| Vendetta: The Project | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 3 February 2015 | |||
| Recorded | September 2013 – October 2014 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:03:24 | |||
| Language | Spanish | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Ivy Queen chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Vendetta | ||||
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Vendetta: The Project(English: Revenge: The Project), also known simply asVendetta, is the ninth studio album byPuerto Ricanreggaetón singer-songwriterIvy Queen, released on 3 February 2015. An extended play version of the album was released on 9 December 2014. The studio album version was originally announced for a release in February 2014,[1] and later some time in 2014.[2]
The extended play version of the album, entitledVendetta: First Round, includes the first four singles from the album: "Soy Libre", "Vamos A Guerrear", "Naci Para Amarte", and the title track "Vendetta", on disc one. Disc two features a DVD with the music videos to these songs as well as a forty-five-minute documentary of the making of the album.[3][4]
The album is composed of four separate simultaneously released albums, in the genres of urban, hip hop, bachata and salsa. Each releases contains eight songs musically devoted to the specific genre. The urban releases featuresFarruko,J Alvarez,Jowell & Randy andJ King & Maximan, the hip hop release featuresVico C,Fat Joe,Ñengo Flow and MC Ceja, the salsa release featuresTito Rojas,Andy Montañez and Luisito Carrión, while the bachata release features Óptimo.[5]
Although the album as a whole did not chart, theUrban andHip-Hop releases entered the top 10 of theBillboard Top Latin Rhythm albums chart, theBachata release entered the top 10 of theBillboard Top Tropical albums chart, with theSalsa release reaching the top 20.
In August 2012, Queen released her eighth studio album,Musa. The album peaked at number fifteen on theBillboard Latin Albums chart and number two on theBillboard Latin Rhythm Albums chart.[6][7] Upon its release, the album remained within the five best-selling albums of the urban genre, in the United States and Puerto Rico, according to SoundScan monitoring services of the recognized measurement firm Nielsen.[8] However, it was the lowest first week sales for Queen since the release of her fourth studio albumReal in 2004. It still, however, managed to receive aLatin Grammy Nomination for Best Urban Music Album at theLatin Grammy Awards of 2013.[9]
It was announced in September 2013, that Queen had changed management and returned with Jorge "Goguito" Guadalupe, president and co-founder ofFiltro Musik, to release her ninth studio album, entitledVendetta.[10][11] Following the birth of her first biological child,[12][13][14][15] Queen then announced that she would embark on a U.S. tour entitled the "Viva Puerto Rico Tour".[16] The tour, launched on 29 January 2014, included performances at variousgay clubs in cities of the United States and Puerto Rico, such as New York, Orlando, Miami, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Tampa, and Ponce.[17]
The album was recorded in a mobile studio, where Queen recorded in between family trips and tour stops.[18][19] According to Queen, she named the albumVendetta, because of the sexism she received from concert promoters and businessmen due to the fact that she was impregnated.[20] According to Queen, lyrically, the album will speak aboutwar, among other topics.[21] The album is claimed to be an effort and helping Queen regain control of her musical career.[22] The album is to have collaborations withJowell & Randy,Tempo,De La Ghetto,Ñengo Flow, and MC Ceja. It is also to have a rerecording of "Ángel Caído" from her 2004 studio effort,Real and a cover ofCelia Cruz's "Quimbara" and "Bemba Colorá".[23]
TheSalsa release makes the first eight tracks of the main album release. "Ella Me Hizo Deseo" appears as track four. The song features salsa singerTito Rojas. It features male lead vocals, performed by Rojas. It was composed in minor key tonality, having roots in Afro-Latin American music. The song contains acoustic instrumentation, along with a brass horn ensemble. It features instruments such as the piano.[24] The tribute cover ofCelia Cruz's "Quimbara" and "Bemba Colora" appear as the sixth track. The song was composed in minor key tonality and features a horn ensemble. It contains the use of vocal "call and response".[25] "Casi Te Envidio" was previously recorded byAndy Montanez, in 1988,[26] who is featured on Queen's rendition of the song. It appears as track eight on the main release and the closing track on theSalsa release.
