The Ten Best Reggaeton Songs of the Last Half Decade: A Survival Guide in the Age of Pitbull
7. "No Quiere Novio" -- Ñejo (featuring Tego Calderon)
A controversial choice, we know. This track went almost nowhere, compared to some of the stuff Ñejo has done with his main man Dalmata. (Such as the barebones "No Necesito" and "Algo Musical." And the excellent, but sadly not reggaeton and therefore non-listworthy, "Por Allá Por Donde Vivo." Solo, Dalmata peaked on his Wild West-meets-'90s strip club video for "Pasarela.") But they're new to the scene, and have yet to score the hit they're capable of.
That doesn't change our feelings about Ñejo. (His verse starts at 1:30 above. If you want to hear him take over the whole track himself, here's the original Tego-free version.) He's got the fullest, most musical flow in Spanish-language rap, hands down, and it fits like the most enjoyable of ball gags into reggaeton's ready DSLs. Not the quickest bastard on the block (again, see page four), but no one captures the essence of a pair of hotpants like this chubby little fucker at 1:35.
6. Perdóname -- Eddy Lover (featuring La Factoria)
Eddy Lover represents reggaeton going soft, yes, but it's hard to care when he makes soft so attractive -- a velvet rope, a champagne bubble, a puppy from the ghetto. We've got a feeling even an OG like Tego would have few regrets spooning with his down comforter to that voice. Thank you, Eddy, from all the strippers of the Southern hemisphere, who can now pretend they're angels doing God's work while pole-ing to your dolled-up reggaeton.
Email to Friend
Write to Editor
Print Article
