The Last Don 2

Background

Don Omar's most recent album was the Latin Grammy winner compilation Meet The Orphans 2: New Generation, released in 2012, but his most recent studio album was Meet The Orphans, released in 2010. The Last Don 2 is the sequel of Don Omar's first studio album, The Last Don, released in 2003. In 2014 were released two singles, «Pura Vida» and «Nada Cambiará» featuring Xavi The Destroyer, which were originally part of the track list, but after some time the songs were suppressed of it. The song «Finge Que Me Amas» featuring Tony Dize was released in Tony's album, La Melodía De La Calle: 3rd Season, instead of this one. Between 2014 and 2015 were released the tracks previews, and in 2015 was confirmed the album's track list, suppressing the intro «Il Capo», which uses the chorus of Ray Charles' single «Hit The Road Jack» and was also part of the original production.

Production

The Last Don II was recorded between 2013 and 2015, with "Yo Soy De Aquí" as the first promotional song, which was originally recorded for Don Omar's concert Hecho En Puerto Rico in the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum. After releasing pop hits including "Danza Kuduro", "Taboo", "Zumba", "Hasta Que Salga El Sol" and "Pura Vida", Don Omar decided to release a 100% reggaeton album for his fans, remembering the music that made him famous. There were 24 songs recorded for this album, including one track featuring Jennifer Lopez and other one with Flo Rida, but Don Omar decided not to include those songs and releasing a 12-songs-long production. It includes also the first collaboration between Wisin & Yandel since their hiatus in 2013.

In an interview with Billboard magazine in 2015, Landrón said that he is planning to released a deluxe edition including the rest of the tracks that weren't released on the original one. He mentioned that there's going to be a tour with Daddy Yankee, and also that he wants to make music videos with him and Wisin & Yandel. In 2014, Don Omar was arrested becaused of domestic violence, implying that he threatened his girlfriend Rebecca Lopez. He was bailed out but with an electronic shackle, and he finished the album recording at home.

Finally, the album was released worldwide on June 16, 2015, through Pina Records and Machete Music, and reached the top position in the latin ranking of iTunes, as well as the top position on Billboard's Top Latin Albums charts. Don Omar stated that it is a new stage in his musical career and his album seccess was unexpected for him. As of February 2016 there were no music videos for any of the album's tracks due to problems between Don Omar and his label, Universal Music Latino, whose 10-year-long contract didn't benefit him, who said that he will begin the videos' shooting once his contract ends.

Singles

Track listing

The album consists in twelve tracks, focusing on reggaeton music, also with two hip hop tracks and a Latin pop track. There are two songs that are mixes between genres: "Soledad" mixes reggaeton and bachata, including guitar and accordion melodies; and "Bailando Bajo El Sol", which musically mixes smooth reggaeton and reggae. Don Omar co-wroted all tracks, and almost all of them has additional writing by a producer. The only track that does not feature the producer's lyrics is "Dobla Rodilla", which was written by Don Omar and Wisin. Chris Jeday and Gaby Music produced almost the entire album, with additional work by Jumbo, Mambo Kingz, Bryan, Luny Tunes, Duran and Tainy. Eliel, who was part of Don Omar's production team in his first two studio albums, produced only one track, "Yo Soy De Aquí", released on April 2013 to promote his concert in the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum the following month.

Credits and personnel

Most credits adapted from AllMusic.

Charts