The dancehall "Nací Para Amarte", a collaboration with duoJowell & Randy follows, at track number twenty on the main release, number three on theFirst Round release and number four on theUrban release. The song was composed in major key tonality, with individual verses being delivered by the trio, and group vocals performed during the chorus. Taking influences fromreggae, the song was extensively produced by Milliano Music.[27] The lead single, the merengue, "Soy Libre", appears as the twenty-second track on the main release, the opening track on theFirst Round release and number six on theUrban release. It was composed in major key tonality and contains lead vocals performed by Queen and group back-up vocals. It features simple harmonic progressions, a brass-horn ensemble, prominent percussion, synthesizers, techno synths and accordion or bandoneon playing. The track was extensively produced byDJ Nelson and O'Nell Flow.[28]
"Vamos A Guerrear", a collaboration withÑengo Flow, appears as track number twenty-six on the main release, number two on both theFirst Round andHip Hop releases. It was composed in minor key tonality. It features synthetic instrumentation and ambient synthesizers, being extensively produced byEcho. Lyrically, the song contains story-telling lyrics and emotional vocals performed by Queen and Flow.[29] The title track and final single, "Vendetta", appears as track twenty-seven on the main release, number four on theFirst Round release and number three on theHip Hop release. It was composed in minor key tonality and features emotional vocals and story-telling lyrics. It features extensive production by Echo and Ladkani Beats. Musically, the song contains synthetic instrumentation, techno synths, and synthesizers.[30]
The extended play version of the album includes the first four singles from the album: "Soy Libre", "Vamos A Guerrear", "Naci Para Amarte", and the title track "Vendetta", on disc one. Disc two features a DVD with the music videos to these songs as well as a forty-five-minute documentary of the making of the album.[3][4]
It was released on 9 December 2014 by Siente Music.[31] Upon its release, it managed to debut at number thirty on theBillboard Latin Albums chart and number five on theBillboard Latin Rhythm Albums chart for the week of 27 December 2014.[32][33]
In September 2015, it was announced that the four albums would be released again, due to the folding of VeneMusic, the project's record label in charge of distribution.[34] The albums were rereleased on 10 November 2015.[35]
In April 2017, a music video for "Sola" was recorded and released on the video sharing website YouTube. As of April 2017, it has over 700,000 views.[36] Lyric videos for "Vendetta" and "Sin Mi" were also released.[37][38]
The four EPs impacted theBillboard charts for the week of February 21, 2015.Vendetta: Bachata debuted at number six on theBillboard Tropical Albums chart, withVendetta: Salsa debuting at number seventeen.[39]Vendetta: Urban andVendetta: Hip Hop debuted at numbers eight and nine on theBillboard Latin Rhythm Albums chart, respectively.[40]
Although the song was not released as a single, "Te Sirvo De Abrigo" managed to debut at number twenty-five on theBillboard Latin Rhythm Airplay chart for the week of 20 June 2015,[41] becoming the album's only song to impactBillboard. The following week, the song fell off the chart.[42] For the week of 4 July 2015, it reentered the chart, peaking at number twenty-three.[43]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic[44] |   |
