Calle 13, Los De Atrás Vienen Conmigo

Calle 13, the genre-bending Puerto Rican duo comprised of vocalist Residente and producer Visitante, have done it again with their latest release, Los De Atrás Vienen Conmigo. In refusing to be pigeonholed as reggaetoneros, they have pushed the boundaries of Latin urban music to its bleeding edge, elevating their audience's expectations and challenging their fellow artists to either evolve or step aside.

One of the most striking differences between the work of Calle 13 and that of their contemporaries is the refreshing variety of sounds and rhythms they're willing to employ, not contenting themselves with the ubiquitous -- and droning -- standard reggaeton "Dem Bow" beat. Cumbia, mariachi, salsa: there's a pan-Latin flavor at work in Los De Atrás that allows for nuance, texture, and even satire. In fact, the artists' sense of humor is a defining characteristic of their sound, and they're not afraid to lampoon musical styles or mock the inherent silliness and immaturity of their competitors' lyrics. Calle 13 are proud wordsmiths, creating intelligent rhymes that are a match for any top Anglo MC.

If you could pick only one Latin urban group to listen to -- or if you've never even heard Latin urban music before and want to start with the gold standard -- do yourself a favor and pick Calle 13.