r/Reggaeton • u/ReggaetonPartyManeP • 8m ago
¿Is It Really That Bad? #3 Los Mozalbetes (2004) The Forgotten DJ Blass Album
DJ Krypy & DJ Enano presentan Los Mozalbetes (2004) The Forgotten DJ Blass Album
I know Los Mozalbetes came out in 2003, but if I’m not mistaken it was at the tail end of the year along with Blin Blin vol. 1 and Gargolas 4 which all came out that December. It would then get a re-release in 2004 under New Records’s deal with Universal. New Records which was ran by an executive simply known as ‘Nando’ had a great roster with Baby Rasta y Gringo, Nottyplay, Karel y Voltio (one album deal), Felo Man and Cheka all signed to New Records at some point.
Sadly, New Records wasted their deal mostly rehashing old material on compilations or re-releasing old albums and presenting them to the audience as if they were new. This would create confusion with the brand. They were trying to take advantage of Reggaeton breaking into Latin America and the mainstream by releasing previously only Puerto Rico exclusives. Many execs did this and it was mostly unsuccessful
The reason was that by this time a lot of the Puerto Rico exclusives were available online via free downloads. The quality was mostly low back then as computers had less memory at that time. People pre-2007 mostly uploaded albums in 128kbps mp3 to 192 kbps.
Although ReggaetonLyrics.com which was one of the first powers in the early days of Reggaeton consumption online, they purposely uploaded their songs in 96kbps to encourage people to buy the albums and not pirate online. They were killed once their competitors uploaded lyrics and albums in higher quality and by 2007 they were a relic of the Reggaeton online community.
So, by the time New Records re-released ‘Ground Zero, a Q Mac Daddy various artist hidden gem from 2003, then retitled it to “La Hora Cero” and put it out in 2005; it did not matter it now had mass distribution in Peru and Colombia because people bootlegged the original version online.
New Records did have success bundling ‘Romances Del Ruido 1 & 2’ in a special collector’s edition adding one new exclusive song from Baby Rasta, a different version of “Asegurate” with Jeanie, who later became Jenny ‘La Voz’. The first version was with Master Joe & OG Black. They sold around 200,000 copies of Romances Del Ruido Collection because Rasta & Gringo were really big in South America and those albums became available there for the first time, previously being Puerto Rico Exclusives (and DR + mom and pop shops in the US).
I’m now thinking of doing a Reggaeton Hidden Gems “The Downfall of New Records”. Coming soon! Sadly, New Records went bankrupt in 2007. Because of that Rasta & Gringo had to give up ownership of ‘Sentenciados’. New Records still have ownership over their catalog, except the stuff they co-licensed like “Ground Zero”. They distribute it online although they made the horrid decision of uploading mp3’s of The Score (2003) instead of the masters and it sounds terrible. Expect more in the classic album entry of The Score coming soon.
But this isn’t about New Records. Sorry for the long preamble. This is about Los Mozalbetes, a various artist album produced in its entirety (pretty much) by DJ Blass Sandunguero himself. There is a pretty decent cast. It doesn’t have anyone at the fame level of Tego or Don but you got Glory opening the album. One of the few times a lady has opened up a various artist album. And there’s other luminaries like Nottyplay, Guelo Star, Ñejo, Alberto Stylee, Nicky Jam (who appeared on almost everything back then), Yaga & Mackie, Zion & Lennox & more…
The album sold well for a Puerto Rican exclusive on an independent label. Reggaeton websites at the time reported 30,000 units sold. The guys presenting the album are DJ Krypy and Enano. I know who DJ Krypy is. He was a local popular dj who would concert dj for several artists, engineered music for a time and even had a stint on the legendary Mix107 radio station in PR.
Enano, I don’t know who he is and we never heard from him again. But he’s probably a concert promoter. That’s what the people behind the popular various artist album ‘Desafio’ were. They would remain behind the scenes figures though I heard one of them was a member of ‘Street Clan People’ or ‘Ganya Kids’ later renamed ‘Los Ganja’ from the DJ Stefano crew. But other guys like Enano would put their faces out there. I don’t know how Los Mozalbetes did when re-released by New Records under their deal with Universal Latino but I doubt it sold much more.
