****Album now belongs to RIMAS

***** Album now belongs to Tres Coronas

+  This one is a little tricky because the first version of "Melodia De La Calle" was released under Machete Music/Universal but the 2nd edition "Melodia De La Calle Updated" where half the songs were from the original and the other half was new material; that was released by Sony Latin.  I believe this is the reason you don't see the original "Melodia De La Calle" on streaming services anymore because the songs that appear on both versions now belong to Sony.  I guess the other songs would probably still belong to Machete but they probably don't want to re-release an incomplete album, plus all the money is in "Permitame" ft Yandel.  That was a weird time.  Pina Records traded Yaviah to WY Records in exchange for Tony Dize.

3  Pina Records

Pina Records at one point in time from 2001-2002 had arguably the best roster in Urbano Music history.  Just then alone, they had Nicky Jam, Daddy Yankee, Lito & Polaco, Maicol & Manuel, Hector & Tito, Karel & Voltio, Master Joe & OG Black, DJ Blass, Don Chezina, Yaga & Mackie, Jenay, & DJ Dicky.  I don't know how Pina does it but over the years he has been a key central figure in many of Reggaeton's important achievements.  His company books a lot of the Choliseo shows for example, most famously the Don Omar/Daddy Yankee joint shows.  He managed Don Omar and Daddy Yankee during the same timeframe.  Raphy Pina was the one who made the deal for 'Despacito' to happen though Nicky Jam brokered it.  He managed Yankee during his most successful years from 2016-2021.

But Pina Records originally quite humbly started with Rafael Sr. who would promote artists of Bomba, Plena and Tropical music within the island of Puerto Rico.  Then in 1997, his son Raphy Jr. convinced him to sign up and coming Underground talent Don Chezina.  Chezina's debut "Bien Guillao De Gangster" went platinum in Puerto Rico selling over 60 thousand units and by the year 2000, Raphy Jr. took over his father's record label.

Pina Records was the most successful independent Latin label before signing a joint venture deal with Universal Latino worth over a million dollars in 2003.  That was rare for Urbano music back then.  Among those already mentioned, Pina Records was also behind the success from the likes of Yaviah, Plan B, Natti Natasha, Arcangel, RKM & Ken-Y, Zion & Lennox, Tony Dize and several others...  Of the OG Labels, it is the only one which still maintains the same prominence it had over 20 years ago, today.

2  White Lion Records

Elias De Leon, founder of White Lion Records is a genius.  He started the label in 1995 by investing in Daddy Yankee's debut album "No Mercy".  Since then, his label achieved many successes including a temporary union with Boricua Guerrero which lasted a few years from 1996-2001.  But of course, the label's great claim is having signed Tego before anyone else when Eddie brought Tegui to Elias in the year 2000.  Once "El Abayarde" came out in 2002, it cemented the label's legacy forever.

By 2002, Elias White Lion had already signed and released products from the likes of Eddie Dee, Maicol & Manuel, Mexicano 777, Maestro, Playero & Nico Canada.  He was already a legend, but after Tego, he would continue his winning streak by signing and releasing debut albums from the likes of Voltio, Jowell & Randy, Calle 13, Jhon Eric, Alvaro Diaz, Brray, Darell and Zion & Lennox.  Sadly, Elias no longer runs the label having retired in 2023, but it still running strong with artists like Izaak and Kiko El Crazy.

Here are some of the classic albums produced and released by White Lion Records:  ++ Mexicano 777 - Entre El Bien y El Mal (1998), ++ Maicol y Manuel - Los Reyes Del Underground (1999), Eddie Dee - +++ El Terrorista De La Lirica (2000), ++ Maestro - The Movie (2001), ++ Maicol y Manuel - Como En Los Tiempos De Antes (2001), - Planet Reggae (2002), Tego Calderon - El Abayarde (2002), Zion & Lennox - Motivando La Yal (2004), Tego Calderon - El Enemy De Los Guasibiri (2004), Voltio - Voltaje AC (2004), Voltio (2005), Calle 13 (2005), Casa De Leones (2007), Calle 13 - Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo (2008) [released by Sony but Elias Exec Produced the album],  Jowell & Randy - El Momento (2010), Nico Canada - Back To The Underground 1 & 2 (2012), Jowell & Randy - Sobredoxis (2013), & Alvaro Diaz - Hato Rey (2015).

