Quinee Butler, Reggaetonline.net - December 9, 2005 - William Omar Landrón is one of Reggaeton’s most prominent artists today. Since his days as a preacher in church, his friends have been calling him Don Omar, and that name has stuck withhim until this day . His sensually smooth voice has young women swooning to the sounds of Reggaeton. He is among the heavy hitters in the Reggaeton genre. Although Daddy Yankee may have the spot-light in the U.S. today, true fans know that Don Omar has the skill, ability and the voice to be on top and stay there. With the release of his new album of greatest hits entitled, DA HITMAN PRESENTS REGGAETON LATINO, Don Omar has made it easy for fans, old and new, to find the best of his work all on one album. Boy Wonder, the mastermind behind CHOSEN FEW put it best, in the intro to ‘Reggaeton Latino’, when he said, “It’s not about making a hit, its about making a classic.” ‘Reggaeton Latino’, the first song on DA HITMAN PRESENTS REGGAETON LATINO, went on to become the anthem for Reggaeton fans across the world. The song has become a true classic to reggaeton fans worldwide.
Don Omar seemed destined to become a key player in the Reggaeton industry. “I actually started performing years ago,” recalls Don Omar. “I began by writing for Hector El Father. One day Hector said to me: ‘You know what I think? You are gonna be famous.’ [Hector and I] started making music and our hard work has brought me to where I am right now.” Don Omar got his first opportunity 16 years ago to perform and did not take it. A few Years later when he reached the age of 21 another opportunity to perform presented itself and he took it.
The rapid growth of the popularity of Reggaeton in the United states has attracted the attention critics and skeptics around the world. Reggaeton has awakened the Latin youth of today to a new way of expression through dance and music not available to them before. Many Latinos found that doors to making it big in Hip-hop were closed to them simply too difficult to open, especially if the lyrics were presented in Spanish. “Reggaeton, to me, is like the Latin American flag for young people, its something to represent us,” he says proudly. “Reggaeton is one of the most powerful movements that I have seen growth in, as far as Latin music goes. Reggaeton is what’s [hot] now in Latin clubs across Europe, in Central, South, and North American. It’s sensual, hot, and erotic. I think overall it is the voice of the movement of your Latin people around the world.”
“As for the future of Reggaeton I see myself right here in front leading the movement because the [fans] have situated me right here. New things are going to happen in Reggaeton. Reggaeton is crossing over with hip-hop, other Latin music and American music genres. The industry is so interested in putting the responsibility of the direction of Latin American people’s on our shoulders.” Don Omar definitely wants, making a difference and helping to shape the future of Latin music. There is no doubt that his music has already made an impact on the world and will continue to do so.