New York, NY. (Atlantic Records) - Tego Calderon's video for the track 'Los Mate' will make its worldwide premiere on Univision.com Thursday, August 24th at 11am. Produced by DJ Nesty & Naldo, 'Los Mate' is the first single off Calderon's Atlantic debut album 'The Underdog/ El Subestimado' slated for release on August 29th. The album, being released on Calderon's own Atlantic-distributed Jiggiri Records, is already being hailed as a landmark in the Latin hip-hop and reggaeton movement. When Calderon inked a worldwide deal with Atlantic last year, he became the first artist in the Latin hip-hop field to ink a global pact with a major label.
Calderon describes his Atlantic debut as 'a musical journey through the Afro-Caribbean culture.' It showcases poetry from the heart and is a unique fusion of elements taken from traditional bomba puertorriquena, Jamaican reggae, blues, Cuban rumba, and New York salsa.'
The diversity of musical styles that Tego brings together on THE UNDERDOG/EL SUBESTIMADO is reflected in the wide array of musical instruments on the album. Avoiding the overuse of computer-generated tracks, Calderon brings to his palate the music of percussion and brass to create a vivid soundscape that recalls the classic rhythms of the legendary salsa greats.
THE UNDERDOG/EL SUBESTIMADO contains 22 tracks plus one bonus track and features collaborations with such artists as Buju Banton, Eddie Dee & Voltio, Yandel, Chyno Nyno, Don Omar, and legendary salsa singer Oscar D'Leon. The album also features the work of producers DJ Nelson, Danny Fornaris, DJ Nesty, Naldo, DJ Joe, Echo & Diesel, Cookee, Major League, Salaam Remi, Erick Figueroa, Daniel Cruz & Eduardo Lobo, and Troyton Rami. All the songs on the album were co-written by Calderon. Featured in the album is a special booklet with bilingual track-by-track commentary by award-winning Puerto Rican author and professor Mayra Santos-Febres.
Announcing Tego's signing to Atlantic in the spring of 2005, Atlantic Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman commented: 'With the continuing creative and commercial explosion of new Latin music in the U.S., I am thrilled that one of its signature artists, the brilliant Tego Calderon, has joined the Atlantic family. The reggaeton and Latin hip-hop movements are rapidly merging into the mainstream of American music and media, and Tego's innovative style, street credibility, and charismatic presence have already made him a cultural icon, placing him at the leading edge of the vibrant new urban-driven Latin scene. The signing of Tego is a proud moment in Atlantic history, signaling our enthusiasm and our long-term belief in this boundary-crossing music.'
For more information on Tego Calderon, please visit www.tegocalderon.com and www.myspace.com/tegocalderon. To enjoy the worldwide premiere of Tego Calderon's video for the track 'Los Mate,' please visit www.univision.com and use the uniclave (keyword) Reggaeton.