Building on the superstar guest list plus the crossover attitude of their 2011 release
Los Vaqueros: El Regreso,
Wisin & Yandel use reggaeton as a jumping-off point on
Lideres, offering an album full of Latin pop, dance-pop, and hip-hop while challenging folks like
Pitbull and
Flo Rida with their urban-flavored dancefloor singles. Most glittery and glamorous on that last front is "Follow the Leader," a slick nod to the Tribal-Guarachero movement and a singalong club track to boot with special guest
Jennifer Lopez blending well with the duo.
T-Pain is back after his appearance on
Los Vaqueros, but this time he's coupled with
Chris Brown on "Algo Me Gusta de Ti" for an appearance that's less natural than
Lopez's, although it's a giant anthem with a suitably big chorus. Filling out the rest is a set of high-powered cuts with
Wisin & Yandel just fine on their own, excelling at the futuristic electro sound on the bleepy "Peligro" and going back to their roots on the ominous street number "Prende," the album's most traditional reggaeton cut. ~ David Jeffries