Cosa Nostra: Hip Hop is a compilation album released on 15 November 2005. The record features performances by Puerto Rican reggaetón and hip‑hop artists, most notably Ivy Queen and Gran Omar, and includes contributions from Arcángel, De la Ghetto, Tony Sunshine, Rey Severo, Haze, and Moreno. The album was issued through the Univision and Filtro labels and produced by a team that includes DJ Blass, DJ Colo, Ecko, Diesel, Haze, Hyde, Gran Omar, and Ivy Queen herself.
Background
After a commercial setback with her early releases, Ivy Queen returned to prominence with the platinum‑certified album Diva (2004), which helped bring reggaetón into mainstream attention. In 2005 she co‑founded the label Filtro Musik with José Guadalupe, aiming to “filter” and showcase the strongest urban Latin tracks. Cosa Nostra: Hip Hop was conceived as a collaborative project to highlight the hip‑hop‑oriented side of the Latin urban scene, pairing Ivy Queen with her then‑husband Gran Omar (José Navarro) and other emerging artists.
Release and Reception
The compilation’s lead single, Ivy Queen’s “No Hacen Na,” reached number 25 on Billboard’s Latin Rhythm Songs chart and number 30 on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart in mid‑2006. Despite this modest chart performance, the album itself did not appear on Billboard’s album charts.
Controversy
Following the album’s release, Gran Omar alleged that Ivy Queen had misrepresented sales figures and owed him compensation for his contributions. No legal action was ultimately pursued, and the dispute remained limited to public statements.
Track Listing (selected)
- “Paquetes” (featuring Haze and Moreno) – Gran Omar
- “No Hacen Na” – Ivy Queen
- “Amor A Lo Ganster” – Gran Omar
- “Chica Linda” (featuring Rey Severo) – Gran Omar
- “Guerrilleros Campeones” (featuring Tony Sunshine) – Ivy Queen
- “Se La Pueden Buscar” (featuring Arcángel & De la Ghetto) – Various Artists
The full album runs 49 minutes and 2 seconds, comprising a blend of hip‑hop beats and reggaetón influences, reflecting the cross‑genre experimentation characteristic of mid‑2000s Latin urban music.
References
- Wikipedia, “Cosa Nostra: Hip Hop,” retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosa_Nostra:_Hip_Hop.