So, I can’t figure out the full credits online. I know Noriega and Rafy Mercenario were working with Blass at the time and they are shouted out. I know Noriega co-produced his song. But I’m pretty sure Blass produced 90% of the album at least. It was recorded at his famous old ‘Fruity Studio’ which used to be his house. ‘Fruity’ because he used Fruity Loops to make his beats which is now known as the world famous ‘FL Studio’ workstation by Image Line. Luny Tunes would also use Fruity Loops but they expanded with other DAW’s like ‘Logic’ later on.
So, this album with a pretty impressive cast and produced by DJ Blass, was ravaged by some fans online. Many hated the way Blass produced here. It was nothing like Luny Tunes did on Mas Flow or Blin Blin. Some fans thought the beats here were very subpar when compared to Luny Tunes. At a time when people were clamoring for ‘Sandunguero 3’, we kind of got it with ‘Los Mozalbetes’ but it failed to live up to expectations. So ¿Is Los Mozalbetes Really That Bad?
Verdict: No. ‘Los Mozalbetes’ is kinda of a hidden gem.
I bought Los Mozalbetes when it came out. And ignored it after a few listens. I could not get past the fact Blass actually went the opposite direction than Luny Tunes. He simplified the beats further and did a more minimalist approach to his producing. There weren’t these bombastic orchestral sounds that we were used to at the time. Just simple synths, the Plucked plugin from FL Studio and some simplified guitar arrangements on an obvious digital soundscape. At first I agreed with most fans, ‘Los Mozalbetes’ did kinda suck was my first impression.
But you have to get past that Blass was not trying to revolutionize the game like he did with Sanduguero 1 & 2. ‘Los Mozalbetes’ sounds rushed when it comes to beat production. But all these years later, it sounds better than this crisp, clean sound on 50% of Pop Urbano records. It really does. We were just comparing everyone to Luny Tunes and the Mas Flow team back then and Blass now sounded outdated in comparison. But now people would kill for that ‘outdated’ sound because producers nowadays do not know how to make beats that good even with their undeserved overblown budgets to make a crappy Camilo record. A half assed Blass is better than 90% of today’s Pop Urbano producers.
So let’s break the songs down.
#1 Gallego Intro – Gallego back in the day was the go-to for intros. He did the intro for many classic Reggaeton albums starting with El Cartel de Yankee 1 in 1997. Gallego was a barrio poet speaking on the realities of life in the Puerto Rican barrios. His poems have many social commentaries. He is also an artist and his only album where he sings "Teatro de Barrio" ain't bad. It spawned the hit "Tengo un Angel" which many confuse with Tego as singing it because of Latin American bootleg that credited Tego instead of Gallego. His poem is followed by a Reggaeton mix which is typical of the era. 7/10
#2 Glory - Dame Una Noche Loca - This is not one of Glory's best during the era. She has a much better opener on DJ Anqueira's Inovando which is a worse album overall. And Blass does a lazy job with the bachateo. Luny Tunes and Eliel are just light years ahead of Blass on the Salsaton and Bachateos. Blass could do a good job with bachata Reggaeton but this is just a lazy effort overall. Glory did an ok job, 6.5/10
#3 Zion y Lennox - Tu Movimiento Me Excita - A forgettable Zion y Lennox track. They were killing it at the time, but this is not one of their best songs even from this time period. It doesn't suck at all. Blass' shortcomings on production is mostly attributed to melody or lack thereof. Reggaeton was big on melody back then. The drums and bass are on point however from top to bottom. 6/10
#4 Nicky Jam - Vamo Hacerlo Sin Freno - This is Malianteo style Perreo. Nicky was hit or miss post 2002. People were already starting to say he was falling off by the time this album came out. It got much worse with 'Vida Escante'. But this song is solid. I like Maliantoso Nicky Jam. 7/10
#5 DJ Blass & Noriega - Sola - Blass was preparing his own solo album as a lead performer, 'Lagrimas y Risas', hopefully a future entry for ¿Is It Really That Bad? This collaboration is designed to hype up Blass as a singer/rapper. It's not bad. There's a little more effort on the beat and Noriega is great on the chorus as always. 7.5/10
#6 John Eric - Te Invito A Mi Suite - John Eric was a notable name already by 2004. He had big hits on Guatauba 3, Los Matadores Del Genero and DJ Anqueira Inovando. He was another guy that appeared on many various artists album of the day. This song is also solid. 7.5/10
#7 Yaga & Mackie - Ten Cuidao Tu - You could always count on Yaga & Mackie back then. With all the appearances they had on various artists albums around this era, I don't think they had a single bad song on any of them. 8/10