++ w/ Boricua Guerrero

+++ w/ Fresh Productions

- w/ Diamond Music

1  BM Records (Bayamon Records)

Don Pedro Merced is a name all Reggaeton connoisseurs should know.  He was the first to give a break to the talent from the barrio with handshake 50-50 deals, beginning with Ruben DJ in 1989.  He then supported the underground in the 1990's when no one else would.  Greats like DJ Chiclin, DJ Nelson, DJ Negro, DJ Crane, and of course Playero, all made agreements with Don Pedro to have their products released by BM Records (short for Bayamon Records).

The legacy of BM Records would span until circa 2005 when the major labels swallowed up all the noteworthy Reggaeton talent available and artists no longer wanted independent deals.  BM Records broke barriers and took risks which put them in direct opposition with the Puerto Rican government before anyone else believed in this music.  The BM Records is a gold mine many have yet to discover, but it's equally expensive and a nightmare for sample clearances to anyone wanting to release these works internationally in today's market.  It was the wild west for Reggaeton in those days and there were no rules so Playero would sample Wu Tang Clan openly, most likely without permission.

Classic works from the BM Records Catalog:

Playero 37-42, Playero Greatest Hits vols 1, 2 and 3, DJ Chiclin 3 - 5 (1 and 2 were released by Chiclin himself), U Records 3 and 4, DJ Stefano vols 2 - 7, Frankie Boy - Se Paso De La Raya (1995), The Noise 1 through 3 (1994-1995) [DJ Negro released later Noise albums via On Top Records, then Sony Latin], Montana Collection (1995), DJ Joe vols 1 through 5 (vol 6 was Pina Records), DJ Joe - Rican Muffin (1996), Nico Canada 1 (1995), Nico Canada 2 (1997), DJ Eric vols 2 and 3 (1 was released by Eric himself and with vol 4 he established his own MADYATCH Records label), DJ Dynamite 3 Da King (1995), DJ Crane presents DJ Gold-D vol 1 - Underground (1994) [Lost Media only came out in cassette, later re-released in CD as "Ruff Reggae" but with the explicit lyrics and DJ Crane's name edited out], DJ Gold-D vol 2 - Hardcore Reggae Mix (1995),  DJ Adam - Mad Jam (1995), DJ Guichy - Straight From The Ghetto (1996), Playero Exitos 95 and 97, Rappers The Beginning (1996), Tony Touch and Nico Canada - Guatauba (1996), DJ Raymond - Reggae Shock vol 1 (1995), Baello's Coming Up vol 1 (prod by DJ Chiclin & Stefano) [1995], DJ Manuel Plus KID (1995), The Cruce Underground vol 1 (1996), Wise Da' Gangsta - La Vieja Escuela (1997), Ruben DJ - La Escuela (1989), Brewley MC - Ahora Es Mi Tiempo (1990), DJ Frank - Time To Kill 1 (1998),  The Cream 2 - El Nuevo Imperio (1997),  The Cream 3 - La Maldicion Del Sarcofago (1997), DJ Chiclin presenta Los Mas Buscados (1996), Los Mas Buscados (2002), The Warriors 1 - 4 (1997 - 2003), DJ Adam Da' Comeback (1997), OGM & Oakley - Preparados (1996), DJ Gold-D - M.P y M.H Underground (1996), DJ Dicky No Fear vols 1 & 2 (1996/1997), Mansion Crew - Todos Contra Todos (1998)