Year in Music: Daddy Yankee, Shakira, RBD

The Elephant in the Room: Daddy Yankee endorsed John McCain for U.S. president and simultaneously lost his barrio cred. Not only did Cangri fans have a WTF moment but MCs such as Pitbull and Fat Joe labeled him a “sellout.” Pit called it a “failed publicity stunt” and Joey Crack challenged DY to a debate. Thank God for all our brain cells it never came to fruition but DY’s image became as tarnished as an Illinois governor.

Peace Para Colombia: Juanes continues to pluck at our heartstrings with his music. This month at a concert in his native Colombia he brought up on stage a child whose father was kidnapped by the guerrillas. The child tearfully asked for his father’s return while the crowd and Juanes began weeping as well. Earlier in the year he organized a free concert as a response to the Andean diplomatic conflict. Oh yeah, he also won five Latin Grammys. This parcero is always for la patria.   

Pants Optional: Disney starlets seem to be racing to see who can ruin their teenybopper image quickest. In November, images of a bottomless Adrienne Bailon hit the net and were continuously viewed by middle-aged men. The Cheetah Girl didn’t show her *ahem* cheetah but did flaunt her cheeks. Her excuse: the pics were meant for beau Rob Kardashian. Alas the only victim here is Kardashian. He has a girlfriend who can’t keep her pants on and a sister, well, you know the rest. 

Rock the Wedding Bells: Don Omar got hitched for love and Mariah Carey got married for to add another dependent on her income taxes. Jackie Guerrido, one of the finest weathergirls in Spanish language TV history, is Don’s wife. Nick Cannon, a wannabe Will Smith, is Carey’s junior husband. By next year Omar and Jackie will welcome a lil’ reggaetonero and Mariah will break-up with Nick before his prom.

Shak Barack: Beyoncè offered her singing services for Barack Obama’s inauguration but only Shakira has allegedly been asked to perform at it. Even though the colombiana couldn’t vote for Obama, she’s an avid supporter of the president-elect. If she does perform at the inauguration gala, our new First Lady will make sure Obama doesn’t have a Shak attack in his pantaloons. 

Kumbia Prince: Pee Wee lost over 200 pounds of asshole (A.B. Quintanilla III) and sashayed himself all the way to the top of Univision’s Reyes del Show. He’ll no longer have to answer to Papa A.B. and will release his debut solo album next year. After all his record label legal troubles he can finally grow some chest hair and change his infamous name. Really, who names themselves after someone who chokes pollos? 

The Year of the Latino MC?: A year ago Tru-Life, Joell Ortiz, Omar Cruz and Termanolgy were the future of Latino MCs and were cosigned by Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, The Game and DJ Premier, respectively. In 2008, Tru-Life became milk carton material and Joell left Aftermath to become the illest free agent on the market. OC is on his TV grind but has no release date in sight and Term released a slept-on gem (Politics as Usual). The recession is to blame but sometimes it seems like there’s no love for Latin folk in the rap game. 

RBD Ends: It’s like the Friends finale—you were either shouting for joy or signing petitions to bring it back. Alas, RBD began losing its fairy dust so the Latin pop group decided to disband. Yet, don’t expect any RBDer to have a Jennifer Aniston-like post-career. Anahí has a better shot at being head waitress at Hooters . . . and Christian too.

Broadway’s Best: The In the Heights cast shook up the Great White Way with their hip-hop and Latino-infused musical. Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and crew won four Tony Awards including the coveted Best Musical. Miranda took it back to 1979 by rapping his acceptance speech. He was later spotted teaching break dancing to trust fund kids.  

R.I.P.: Mambo pioneer Israel “Cachao” Lopez died earlier this year due to kidney failure. He was 89. The Cuban-born bassist introduced the mambo genre to the U.S. in the early ‘60s. Cachao was still performing well into his 80s and even received a Grammy award in 2004 for his album Agora Si! Rest in peace and thanks for the legendary tunes.