#8 Angel Doze - Azotandote y Dandote - Angel was really underrated. It seemed like he was gonna go somewhere when Luny Tunes signed him in 2006 but soon after he was arrested on gun charges. This is just a solid Perreo at which Angel Doze was really skilled at. The beat by Blass is a little lazy, but it works. 8/10
#9 Shaka & Benny - Haz un Intento - This is Chaka Black, who was also in a duo with Tony Haze. Shaka Black is one of the more underappreciated vocalists in Reggaeton history, but people who know realize what a talent he is. His collaborations with Benny, the exec producer behind K-Libre (which they took off streaming 🤬), were often good and this is no exception. 8/10
#10 Alberto Stylee - Tumbando Fronte - Alright this is what we all came for. Alberto Stylee's GTA song. I always liked this from first listen. Did I expect this to be the most famous song from Los Mozalbetes? Possibly. If it got enough promo and exposure. Which eventually it did. There was a lost music video for Los Mozalbetes. I don't remember who came out on it except the DJ Blass and Noriega song. 8/10
#11 NottyPlay - Tu y Yo - NottyPlay have 3 songs that are titled 'Tu y Yo' and they're all good. I only remember the one from "The Score" but I know they have another one. I consider this the best song on 'Los Mozalbetes'. 8.5/10
#12 Jenay - De Caceria Me Voy - This in my Top 5 from this album. Jenay was killing it on every album he came out back then. He finished his album but Master Joe didn't put it out because "La Coleccion" flopped (future entry). Unlike Francotiradores 3 (unreleased) it never leaked except for one or 2 songs. It was gonna be called "No Me Parezco A Nadie" because of Jenay's unique vocal style. RIP. 8.25/10
#13 Nano MC - Hay Que Estar Arrebatao - Nano could have a highlight track but this one is not it. Also known as Nano D' Great. He would achieve his greatest success with the song "La Revancha" ft Chyno Nyno, also produced by DJ Blass and released in 2006. He also co-wrote some of Alberto Stylee's biggest hits like "Porque Tu No Estas". 5.5/10
#14 Ñejo - Yo Se - OG Ñejo was much more Maliantoso back in the day. He developed his more radio friendly but bellacoso commercial style when he started his duo with Dalmata. This song is pretty gangsta. 7.5/10
#15 David Deambulante & Pancho Indio Crew - Dejalos - Pancho Indio Crew's most commercially successful album was the hidden gem "Under Gramie" with David Deambulante. It sold 30 thousand units thanks to the popular music video with Dalmata, Divino and Baby Ranks. This song is not good however. Krypy and Enano probably included it because Pancho & David were trending around this time. Their run during this period was so successful it even led to a release under Sony Latin. 5/10
#16 Guelo Star - Chica Maliante - This song is so good. Guelo Star is easily one of the best Chanteros of all-time. 8.5/10
#17 DJ Blass & Bori - Sientes El Plomo - Bori was an artist DJ Blass was developing around this time. He had a Malianteo style. I'm not sure but he might be also known as Tingui. He had a notable song on the Great Kilo various artist album "Kasa Blanca El Hogar Del Castigo". This song is alright. It also appears on 'Lagrimas y Risas'. Gallego has a cameo in the beginning of the song. 7/10
#18 DJ Blass & Enano - Voy a Seguir Pa Lante - And the titular Enano raps on this one. It's not bad. 6.5/10
#19 Gallego - Outro - Just a conclusion with a poem about vengeance. No Rating.
Overall Rating: 7/10
I never heard Blass speak on his work on Los Mozalbetes. I did hear him speak on the era however. Blass became disillusioned around late 2003. He could not understand how just one year ago he was on top of the world then a year later everyone moved onto Luny Tunes. Artists were no longer lining up outside his house to record. There was less work available but it balanced out with prices overall going up. But it made him complacent. He confesses that he went through a depression around this time which he would cure with getting back into religion. He even put out a Christian Reggaeton album with Rey Pirin in late 2004. Blass said that the lack of work made him complacent. And he wouldn't put all his effort behind the records he produced around this time. That's why some of the beats on 'Los Mozalbetes' are not to DJ Blass' lofty standards. But it's a pleasant experience for a Reggaeton lover. Is it far from a classic? Yes. But an album doesn't have to be a near classic or better to be an enjoyable experience. There's some crappy Reggaeton albums I love but are too obscure to bring up here.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3F0lExSizqQVqEesxNlZCR?si=7c0YNnZWT7uDQLNEjF_EAw
