KING OF KINGS - DON OMAR
Reggaeton star Don Omar delivers his second studio album a full three years after his debut. And while there is still some shake-your-booty fare here, most of this 18-track set is worth the wait. The introductory “Predica,” featuring violinist Miri Ben Ari improvising over Middle Eastern lines and Omar’s rap preachings, is a good wake-up-and-listen track that paves the way for an eclectic album big on Middle Eastern music, dancehall (Mackie Ranks and Beenie Man are featured) and rap. There is also a lot of lyricism, an Omar specialty, particularly on the melancholic first single “Angelito,” a parable about the dangers of casual sex. Omar goes out on a limb with “Tu No Sabes,” a ballad sung over solo piano, and the final “Amarga Vida,” a soliloquy set to a percussion vamp. Yes, it is sometimes overindulgent. But it also highlights an artist with staying power.–Billboard
