Wisin’s three decade career was celebrated during Billboard Latin Music Week 2023 for the urban music icon’s lengthy history of creating hits and birthing a business empire.
On Wednesday, October 4, Wisin & La Base: Eye of the Tiger presented by Smirnoff incited a conversation about reggaeton smashes, alongside hitmakers Luny Tunes, DJ Nelson and mix engineer and producer Hyde El Químico, with moderator Molusco. During the 40-minute discussion, the panelists reflected on their impact in the trajectory of the genre and how the genre has evolved over time. Wisin was also celebrated with a gift from Smirnoff when a specialty designed güiro by Mexican illustrator Totoi Semerena was presented to the superstar.
We’ve selected the standout quotes from the few panels that were captured on video. Below, check out the conversation in full, with some memorable quotes from each panelist:
Wisin on Achieving His Dreams (And More): I believe that work, discipline … I think that is what the urban movement is all about. We are here because we decided to do big things because we did not think we would be here. When we started to see money, for us, it was like “Wow” because we are humble people. We never thought that this movement was going to be where it is, so when we started our movement, we only had dreams in [a] sack. We had no money. We had no tools. We had no technology. So, thanks to God and life and the public, millions of people, who as Nelson says, we go to different cities and still receive us with open arms.
Wisin on How Collabs Impacted His Mainstream Appeal: I think it is very important that people understand that our collaborations made demographics that did not look at our movements, look at it differently and it was due to the affirmation of different superstars who decided to work with us. Reaching the mainstream world was the most important thing. At that time, it was a dream for us to be able to work with Jennifer [Lopez], with Ricky [Martin], with Enrique [Iglesias], with all of them.
Hyde on The Landscape’s Biggest Change: The desire to always seek the highest quality was always there from the beginning since the genre began in a room, in our homes, in Marquesina. What changed was that now because of technology, we have access to create good music with fewer resources. Before you needed a super expensive studio and much more equipment to achieve a good sound; now a kid from home with a laptop, a good microphone and a good ear can aspire to have a good quality. Now, to reach that maximum level, as an artist’s career grows because of the maturity of the genre, he has more resources to have access to better quality, better studios [and] better equipment. I think that, in all genre scales, what has changed the most is the access to technology and quality.
DJ Nelson on Balancing Strategy & Creativity: There were no record companies. It was pure passion. But what is happening is not bad either because we have to change with the times. There are new budgets, new fashions, new equipment [and] new qualities. It is a very different business. Luny. La Razón, Luny Tunes, Flow Music, Noriega, what is happening attracted these big record companies. The business changes, of course.
Luny on Straddling the Producer/Artist Role: They forced us to be artists because, as we started and we had so many projects and the artists couldn’t. Well, they said, “Look, you guys, take care of promoting your music.” When we started, I remember it was VA Music. I said, “We don’t like that idea,” but we managed to go to the places [and] to the shows. We started something that we changed normally what a producer did at that time and I think that was something that helped us. With [DJ] Nelson, we went to Ricky [Martin]’s studio to work. We did a lot of projects [and] many things that were not on the agenda of what I wanted to do as a producer. I always wanted to be in the studio with Tunes.
Earlier in the week, Wisin brought Billboard En Vivo with La Base and Wisin presented by Smirnoff to the Oasis Wynwood for a three-hour event featuring the aforementioned panelists. The event marked the first La Base party outside of Puerto Rico and included a few special surprises.
Celebrated for more than 30 years, Billboard Latin Music Week is the longest running and biggest Latin music industry gathering in the world, and coincides with the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which was broadcast live on Telemundo on Thursday, Oct. 5, from the Watsco Center in Miami.
