Coordinates	23°33′″N46°38′″N
name	Vico C
background	solo_singer
birth name	Luis Armando Lozada Cruz
alias	El Filósofo del Rap, el padre del reggaeton
born	September 08, 1971
origin	San Juan, Puerto Rico
genre	Rap, Urban, Hip hop, Reggaeton, Christian hip hop
occupation	singer
years active	1985–present
label	EMI Latin
associated acts	Daddy Yankee, Arcangel }}

Vico C (born Luis Armando Lozada Cruz on September 8, 1971) is an Puerto Rican rapper and reggaeton artist. He is considered one of the founding fathers of ''reggaeton'' and has played an influential role in the development of Latin American hip hop.

Biography

Early life and influence

He was born in New York and raised in Puerto Rico. Nicknamed ''The Philosopher'', Lozada Cruz adopted the professional name Vico C. Vico C describes reggaeton as "essentially hip-hop but with a flavor more compatible to the Caribbean." Though he maintains they are of the same essence, Vico C believes the difference lies in the quintessential music style; the beat or rhythm of the music.

As one of the founders of hip hop in Spanish, Vico C was able to show that it was possible for one to be able to rap entirely and compellingly in Spanish using just occasional English phrases or slang terms. He can be seen in the reggaeton movement as far back as its "underground" days ghostwriting and producing music for other young performers in the Puerto Rican rap scene.

Vico C grew up in the ''Puerta de Tierra'' barrio in San Juan. He got enrolled in acting classes by the age of nine and began his professional rapping career in 1985. At first, he used to go to bodegas (grocery stores) or pharmacies, buy home recording tapes, record himself singing his songs and then sell the tapes to friends or family.

Career

In 1989 Vico C finally got his first big break. Rap in Puerto Rico was at a popular high, and Ruben DJ had become extremely popular with his radio hit "La Escuela" ("The School"). Vico C entered the charts with his super hit "La Recta Final" ("The Final Stretch"). With this song, Vico C reached international fame. Vico C started touring frequently to places like New York, Chicago, Miami, Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador, Panama, the Dominican Republic and more places.

Vico C in 1992 came through with more major hits, his singles "Saborealo" ("Taste it") and "María" became gold and platinum albums, respectively. Also in 1994, he established his own record company VC Records, promoting such singers as Lissy Estrella, Francheska, and Lisa M. In the mid-1990s, Vico C was involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident. His injuries led to his abuse of heroin, cocaine and alcohol.

Soon after, he became an evangelical Christian and went into a voluntary semi-retirement. In 1998, he resurfaced, with the Christian rap CD ''Aquel Que Había Muerto'' (''He who had Died''). The new CD went gold and in 1999, he returned to the touring scene with his concert ''Antes y despues'' (''Before and After''). Soon after, he released a sequel to ''Aquel que Habia Muerto''. With that, he earned the Latino Rap of the year award by Billboard.

In 2004, Vico C released an album titled ''En Honor A La Verdad'' (''In Honor Of The Truth''). While it was not a major hit it still sold well and one of the album's singles "El Bueno, El Malo y El Feo" ("The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly"), referring to Eddie Dee, himself and Tego Calderón respectively. The single was widely heard. The single was a great combination of the best "Conscience" sub-genre of reggeaton artists.

Vico C's recent albums include ''Desahogo'' (''Speaking Freely''), in early 2005. The album was a success and by June 3, 2006 he came back with another concert, ''El Encuentro''.

Many consider Vico C to be a pioneer of Reggaeton. Music industry figures have gone as far as to call him the "Father and Creator of Reggaeton" He has worked alongside with many artists including Big Boy, Eddie Dee, Ivy Queen, Héctor & Tito, Tego Calderón. He has also worked with producers Baby Ranks, Tony Touch and Luny Tunes.

Not limited to performing rap in Spanish, he has sung alongside salsa singer Gilberto Santa Rosa and cumbia group Kumbia Kings.

Vico C tries to maintain a Christian theme throughout his music.

Albums

''Underground'' (1985)

''Soy De La Calle'' (1988)

''La Recta Final'' (1989)

''Misión La Cima'' (1990)

''Hispanic Soul'' (1991)

''Saboréalo'' (1992)

''Xplosión'' (1993)

''Dos Tiempos Bajo Un Mismo Tono'' (1994)

''Greatest Hits: Vico C'' (1994)

''Con Poder'' (1996)

''Aquel Que Había Muerto'' (1998)

''Historia'' (1999)

''Historia 2'' (1999)

''Serie 2000'' (2000)

''Serie Platino'' (2000)

''Vivo'' (2001)

''Emboscada'' (2002)

''En Honor A La Verdad'' (2003)

''The Files: The Greatest Hits'' (2004)

''Desahogo'' (2005)

''El Encuentro'' ''(En Vivo)'' (2006)

''El Filósofo: Platinum Edition'' (2008)

''Babilla'' (2009)

