This Puerto Rican band wasn’t on the island from the get-go. Two of La Secta’s members, Mark and Gustavo, met in Orlando during school and then moved to Miami Beach. There, they met up with John and Carlos and started writing songs. The message of their album Fuego, which shines through in “Déjalos que hablen,” is, according to John, “to be positive in the face of a moment of so many changes in the world.”

Calle 13 joins up with Cuba’s Orishas to sing a paean to those pobres who hike pa’l norte (northward) in search of a better life. The first 13 captions are very colloquial and difficult, but after that this video is very clearly annunciated with lots of great vocabulary, so hang in there! This song is thought-provoking and catchy. No one will ever accuse Calle 13 of taking a weak position in rhythm or in politics!

Meet Rubén Blades, a Salsa superstar. He helped mix Cuban and Caribbean rhythms with Jazz in New York City. Rubén Blades (or, Rubencito here among friends) composed some salsa classics while also excelling as a singer. But that’s not all. Moviegoers may recognize him as one of the victims in Predator 2. He also has a law degree and ran for president of Panama. When this video with Calle 13 was filmed, he was Panama’s Tourism Minister.

This Calle 13 video not only features the group’s classic tongue-twisting lyrics but also some surreal touches. The enfants terribles (or, niños terribles) of reggaeton are never afraid of mixing genres—or metaphors.

Can you tomar en serio a group called Circo? This Puerto Rican rock band gives us advice about how to leave behind bad moments at the speed of light. But should we trust them? What if they are payaseando?

What happens when you put beautiful and beautiful together? The amazing beaches of Guerrero, Mexico get an extra lift when Puerto Rican singing sensation Kany Garcia sings to her loved one. The song in this video is titled "Estigma de Amor"(Stigma of Love), and its lyrics fit perfectly with such a romantic setting.

At one time or another all our hearts have been broken. That’s why we bring you this song by Puerto Rican superstar Ednita Nazario. Active since 1961, she’s learned a thing or two about broken hearts. Here’s a helpful guide to mending and moving on!

Chayanne sings (and dances) to tell us all about Lola, who does not sound like a nice woman. Pity the fool that stands between Lola and her shallow pursuits!

Explosive rhythms and politically incorrect lyrics are part of what made Calle 13 an international superstar. This song "Atrévete-te-te" is one of their first hits that made people turn their heads and move their hips all over the dance floor.

Born in New York but raised primarily in Puerto Rico, Victor Manuelle is identified primarily with salsa romantica and salsa monga. Discovered by salsa superstar Gilberto Santa Rosa at a high school graduation party where Manuelle jumped on the stage, Victor has gone on to become one of the best-selling salsa performers of recent years.

Kany García has been enjoying a successful career and winning some of the most prestigious Spanish music awards, but if you go by this song, her love life hasn’t been quite as satisfying. Well, luckily, she’s found a solution to this problem (batteries sold separately).

No is a big word. Well, it has only two letters, but we all know how powerful it is. Ednita Nazario, here featuring Natalia Jiménez – lead singer of La Quinta Estación – wants to change her life, leave the past behind, close that door, finish that chapter. And there is only one way to do it: putting together a little “N” and a little “O.”

World famous boricua Ednita Nazario was once just another six year old watching a Ponce ball game. By chance a line drive flew right into the glove she held before her. The crowd went wild, and that crowd just happened to include a big record producer, who was even more impressed when she offered him a song.

The kings of Alternative Reggeaton, Calle 13, are well known for their smart, fast and funny lyrics; they disrespect anybody and everybody. That’s why "Un beso de desayuno" is a surprise: for the first time we are tempted to leave off the viewer discretion sign in a Calle 13 video!

Kany Garcia is known for being on the first season of Objectivo Fama (Puerto Rico’s American Idol). Kany suffered a serious car accident during the show, but made an almost full recovery. Kany has turned into a sought-after composer/songwriter (for the winning song of "Objectivo Fama" as well as others) and a recording artist in her own right.

Puerto Rican half-brothers Residente (René Pérez Joglar) and Visitante (Eduardo José Cabra Martínez)—nicknamed for their respective roles in their weekly step-family visits to 13th Street—together make Calle 13. The music of Calle 13 is a sort of hip-hop/reggaeton with a sense of humor and playfulness. Watch out for the bleeped naughty words.

Italian pop star Eros Ramazzotti teams up with Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin in this duet, “No Estamos Solos” (“We are not alone”—or, “Non Siamo Soli” in its Italian version). Born in Rome, the 44-year-old Ramazzotti is no duet virgin: He’s recorded songs with the late Luciano Pavarotti, Joe Cocker, Tina Turner, Cher and Carlos Santana, to name a few.

Encarnita (Kany) García had her first brush with fame on the Puerto Rican talent-search show Objetivo Fama in 2004. But she had to pull out of the OF competition after a terrible car accident landed her in intensive care… Luckily, things have looked up since then. After writing songs for fellow OF alum Janina, singer/songwriter Kany released her own album, Cualquier Día, in 2007 to critical acclaim.

For some people, the Menudo years stood as Ricky Martin’s best. Others might sing out Maria, Livin’ La Vida Loca or She Bangs to highlight the top of the pop singer’s ascent. It’s been a while since Ricky’s smiling face was everywhere and his name sat up high in the Billboard charts. Nowadays, he devotes much of his time to helping others as Goodwill Ambassador to UNICEF and through the Ricky Martin Foundation.

Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony are in love! (Beware cold-hearted fellows! This could be painful for you…) Their careers are skyrocketing, and they have a set of absolutely angelic twins (reportedly netting them from $3 to $6 Million for a photo session). Take a chance with Por Arriesgarnos, and let them share their joy.

Michael Stuart, born in New York to Puerto Rican parents, received his musical education from his uncle Israel Timbalero Stuart, who helped him secure background vocal gigs for Johnny Rivera and Marc Antony. Since 1996, Stuart has released nine records, his latest a salsa album entitled Sentimiento de un Rumbero released on Machete Records in 2007.

Deep in the heart of Old San Juan you can hear live salsa music playing most any night at the Nuyorican Cafe. We stepped into the alley for a breather and had a little chat with two lovely salseras to get an insider view of what brings them back to the dance floor night after night.

Puerto Rican by birth, Luis Fonsi moved at an early age to Orlando, Florida. Despite having participated in a number of minor “boy bands,” it wasn’t until he was discovered by the president of the music school at the University of Florida, where he was a student, that he was offered a sizable recording contract. Success came quickly as his reputation spread throughout Latin America.

Of course tuve is the preterite yo form tener, so one might be misled to think that the refrain of this tune is “I had, I had.” However, in casual speech on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, tú ve’ is short for tú ves (“you see”), but the uninitiated could easily mistake it for the verb tuve (“I had”). ¿Tú ve’?