Flex

If Felix Danilo Gomez wants attention, he's got it. The lanky, "romantic style reggae" singer is known throughout Latin America as Nigga. Why? Because he "sang like a black guy from Jamaica." Perhaps anticipating a possible backlash, the Panamanian performer – and/or his record label – wisely changed his name to Flex on U.S. releases.

Now 27 years old, Flex made his debut 10 years ago on Sin Censura Vol. 1 (Without Censorship Vol. 1) alongside Panamanian reggae artist Toby King. His first buzzworthy single was the off-key but heartfelt ballad La Balada de Nigga (Nigga's Ballad), dedicated to his deceased mother. This year, Flex made an appearance on U.S. Billboard charts with Te Quiero, a romantic pop track featuring syrupy rude boy crooning and a dem bow beat. Already a hit in Latin America, the song has been number one on Mexican radio charts for ten weeks and counting.

Flex's self-titled album, which has already sold 50,000 copies in México, is set to be released in the U.S. in early 2008.

see: myspace.com/flexmusica