Awards

;Latin Grammy Awards

2004: ''En Honor a la Verdad'' – Best Urban Music Album

See also

List of Famous Puerto Ricans

List of Puerto Rican songwriters

Music of Puerto Rico

References

External links

Vico C interview

Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:Hip hop singers

de:Vico C es:Vico C fr:Vico C pt:Vico C

Coordinates	23°33′″N46°38′″N
Name	Tego Calderón
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Tegui Calderón Rosario
Origin	Santurce, Puerto Rico
Birth date	February 01, 1972
Genre	Reggaeton, reggae, hip-hop, Latin, salsa
Occupation	Singer-songwriter, actor, rapper
Years active	1998–present
Label	Jiggiri Records (2000–present)Sony BMG (2001–2005)Atlantic Records (2006–present) White Lion Records (2002–present) WY Records (2010–present)
Associated acts	Voltio, Don Omar, Aventura, The Game
Website	Official Website }}

Tegui Calderón Rosario (born February 1, 1972) is a Puerto Rican rapper and actor.

Early life

Calderón was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, the son of Pilar Rosario Parrilla, a schoolteacher, and Esteban Calderón Ilarraza, a government worker for Puerto Rico's Department of Health. Moving at a young age from his native Puerto Rico to Miami, Florida, Tego attended Miami Beach Senior High. Here he was exposed to several different cultures, eventually studying percussion and working as a drummer in a rock band. The band would cover songs produced by artists including Ozzy Osbourne and Led Zeppelin. He has noted that both of his parents were fans of Ismael Rivera, and that his father was also interested in jazz. He was influenced by both genres and incorporated them into his music, including songs such as ''Minnie the Moocher''. He eventually developed a music style that combined elements of salsa, plena, dancehall, and hip-hop, focusing on aspects of urban life in his lyrics.

Early musical career

Calderón made several cameo appearances on other rapper's albums, eventually signing with label White Lion. In 2002, he published his first full-length album titled ''El Abayarde''. Despite the fact that Reggaeton was considered an underground genre, the album sold 50,000 copies upon its release, setting a sales record for an urban music album. Three months after publishing ''El Abayarde'', Calderón organized his first concert, which took place at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico and sold out the venue. The following day he became the first rap artist to perform at the annual Puertorican ''Día Naciónal de la Salsa'' (National Day of Salsa).At the same time he finished his album ''El Abayarde'' he finished his voice training, that took three years from his life.

In August 2003, Calderón performed at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. Based on his show and performance, ''The New York Times'' noted that he "made the best case for Reggaetón as music with room to grow" being a "forward-looking performer." His second appearance at the venue was in October 2004, where he headlined an event titled ''Megatón 2004''. The concert sold out, with 20,000 in attendance, a mixed crowd of Latino and non-Latino fans.

Calderón's travels subsequently led him to Miami, where he incorporated dancehall elements into his musical style. In 2004, his album titled ''El Enemy de los Guasíbiri'' was released. The album's production included a mix of several urban genres. Calderón claimed that he preferred the influence of these other genres due to his belief that Salsa had "become too corporate and too safe". Years after its release, Calderón stated that he had never approved the release of the ''Guasibiri'' album, which he claimed was rather a collection of old songs and that it should be left out of his discography as an unauthorized album. Following the release of this album, reggaeton gained more influence with several hip-hop producers in New York. Calderón continued working on several mixtapes, being featured in remixes of Usher's "Yeah", Fat Joe's "Lean Back", N.O.R.E.'s "Oye Mi Canto" and Akon's "I Wanna Love You" and also Tego featured Aventura's "We Got The Crown".

2005–Present

Calderón participated on the 2004 and 2005 editions of New York's Puerto Rican Day parade. During this timeframe he became the first Latin American artist to be included on New York's Power-105. Calderón's influence among Latin American youth was noted in a featured published by the Village Voice. The publication claimed that he had "almost single-handedly. .. steered his country’s dominant youth culture out of the island and Latino neighborhoods, and into the American stream of pop consciousness.”

In the summer of 2005, Calderón signed a deal between Atlantic Records and his own independent label, Jiggiri Records, making him the first reggaeton artist to have a deal with a major record company.

In 2006, Calderón and both companies published ''The Underdog/El Subestimado''. He noted that the production includes influence from several Afro-Caribbean rhythms including Reggae, Salsa, Bomba and Rumba. This production featured the guests appearances of Buju Banton, Voltio, Bataklán, Eddie Dee, Luis Cabán, Yandel, Zion, Chyno Nyno, Don Omar and Oscar D'León. Several producers were involved in the album, including Cookee, Major League, Salaam Remi, Eric Figueroa, Luny Tunes, DJ Nelson, Danny Fornaris, DJ Nesty, Naldo, DJ Joe, DJ Fat and Echo & Diesel. At the presentation party for the album, Calderón explained that he no longer considers himself as a reggaeton artist because this genre of music has become too commercial. Noting that reggaeton is becoming too similar to pop music and that he does not let his children listen to it at home unless it is on the radio.

