Don Omar Presents: Meet the Orphans

Background

The album was initially planned as the re-release album from iDon, titled first iDon 2.0, and later Prototype 2.0. On September 2009, Reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee confirmed work on Omar's new album, following by the remix version of "Hasta Abajo". However none of the collaborations with Yankee including the remix, were included on the album. It was set to be released in fall 2009, but was cancelled. Following the cancellation of the re-release album from iDon, it was announced that Don Omar would turn his attention to recording a new full length collaboration album from scratch which would feature other reggaeton artists.

Release

The album was set to be released on August 24, 2010 through Orfanato Music Group. back later was on October 19, 2010, the album was to be released finally on November 2, 2010 but the release date was newly changed to November 16, 2010. The album was released on two editions, a Standard edition with 14 tracks and a Deluxe edition that includes 19 tracks and the music video of "Danza Kuduro", both editions were released the same day. On the iTunes Store both editions include the bonus track "Carta al Cielo" and a Digital booklet.

Critical response

David Jeffries from Allmusic gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5. Here is an extract of his review: "a mix of new and old music -- a must for Don Omar fans and worth considering if you’re curious, but unfamiliar, with what’s happening in the reggaeton genre 2010."

Allison Stewart from The Washington Post said that "Omar is on safer ground on Don Omar Presents: Meet the Orphans, a collection of tracks spotlighting the artists and producers of his El Orfanato record label. It's a curiously old-fashioned concept, like an old-school mix tape or a lower-wattage version of P. Diddy's epochal '01 Bad Boy showcase, The Saga Continues. Though Meet the Orphans is studded with tales of social uplift (like the sluggish, serious "Angeles Y Demonios"), it's most agreeable when it sticks to fare like last summer's inescapable "Danza Kuduro", a warp-speed, tropical/meringue/pop redo of French Portuguese singer Lucenzo's hit "Vem dançar kuduro" (with Lucenzo included).

Chart performance

In United States, Meet the Orphans debuted at #101 with sales of 7,420 on the Billboard 200. The album also debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums charts, and became his seventh top ten album and his sixth highest album debut on the top ten, it also debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Latin Rhythm Albums charts and at #8 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums charts. According to Universal Music Latino, the album certified platinum after its first week sales in Southern California. On the Mexican Albums Chart the album debuted at #81. The following week the album jumped at #69, and peaked at #47.

Promotion

Prior to the release of the album, four promotional singles were released exclusively on Apple's iTunes Store as a "Countdown to Meet the Orphans".

Singles

Other releases

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Taken and adapted from Allmusic.com.

Sequel

Don Omar Presents MTO²: New Generation

A sequel of Meet the Orphans, called MTO 2: New Generation is in works. The release date has not beed announced yet but the previews of two songs were released through YouTube on April 17. One is called Tus Movimientos featuring Natti Natasha, and the other one is called Zumba. In the official website of Orphanato Music Group it is said that "the album will contain 14 songs that will make history in music".