December 12, 2005 @ 9:45 am

Don Omar - Da Hit Man

by: Liana Morales

“Dale Don, Dale!” The phrase that reggaetón heads from the U.S. to Colombia seem to know by memory, can suggest two very distinct meanings depending on whom you ask. To the everyday Joe Shmoe or, more specifically, the overwhelming number of reggaetón fans, it may just be a very catchy hook to a hot track. But when you ask the man whose raspy voice décors the production, he might just school you and let you know it is something more of an authoritative yet assuring command, and the song that eventually put him on the radar. Omar (ne William Omar Landrón), who eventually added the prefix "Don" to his name, as his hit single so cleverly suggested (and from being referred to as “El Don” during his church ministering days), began writing at the age of 12. Today he is, without a doubt, one of the fastest growing artists of the reggaetón movement. His career has skyrocketed with hits such as “Dale Don Dale”, “Dile” and the current favorite “Reggaetón Latino,” which has rapidly acquired him even more mainstream recognition. right Six years ago (he remembers it as if it were only yesterday), Don Omar couldn’t have imagined “Dale Don Dale” would have had the successes it has today. On the contrary, he doubted the audience would take to it at all. He recalls how close friend and business partner, Hector “El Father”, pushed him to take a leap of faith and [reminded] him he was destined to be one of the [best] in the game. “Within the first week, ‘Dale Don Dale’ became the most played on the entire island of Puerto Rico,” explains El Don, still incredulous of the overnight popularity. “It is the [only] song that [each] and [every] Latin and non-Latin radio station has played even if only once. And to think it’s the one I didn’t want. If I hadn’t done the song I wouldn’t be here where I am today.” An admirer of the old school reggaetoneros , he recalls his early introduction to the genre came from artists like Don Chezina, Maicol y Manuel, and his favorite, Wiso G. He even credits who many claim to be his arch nemesis, Daddy Yankee, whom he knows from the island, with adding his grain of salt in the "Don Omar movement". Despite what seems like media infused “beef” between the two, Don Omar manages to remains a man of honor, keeping all negativity, if any, to himself. “Nobody in Puerto Rico invented reggaetón and there isn’t anyone who can tell me any different,” he clarifies. “It was through the voices of those such as El General that we all came to create the sounds of today." In his third compilation, Da Hit Man Presents Reggaeton Latino, which dropped December 6th, Don Omar has guest appearances by Fat Joe, NORE, Fabulous, Cuban Link, Jennifer Lopez and Tego Calderon, and stamps the experience as “¡Impresionante!” Though his devotion geared from Ministering to Reggaeton because of unfortunate instances of infidelity, Don Omar remains humble and grateful. “When it’s my time to go I’ll give the keys back and take off,” he prophesizes. “As far as anything goes…I am a soldier [of God] and soldiers are always the ones who bear the fruit in the end.” Read more vibe.com online exclusives.

Article tags: Da Hit Man Presents Reggaeton Latino, Dale Don Dale, Don Omar, The Last Don