Musical styles and themes

Although Calderón is a reggaeton artist, he claims to like "all types of music". Evidence of this is seen both in his biography (he began his career in music in a metal band and attended a school for music as a drummer) as well as in his music, which incorporates "'several musical tendencies'", including sounds and rhythms from places like Africa, Colombia, and the Caribbean. He obtains the sound for his popular reggaeton music through "fusing an experimental reggaeton style strongly rooted in the working-class Caribbean aesthetics of classic salsa with a strong dose of hip-hop". On ''The Underdog/El Subestimado'', he collaborated with rap duo Anónimo Consejo to create a song entitled "Son Dos Alas" which eventually was shortened to an interdule without Calderón.

Calderón has also been praised for his lyrics, which are much more substantive and uplifting than the misogynist materialistic words that have come to define reggaeton as well as the majority of hip-hop music. Calderón has been described as "the reggaeton champion of an Afro-Caribbean working-class aesthetic" and is known for lyrics that are equal parts poetry and politics. A consistent link between all of his albums "are the social themes and the untouchable bravado that he usually transmits through his artistic outlook." According to Tony Touch, "Tego is someone who represents struggle, an underdog... He's more of an MC, a product of late-'80s hip-hop."

Film and other career projects

Calderón made his acting debut in the film "Illegal Tender" produced by John Singleton. Calderon played the role of Choco, a Puerto Rican gangster whose character was written specifically for him by director Franc Reyes.

Calderón turned down roles in both ''Feel the Noise'' and "El Cantante" and instead chose to appear in Illegal Tender out of respect for its producer. After convincing John Singleton that he wanted to appear in a comedy, Calderón is slated to appear in an upcoming Singleton film which casts him as the coach of a baseball team.

Calderón traveled to Sierra Leone along with artists Raekwon and Paul Wall to film a VH1 documentary about diamond mining entitled "Bling'd: Blood, Diamonds, and Hip-Hop." The documentary focused on the role of Hip Hop in the blood diamond trade, after the filming concluded Calderón publicly announced that he would no longer wear jewelry. His experience in Africa also changed his outlook on life, which influenced the recording of the track "Alegria", encouraging fans to not complain about life and recognize that there are other people with bigger problems in their lives.

Calderon and Don Omar are featured in ''Fast & Furious'' and ''Fast Five'', the fourth and fifth installments of ''The Fast and the Furious'' franchise.

Discography

''El Abayarde'' (2003)

''El Enemy de los Guasíbiri'' (2004)

''The Underdog/El Subestimado'' (2006)

''El Abayarde Contraataca'' (2007)

''El Que Sabe, Sabe'' (2011)

Filmography

! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
2007	''Def Jam: Icon''	Himself	Video game, voice only
2007		Choco	Film Debut
2007	''Bling: A Planet Rock''	Himself	Documentary film / DVD
2009	''Fast & Furious''	Tego Leo	Cameo
2009	''Los Bandoleros''	Tego Leo	Lead Role / Short Film, Part of Fast & Furious
2011	''Fast Five''	Tego Leo	Supporting Role

References

External links

Official website

Tego Calderon, Artistas Destacado – Billboard En Español

Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Puerto Rican people of African descent Category:Puerto Rican musicians Category:Puerto Rican rappers Category:Puerto Rican reggaeton artists Category:Reggaeton musicians

de:Tego Calderón es:Tego Calderón fr:Tego Calderón ko:테고 칼데론 it:Tego Calderón he:טגו קלדרון nl:Tego Calderón ja:テゴ・カルデロン pl:Tego Calderón fi:Tego Calderón

Coordinates	23°33′″N46°38′″N
Name	Hany Kauam
Background	solo_singer
Background	solo_singer
Born	Venezuela
Genre	Pop
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Years active	2007–present
Website	HanyKauam.com }}

Hany Kauam is a Latin pop singer from Venezuela. He was a contestant in the reality show Fama Sudor y Lágrimas, and after leaving the show he was signed on to Cenit Records. His first album was released in 2007, containing 11 songs all written by himself, it was recorded in Miami, and produced by Yasmil Marrufo.

He began writing when he was 8 years old, and he has shared stage with big stars like Ricardo Montaner, Franco De Vita, Los Amigos Invisibles, Desorden Público and Aterciopelados.

Biography

Hany Kauam was born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela to arabic parents. Since a very young age he started writing songs and learnt to play the guitar. When he was a teenager, he along with his brother, who plays the drum, and some friends started a band called "Intriga". But it wasn't until a few years later, when he participed in the reality show "Fama, Sudor y Lágrimas" that people from all over the country started listening to his music.

Discography

Information
align="left"	*Released: 2007	*Singles:	** "Si te da la Gana"	** "Corazón"	** "Es Tu Amor"	** "Mis Lágrimas"

Category:Living people Category:Pop singer-songwriters Category:Venezuelan singers

es:Hany Kauam