Afrodis¿¿aco

by Rauw Alejandro

Overview

While Afrodisiaco is reggaetonero Rauw Alejandro's studio debut album for Sony, it is actually the second long-player he issued in 2020. In September, Alejandro independently released Concierto Virtual en Tiempos de COVID-19 Desde el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, that peaked at number ten on the Top Latin Albums chart and guaranteed Afrodisiaco at least a measure of success upon release. Alejandro is a breakout star. Shortly before this album's release, he was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the Best New Artist category. Further, three of this set's 16 tracks were advanced as singles; all charted inside the Top 20, including the chart-topping "Tattoo" with Camilo, "De Cora <3" with J Balvin, and "Reloj" with Anuel AA. Afrodisiaco is a collaboration-heavy affair: Only five of its 16 cuts were performed by Alejandro solo. They include the killer opener "Dile a El," a midtempo heartbreak ballad set to a ferocious reggaeton beat, and the R&B-tinged trap of "Enchule," with its anthemic chorus. The rest is a star-studded affair with more than a few righteous surprises including "U Sueno," a brittle yet seductive (and bilingual) collaboration with breakout trap artist Trippie Redd. "Mood" (feat. Sech), is a slippery, seductive urbano jam with entwined vocals, layered beats, and lush atmospherics. "Pensadote" is a sultry midtempo collaboration with Tainy, while the dramatic club banger "No Te Creo" places Alejandro's sweet tenor framed by Wisin & Yandel's and Mr. Naisgai's urgent rapping. The tropical cinematic urbano on "Quimica" features vocal appearances from Zion & Lennox and the Martinez Brothers. Perhaps the set's biggest surprise is "Soy Una Gargola." It's a remake of the 2004 Puerto Rican reggaeton smash by Randy Nota Loca (of Jowell & Randy fame), that features the original artist and Arcangel, complete with an array of imaginative 21st century beats and sonics. The set also includes a fine remix of "Elegi" featuring Farruko, Dimelo Flow, Justin Quiles, Sech, and Anuel AA, and closes with a remix of the steamy chart-topping single "Tattoo" with Camilo. There is a pronounced and consistent vibe on Afrodisiaco; it juxtaposes elegantly layered atmospherics and innovative beats against catchy melodies set in middling tempos. The album's production vibe is carefully articulated to underscore the painstaking detail applied to the sequencing of exceptionally well-written songs. When assembled, they deliver a rich and seamless listening experience. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	12/18/2020
Label:	Sony Music
UPC:	0194398387420

Tracks

1. Dile a El
2. Strawberry Kiwi
3. Mood
4. Qu¿¿mica
5. Enchule
6. De Cora <3
7. Un Sue¿¿o
8. Reloj
9. No Te Creo
10. Soy Una Gargola
11. Pensándote
12. Perreo Pesau'
13. Algo M¿¿gico
14. Ponte Pa' Mi
15. Elegí
16. Tattoo

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Rauw Alejandro   Primary Artist
Wisin   Primary Artist
J Balvin   Primary Artist
Tainy   Primary Artist
Dalex   Primary Artist
Lenny Tavarez   Primary Artist
Anuel AA   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Lennox   Primary Artist
Myke Towers   Primary Artist
Sech   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Mr. Naisgai   Primary Artist
Sky Rompiendo   Primary Artist
Randy   Primary Artist
Yandel   Primary Artist
Camilo   Primary Artist
Zion   Primary Artist
Arcangel   Primary Artist
The Martinez Brothers   Featured Artist
Farruko   Featured Artist
Justin Quiles   Featured Artist
Trippie Redd   Featured Artist
Dimelo Flow   Featured Artist
Luis J. Gonzalez   Piano

Technical Credits

Orlando Cepeda   Composer
The Martinez Brothers   Producer
Franklin Martinez   Composer
Austin Santos   Composer
Adrian Sanchez   Composer,Producer
Jorge Pizarro   Composer,Engineer
Steve Martinez Jr.   Composer
Randy Ortiz   Composer
Carlos Efren Reyes Rosado   Composer
Mervin Maldonado   Composer
Julio Tavarez Gonzalez   Composer
Michael Sanchez   Composer,Producer
David Castro Torres   Composer
Isaac Ortiz   Composer
Juan Cardona   Composer,Producer
Emmanuel Santiago   Composer
Felix Ortiz   Composer
Llandel Veguilla   Composer
Juan Luis Morera   Composer
Evaluna Montaner   Composer
Alejandro Reglero   A&R
Marcos Masis   Composer,Producer
Cristian Salazar   Composer
Álvaro Díaz   Composer
Justin Quiles   Composer
Pedro D. Daleccio   Composer
Alejandro "Sky" Ramirez   Composer,Producer
Rafa Rodriguez   Composer
Jose Alvaro Osorio Balvin   Composer
Miguel Martinez Perea   Composer
Rosalia Vila Tobella   Composer,Producer
Joshua Javier Mendez   Composer
Jean Pierre Soto Pascual   Composer,Producer
Ernesto Padilla   Composer,Producer
Stiven Rojas   Composer,Producer
Eric Rovira   Composer,Executive Producer
Myke Towers   Composer
Dimelo Flow   Mixing,Engineer
Michael Lamar White IV   Composer
Andrea Mangiamarchi   Composer
Sech   Composer
Rauw Alejandro   Composer,Lyricist
Andy Bauza   Composer
Daniel Ignacio Rondon   Producer
John Eddie Perez   A&R
Jorge Valdes Vazquez   Composer,Producer
Amber Urena   A&R
Jesus David Valencia   Composer
Juan Jose Duque   Composer,Producer
Luis J. Gonzalez   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Ramses Ivan Herrera Soto   Composer
Camilo Echeverry   Composer
David Alberto   Composer
Jose Collazo   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Mastering
Hector Caleb Lopez   Composer,Producer
Rafael Rodriguez   Producer
Julian Yepez   Composer,Producer
Luis Marval   Composer
Daniel Rondon   Composer
Rafael Hernandez   Composer,Producer
Jose M. Reyes   Composer
Roberto Rafael Elias Rivera   Composer
Angel Ruben Diaz   Composer
El Zorro   Producer
Victor Torres   Engineer
Nicolas Ramirez   Remixing
Ramon Ayala   Composer
Nino Segarra   Composer
Mike Fuller   Mastering
Miguel Antonio De Jesus   Composer
Gabriel Pizarro   Composer
Giann Arias   Composer