RKM & Ken-Y

R.K.M. & Ken-Y became one of reggaetón's most popular acts, particularly among pop crossover fans, after their hit single "Down" topped the charts in 2006. Their debut album, Masterpiece (2006), proved commercially successful as well, as it spawned a series of additional hit singles ("Me Matas," "Dame Lo Que Quiero," "Igual Que Ayer") and was reissued a couple different times with bonus material (the "World Tour" and "Commemorative" editions). The duo's popularity among pop crossover fans is due in large part to their romantic leanings and the sweet-voiced singing of Ken-Y, whose appeal far surpasses that of his partner and counterpoint, R.K.M., whose tough raps are more typical of reggaetón. On El Duo Romantico's second album, The Royalty/La Realeza, Ken-Y is given much of the spotlight, no surprise given his exceptional popularity. For instance, on the album's standout single, the cumbia-styled "Te Regalo Amores," R.K.M. isn't even heard from until over two minutes into the song, when he breaks into a brief verse that lasts less than 20 seconds and is obscured by a keyboard melody that appears out of nowhere and is so high in the mix, it essentially relegates his rap to background noise. As evidence that not all is fair in the world of R.K.M. & Ken-Y, featured guest Ivy Queen fares better on the album-closing remix of "Te Regalo Amores," where she gets around 30 seconds for her verse and doesn't have to compete with a keyboard melody. Many listeners will no doubt be pleased to hear that The Royalty/La Realeza often sounds like a Ken-Y solo album on which R.K.M. is a featured guest. There's even a Ken-Y solo showcase, "Enamorado por Primera Vez," a romantic piano ballad that replaces the omnipresent dem-bow beat with orchestral strings and an odd bit of electric guitar. On the other hand, those more inclined toward R.K.M.'s counterpoint are sure to be frustrated. Not only is he overshadowed by the pop-friendly hooks of Ken-Y, but he has to compete for the spotlight with a parade of high-profile featured guests, namely Plan B, Don Omar, Héctor Acosta, Jayko, and Ivy Queen. Among these guest features, Plan B and Don Omar shine brightest. Especially curious is the Héctor Acosta feature, the bachata-styled "Vicio del Pecado," essentially a duet with Ken-Y, as R.K.M. is relegated a half-minute cameo. As on Masterpiece, the production of The Royalty/La Realeza is overseen by Los Magnificos and Mambo Kingz, who turn out crisp and generally first-rate beats, along with some surprises like the aforementioned cumbia and bachata fusions. In addition to "Te Regalo Amores" and its remix, highlights include "Come On," "No Tengo Nada," "Tuve un Sueño," "Cuerpo Sensual," and "Mi Días sin Ti." While there's also plenty of filler sequenced toward the latter half of the album, The Royalty/La Realeza is a relatively solid reggaetón album that should delight fans of the duo as well as pop crossover listeners. Though it lacks the stylistic innovation of Masterpiece, an album that more or less on its own carved out a sizable niche in the Latin pop market for romantic reggaetón, The Royalty/La Realeza is a stronger, more assured album, one that rightly thrusts rising superstar Ken-Y center stage at the expense of his partner. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide