Aventura
Photo: MTV News

Wisin y Yandel recently made history when La Revolución debuted in the top 10 on the U.S. albums chart, making it the highest Latin album debut in two years. But a few weeks later, Aventura scored an even bigger debut with their album The Last — outselling the reggaetón giants to claim the #1 spot on Billboard's Latin albums chart and #5 on the top 200.

"We're super excited. We have the most loyal fans in the world," Aventura frontman Romeo told MTV News at a record signing last week in Los Angeles. "We're really satisfied with what's happened with this album, and it's just the beginning."

The Bronx foursome pulled out all the stops for the album, fusing their signature bachata with rap, R&B and even Middle Eastern influences. The album also boasts appearances by Wisin y Yandel, Akon, Ludacris and Wyclef Jean.

"We decided to do a song with Wyclef, 'cause we actually recorded the album in his studio," guitarist Lenny said about "Spanish Fly," which features Wyclef and Ludacris. "He said, 'I would like to work with you guys.' And we were like, 'Of course. You're one of the best producers.' Wyclef wanted to mix bachata with hip-hop/Jamaican/reggae music rolled into one."

Their most ambitious album to date, The Last marks the band's final recording with record label Premium Latin. And while that opens the door to new opportunities, including a rumored solo album for lead singer Romeo, fans worry it may spell the end of the group.

"We're gonna definitely do individual projects [afterward], but we're never gonna close that Aventura door," Romeo said. "We're gonna continue to do Aventura music. We want to be that first Latino group to do individual projects yet come back and still have success as a group. I hope that people appreciate our individual talent, but definitely, Aventura is not going to be over."

So what would a Romeo solo album sound like? Though he admits he'd like to experiment and explore new genres, the singer wants to reassure fans he'd never completely abandon bachata.

"I wouldn't leave bachata, because it's the genre that has made me successful. I would like to do a little bit of everything — ballads, pop — but keep a balance of bachata with other genres. And maybe get into acting, when the time is right"

For now, Romeo, Lenny, Max and Henry remain bachata's biggest-selling act, reaching the top five on the U.S. charts alongside acts like Eminem and the Black Eyed Peas.

"We never really imagined we were going to be able to reach the level that we've reached," Romeo said. "And we keep going because we only want to keep growing as artists. So definitely, we don't take it for granted."

• Aventura

Aventura's Romeo and Akon on the set of "All Up to You"
Photo: MTV News

When 50 Cent teamed up with Wisin y Yandel to collaborate on the reggaetón duo's single, "Mujeres en el Club," he may have started a trend, as more urban artists seem to be popping up on Spanish-language tracks.

Now Akon has joined in, making his foray into the Latin genre by dropping not one but two new singles. The hitmaker recently recorded a remix of his latest smash "Beautiful," featuring Spanish vocals by ex-RBD member Dulce Maria. And last week he joined Bachata stars Aventura to shoot a video in Miami for their blazing new single "All Up to You," along with Wisin y Yandel.

"Working with Akon, it was an experience," Aventura frontman Romeo told MTV News from the video set. "We've never worked with an artist this huge."

According to Romeo, it was Akon who first approached the Bronx, New York-based foursome about working together. And when we asked Akon if we could expect to see more of these collaborations, he said it was only the beginning.

"I think you're gonna see a lot more of that kind of [collaboration between] the whole hip-hop, R&B and the Latino community," Akon said at last month's Billboard Latin Music Awards, where he performed the song live. "We were always connected, we just never actually worked together. So now we're going to start doing that."

It isn't the first time the worlds have collided. Other recent pairings include Daddy Yankee, who scored a hit in 2007 with his "Impacto" remix featuring Black Eyed Peas' Fergie. And Latin pop singer David Bisbal also hit the studio to record a Spanish remix of Rihanna's hit "Hate That I Love You."

There are also a lot more hot collaborations on the horizon. Aventura, for instance, have teamed up with Ludacris and Wyclef Jean for a track called "Spanish Fly" on their next album, The Last, which drops on June 9. Plus, Grammy-winning rap duo Calle 13 revealed exclusively to MTV News during last year's VMAs that they've spoken to Nas about laying down a joint track.

Reggaetón giants Wisin y Yandel, whose new album, La Revolucion, drops late this month, say the growing Spanglish trend is a natural evolution as urban music becomes less about language.

"We're breaking the language barrier working with Akon, working with 50 Cent," Wisin said. "It's about making good music, and I think that's what we're trying to do."

Wisin y Yandel are this month's guest bloggers on MTVTr3s.com — check out their latest post here!

• Akon Takes Cues From 50 Cent For Spanglish Hits

• Akon
• Aventura
• Dulce Maria

Tego Calderón performs at LifeBeat on Thursday
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

With Tego Calderón's El Abayarde album selling more than 350,000 copies, mainstream recognition for reggaetón — a Spanish-language blend of hip-hop, salsa and dancehall reggae — may not be far away. The non-profit AIDS-awareness organization LIFEbeat utilized the genre's popularity at its third Hearts & Voices AIDS Benefit Concert at the New York nightclub Spirit on Thursday night, presenting reggaetón heavyweight Tego Calderón and Dominican boy band Aventura as headliners.

Aventura, accompanied by a seven-piece band, took the stage first amid screams and flying undergarments. Fusing R&B and hip-hop with the Dominican style of bachata, the four singers crooned and swooned through a 30-minute set. Belting out primarily uptempo songs like "Hermanita" and "Cuando Volveras," the group paused the show to pull a female fan from the audience, and then danced with her (rather lewdly). Ending their set with a nod to the evening's message, lead singer Anthony Santos exclaimed, "Sex is the best sh-- — but it's not worth dying for. Latinos, I love you!"

Short sets from acts including MP3, Sucio and Solito followed, but were often interrupted by shouts of "Tego! Tego! Tego!"

Finally, reggaetón's lackadaisical superstar took the stage, with his trademark sunglasses and his afro squeezing out of his fitted Yankees cap. With a mischievous smile, the veteran tore through songs like "Aballarde" and "Bailalo Como Tu Quieras," walking slowly across the stage surrounded by an entourage that grew larger and larger as the set went on. Ironically donning a track jacket that read "Jamaica," the Puerto Rican star pulled a fan onstage and took a slug from her bottle of Hennessy as she shook uncontrollably from either nerves or excitement.

Meanwhile, Calderón finished off the set by rhyming over his remixes of Terror Squad's "Lean Back" and 50 Cent's "Pimp," and attempted (unsuccessfully) to crowd surf. Instead, the fans pulled him down while he let loose his trademark cackle, made famous on "Lean Back."

According to LIFEbeat Executive Director John Cannelli, the Latino community was the focus of this year's concert because Latinos represent 19 percent of newly diagnosed AIDS cases in the U.S., while they comprise 14 percent of the population.

Past participants in the Hearts & Voices concert series include Kanye West, Young Gunz, Memphis Bleek, State Property and Mario Winans.

• Tego Calderon
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• Sucio