Franco "El Gorila"

As tough as he may seem, Franco "El Gorila" just wants to make you dance. And make sure you get home safely.

After five years of lending his voice to tracks by Hector "El Father" and Wisin y Yandel, 29-year-old Luis Francisco Cortés Torres has finally gone solo with Welcome to the Jungle. Released earlier this year, the album features plenty of Franco's raspy, in-your-face vocals on tracks like Pa' Lo Oscuro and Millonario. But on lead single He Querido Quererte, it appears the man dubbed "La Máquina De Guerra" (war machine) has taken a cue from fellow hardbody-turned-softie Flo Rida, choosing to flow over technopop punctuated with catchy choruses.

Produced by DJ Nesty, Victor "El Nasi," Marioso and Tainy, Welcome also contains Camila, reggaeton's answer to Apologize by OneRepublic, and Sexo Seguro, a track promoting safe sex. "I've got a daughter and I wouldn't like it if she became a young mother with no future or direction," explains Franco.

"El Gorila," who worked as a chef before signing with W&Y Records/Machete Music, gets a little help from his friends, including Jayko, Tony Dize and label bosses Wisin y Yandel.

When asked why he hasn't unleashed the animal within, Franco "El Gorila" responds he's just trying to strike a balance: "I want to make songs that aren't vulgar but aren't soft. I want to have the intensity of a diss track on a song with a positive message."