Daddy Yankee - Prestige (2012)

Building on the well-rounded effort that was 2010's Mundial, Daddy Yankee's sixth studio album is a whirlwind mix of reggaeton and Latin music flavors, but this time, the overall flow of the album is effortless, with no tolerance of filler. Prestige actually feels more important from the beginning, kicking off with the rock-solid "Perros Salvajes," which comes off as "Gasonlina" pitched down a touch, making that winding snake of reggaeton's Den Bow beat sound all the more sinister. Traditional reggaeton rules the album until J. Alvarez and Yankee take a swim in Auto-Tune for the sweet R&B of "El Amante," and when it comes to getting the pop party started, both "Pasarela" and "Limbo" bounce like Pitbull on a three-day weekend. "Switchea" gleefully messes with dubstep while ultra-gloss, fun dance numbers (the will.i.am-like "La Noche de Los 2" with Natalia Jimenez) sit right next to purist reggaeton posse tracks (the seven-minute-plus "Llegamos a la Disco" with its epic guest list) and yet all these transitions come off as natural. Prestige would be cumbersome at 17 tracks if an overflow of flash, swagger, and talent didn't make that number right-sized, and with the kinetic and bright Prince Royce feature "Ven Comigo," the highlight-filled album ends with one of its best. Another career high point for the one they rightfully call "The Big Boss." © David Jeffries /TiVo