Ángel y Khriz would like to prove they're not a one-hit-wonder.

In 2005, the Puerto Rican reggaetón duo dropped the hit single Ven Bailalo. The tropical dance track, from their debut album, Los MVPs, reached the top five on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart and is featured in the new video game Grand Theft Auto IV. After touring Latin America and Spain continuously for the past three years, the self-proclaimed "MVPs" have returned with a new album, Showtime, and a catchy new song, La Vecina, a Caribbean club jam with blaring trumpets and wah-wah guitars, which finds the duo embracing a heavy salsa and merengue influence.

Both 28 years old, Ángel Rivera Guzmán and Christian Colón made their debut in 2002 alongside future superstars Daddy Yankee, Don Omar and Hector y Tito on Guatauba XXX. Singer Ángel says he was raised on salsa and reggaetón while Khriz, the rapper, is a disciple of the Wu-Tang Clan and Cypress Hill. It's a mix that gives them plenty of room to collaborate. After releasing Los MVPs, Ángel y Khriz made appearances on star-studded compilations like Mas Flow: Los Benjamins and MVP, Vol. 2: The Grand Slam.

Ángel says their new single, "La Vecina," is proof they have more hits to come "We're not trying to kill [Ven Bailalo], it's the song that has taken us to where we are, and we are very proud of it… [b]ut Showtime has many 'Ven Bailalos.'"

Born in Paris, raised in the Bronx and now based in Los Angeles, pop singer Rue Melo has as many moods as she does influences.

The 24-year-old of Uruguayan and French descent cites Bob Marley, The Notorious B.I.G. and Édith Piaf as major influences, along with her parents. Melo's father, Leo, is a singer-guitarist and her mother is a ballet dancer and actress. Late last year, Melo released her self-titled debut, featuring Check It, a flirty Nelly Furtado-ish song with stomping drums and a spare guitar line. Melo shows off her polyglot flow on Spanish-language tracks like "Esta Es Mi Casa" and the sunny French number "Tomber" (Falling). On her second single, Enamorada, she really shows off her airy, songbird voice while seducing listeners in both Español and Français.

After opening for acts like Los Lonely Boys and hip hop soulman G. Love, Melo continues to perform in support of her first release.

See: myspace.com/ruetracks

R.K.M y Ken-Y have competition. Not only do Gerry "Lionize" Hernández and Rafael "Raphy" Ramirez look and sound like R.K.M y Ken-Y, they're currently involved in a bitter feud with the popular romantikeo duo.

Hernández and Ramirez, aka Erre XI, made their debut on last year's Los Benjamins: La Continuación, alongside heavy hitters like Don Omar, Randy and Arcángel. Their contribution to the star-studded compilation, Vete, is a thumping club track with whistling synths, accordion flourishes and seductive complaints of a spurned lover.

Earlier this year, Erre XI uploaded Lloraré, a piano ballad about heartbreak to their MySpace. A few months later, R.K.M. y Ken-Y dropped their single Te Amaré with a nearly identical chorus. In fact, it's the same song. Luny claims "Lloraré," which was written by Wise (Hector "El Father," RBD, R.K.M. y Ken-Y) belongs to Mas Flow Inc., the Luny Tunes-owned label to which Wise is signed. Pina Records contends R.K.M. y Ken-Y bought the song from Wise. Luny counters he will take legal action against Pina Records for intentionally sabotaging Erre XI: "Nobody releases a single three months before their album comes out, unless it's a new artist."

No matter the outcome, Erre XI's debut album, tentatively titled Urban Soul, is scheduled for a late 2008 release. It features production by Luny Tunes, Tainy, Noriega, Doble A & Nales and guest appearances by Pee Wee, Ivy Queen, Arcángel, La Sista and Randy. In his MySpace blog, Hernández says there's plenty of room for another romantikeo duo: "The cake is very big and there is enough for everyone."

See: myspace.com/errexi

Joel Bosh, aka Taíno, is Boricua and proud. Named after the indigenous inhabitants of the Caribbean, the versatile rapper spent over a decade fusing Latin rap and reggae before transitioning to reggaetón.

Taíno made his debut in 1993, releasing an eponymous album with the help of Puerto Rican rap legend Vico C. Two years later, Taíno dropped Con Mi Corona, featuring the hit single "Yo Soy Boricua." The club anthem, reminiscent of Proyecto Uno, has been played at the Puerto Rican Day parade in New York and in Church's Chicken ads in Puerto Rico.

In 2002, Taíno released his third album, El Conteo Final, and hosted "Jamz," a countdown show on the OG mun2. Three years later, he fully embraced reggaetón on Sin Censura, dropping a bachata-flavored single, Como Yo Te Quiero. That same year, Taíno teamed up with future superstar T-Pain on Como Estás, a Spanglish R&B jam from the Florida singer's debut album, Rapper Ternt Sanga.

Late last year, Taíno put out his fifth album, The Future, featuring guest appearances by DJ Joe, Mach & Daddy, Angel Lopez of Son By Four, Jessica of Soluna as well as songwriter Luigi Giraldo (Kumbia All Starz). On his lead single, "Acercate," Taíno reminds listeners that although he has a "new style and new flow," he's "el mismo de siempre, papi."

see: myspace.com/taino1

There's no question Los Angeles rap veteran Mr. Capone-E is down for la raza: "I was raised with homies and the culture… I'm down to do whatever it takes to have better opportunities for the gente." Whether he's of Pakistani descent is less clear.

