Wisin & Yandel

They started out as two dancehall-obsessed teens and became two of the most iconic voices in reggaetón. Wisin & Yandel formed in 1998 in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and were already charting when they dropped their presciently named debut, Los Reyes del Nuevo Milenio (“The Kings of the New Millennium”), in 2000. With Wisin’s rapid-fire rapping and Yandel’s piercing, nasal singing voice (as well as their distinctive twinned delivery), they created a sonic niche of their own. The 2005 release P’al Mundo marked their real breakout, when the propulsive hit “Rakata” took over the airwaves and earned a remix by Ja Rule. Albums like 2007’s Los Extraterrestres and subsequent hits like “Pam Pam” and “Abusadora” cemented their invincibility. On those early albums, you can hear both Wisin & Yandel’s ferocity—those ratatat rhymes seem inexhaustible—and their simple enthusiasm: they were having the time of their lives, and it showed. The duo took a hiatus in 2013, leading to unfounded rumours of a breakup. But while both have pursued solo efforts, they remain strongest together, as their 2018 reunion album Los Campeones del Pueblo: The Big Leagues and innumerable collaborations proved. Over the years, these industry veterans have morphed with the times while remaining true to their early dancehall influences. They remain a vital force in the industry, teaming up with fellow longtimers like Daddy Yankee as well as young lions like J Balvin and Bad Bunny, lending an air of authenticity and authority to a new generation of reggaetóneros who have embraced melody in a way that would have been unthinkable when the duo started out.