Mr. Capone-E spent the '90s in and out of prison before transitioning into Chicano rap in 2000. The self-described "Sureño rapper" has released over 10 albums, most of them on the label he founded, Hi Power Entertainment and has also collaborated with artists like MC Magic, ODM and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, among others. Smoothed-out tracks like Don't Get It Twisted featuring Twista and I Like It featuring Nate Dogg have helped Mr. Capone-E get mainstream radio play in LA, including Chicano rap shows like Pocos Peros Locos on Power 106.

An entrepreneur as well as a performer, Mr. Capone-E recently sold Hi Power Entertainment, home to acts like Mr. Silent, Scrappy Loco and Bizzy Bone. But he's promised to launch a new label, with his first signing to be partner-in-rhyme Mr. Criminal while his own solo album, Diary of a G is scheduled for release later this year. For his haters, Mr. Capone-E offers a humble comeback: "I am doing what I can to keep bringing up the movement."

See: myspace.com/MRCAPONEETHEREAL COM

Emo band Avella Ink is probably smiling – on the inside. Not yet two years old, the Mexicali, Mexico band has already been signed to Soundgüich records (Allison, Pastilla) and opened for U.S. goth-pop band Evanescence in México. (Considering emo kids are being openly attacked in Mexico City, that's no insignificant accomplishment.)

Comprised of Mike (vocals), Alexo (bass), Daniel (guitar), Chino (drums) y Marx (guitar), Avella Ink has attracted a devoted following with songs like Corre El Riesgo, a textbook screamo track with chunky guitar riffs, haunting piano lines and throaty screaming and "Cenizas," an acoustic ballad with sweet melodies and sweeping strings.

Avella Ink is putting the finishing touches on its debut album and is scheduled to appear on the first ever Warped Tour México this summer.

See: myspace.com/avellaink

Leny may be a new face to fans of Aventura, Xtreme and Toby Love, but the suave bachatero has a tropical music pedigree that goes back at least a decade.

The fresh-faced Dominican began his singing career as a 13-year-old salsero, alongside his father, Nenito, in the Pimentel family band. Two years later, Leny cut the cord and joined Sin Frontera, a slick merengue quartet that could turn melancholy ballads like Boyz II Men's No Dejemos Que Muera el Amor into club jams. In 2001, Vladimir Dotel of Ilegales recruited Leny to join his group, which, much like Proyecto Uno, blends merengue with house, R&B and hip hop.

Last year, after touring Latin America with Ilegales, Leny went solo and released the singles Carcel de Amor, Debil and "Stop." All three feature slippery guitar lines, rapid-fire hi-hats and baby-te-quiero vocals. His relationship with Ilegales? Just fine. Leny's forthcoming debut, One, is produced by Dotel.

see: myspace.com/lenypimentel

Cuban-American rapper Garcia is grindin' to join the superstar ranks of fellow Miami rappers Rick Ross and Pitbull. But instead of rapping about pushing weight or singing over club jams, Garcia is banking on introspective tales about his personal struggles, much like multi-platinum superstar Eminem.

The self-proclaimed "underground king" of Miami, Garcia pressed his first 12” vinyl at age 16, building a steady buzz in the Sunshine state with his 2004 debut, Antisocial. By the time his second album, Life Unscripted, was released in 2007, Garcia was working with heavy hitters like N.O.R.E. and Bun B of UGK. Life Unscripted features I Am, a strident ode to his heritage and Ahora, a gritty party jam featuring collaborations with Heckler and Sofia Kingz.

Garcia is currently back in the studio working on his third album and he says he's ready to reap the rewards: "I've lived every dream in my life. I've done it. So from here on out, it's business."

see: myspace.com/garcia

Guadalajara is home to Mexico's most successful rock band Maná, as well as some of its most promising: Belanova, Porter and Playa Limbo.

Formed in 2003 by Spanish bassist Angel Baillo and Argentine keyboardist Jorge Corrales, Playa Limbo initially debuted as the synthpop combo Vodkatronik. But when Maria León joined the "Guanatos" outfit on vocals and guitar, the band renamed itself Playa Limbo. Two years later, its transition from electro-pop to pop rock was capped off by the addition of Servando Yañez on the drums.

Unable to secure a deal with labels in Mexico City, the quartet opted to record its debut album on their own after receiving some airplay on local radio stations. The self-financed recordings resulted in Canciones de Hotel (Hotel Songs), an album of earnest Latin pop-rock in the vein of La Oreja de Van Gogh and La 5a Estación. It was a winning formula: the group's debut single, the perky El Eco De Tu Voz (The Echo Of Your Voice) was chosen as the theme song for the telenovela La Vida Es Una Canción (Life Is A Song).

Now signed to major label Sony BMG, Playa Limbo are touring in support of their second single, 10 Para Las 10.

See: myspace.com/playalimbo

While Panama dominates Latin radio with the "romantic reggae" of Flex, Eddy Lover and La Factoría, Miami's Jean Carlos Casely is making a play for American airwaves with good ol' romantic R&B.

A 22-year-old of Panamanian and Trinidadian descent, Casely is literally a "student of the game." After enrolling at the Parkway Middle School of the Arts at age seven, he fronted the teen pop quartet Eternal Love before earning a scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.

In 2005, the self-described "New Prince of the South" released his first solo album, I’ll Be, on indie label 1st Records. A short while later, the production duo of The Diaz Brothers (Daddy Yankee, Pitbull) stumbled upon Casely's MySpace and added him to their roster. His first single with the brothers Diaz, Emotional, features Usher-esque vocals over ticking hi-hats and dramatic synthesized strings.

With a recent appearance on Pitbull's Midnight and his own sophomore album, 1985, scheduled for release by Epic Records in May, Casely could soon join the ranks of fellow young talents Chris Brown, J. Holiday and Omarion.

see: www.myspace.com/casely