According to Allmusic's David Jefferies, the album is Queen's response to the "male chauvinists within the music industry". He called the message and presentation "epic", while claiming the genre separations to be "interesting listen". However, he chose the collection release as a whole, "as it presents the Queen’s angry and awesome return in total". He gaveVendetta: The Project of four out of five stars, while the individual releases each received a rating of three and a half out of five stars.[44] On the salsa release, Jefferies selected "De Pronto Desperte", "Un Hombre Bueno", "Se Me Vuelve A Olvidar" and the tribute to Celia Cruz as the stand out tracks.[45] On the bachata release, he selected "No Soy Aquella", "Mas Feliz Asi" and "Por Un Descuido".[46] On the hip hop release, Jefferies selected "Vamos A Guerrear", the title track, "I Don’t Know" and "Dime A Mi Quien".[47] On the urban release, he selected "Sacude & Levantate", "Te Sirvo De Abrigo", "Naci Para Amarte" and "Soy Libre", while naming "Vamos A Guerrear", "Vendetta", "Naci Para Amarte" and "Soy Libre" as the key tracks from the album.[48]Urban was selected as one of 2015's best Latin and World albums by Allmusic.[49] Marcelo Baéz forManero magazine praised "Te Sirvo De Abrigo" and "Quiero Castigo" for being "two of the heavier, dirtier tracks" on the album. He also complimented Queen's "tropical zest", labeling "Soy Libre" as being "passable". Baéz later criticized the songs that were not reggaeton, citing "Nací Para Amarte" and "Sacude & Levantate," as songs "where Ivy tries to emote but doesn’t quite hit the mark."[50]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "De Pronto Desperté" | Martha Pesante, Jorge Guadalupe, Mikey Perfecto, Miguel Soto, Carlos García, Carlos Martinez | Carlos García, Carlos Martinez | 4:32 |
| 2. | "Yare" (featuring Luisito Carrión) | Luis Carrión, Raúl Marero | 5:23 | |
| 3. | "Un Hombre Bueno" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Perfecto, Soto, García, Martinez | García, Martinez | 3:52 |
| 4. | "Ella Me Hizo Deseo" (featuringTito Rojas) | Pesante,Julio Rojas, Gustavo Marquez, Oscar Derudi | 4:47 | |
| 5. | "Se Me Vuelve A Olvidar" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Perfecto, Soto, García, Martínez | García, Martinez | 4:03 |
| 6. | "Tributo A Celia: Quimbara/Bemba Colorá (Medley)" | Junior Cepeda, José Fumero, José Santiago | 3:41 | |
| 7. | "Dime Si Valió La Pena" | Pesante, Guadalupe | García, Martinez | 4:06 |
| 8. | "Casi Te Envidio" (featuringAndy Montañez) | Maestro Moncada, Andrés Montanez, Francisco Cepero, Paco Cepero, Francisco Martinez | Paco Cepero | 6:14 |
| 9. | "No Haz Podido" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Gabriel Gomez | Lenny 357 | 4:08 |
| 10. | "Dónde" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Edwin Perez, Pedro Polanco | Edwin "EZP" Perez | 3:40 |
| 11. | "Ojo Ajeno" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Gomez | Lenny 357 | 3:06 |
| 12. | "No Soy Aquella" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Perez, Polanco | Edwin "EZP" Perez | 3:50 |
| 13. | "Dime La Verdad" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Perez, Polanco | Edwin "EZP" Perez | 2:57 |
| 14. | "Más Feliz Así" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Gomez | Lenny 357 | 3:09 |
| 15. | "A Dónde Va" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Gomez | Lenny 357 | 3:36 |
| 16. | "Por Un Descuido" (featuring Óptimo) | Pesante, Guadalupe, Alixandro Sánchez, Rogelito Santos, Carlos Casillas, Carlos Bermudez | Rogelito Santos | 4:06 |
| 17. | "Sacude & Levantate" | Lenny Medina, Ahmed Barroso, Joey Montana | Lenny Medina, Ahmed Barroso | 4:09 |
| 18. | "Te Sirvo De Abrigo" (featuringFarruko) | Pesante, Guadalupe, Jesus Benitez, Carlos Reyes, Edgar Vargas, Xavier Vargas | Mambo Kingz | 3:24 |
| 19. | "Imborrable" (featuringJ Alvarez) | Pesante, Javid Alvarez, Joel Ventura, O'Nell Lopez, Nelson Díaz | O'Nell Flow,DJ Nelson | 3:50 |
| 20. | "Nací Para Amarte" (featuringJowell & Randy) | Pesante, Joel Muñoz, Randy Ortiz, Migúel de Jesús, Jorge Erazo | Milliano Music | 4:17 |
| 21. | "Sola" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Vargas, Vargas | Mambo Kingz | 4:01 |
| 22. | "Soy Libre" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Lopez, Díaz | DJ Nelson, O'Nell Flow | 3:42 |
| 23. | "Sin Mi" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Hiram Cruz | Keko Musik | 3:07 |
| 24. | "Quiere Castigo" (featuringJ-King & Maximan) | Pesante, Cruz, Jaime Borges, Héctor Padilla | Keko Musik | 3:38 |
| 25. | "To My Brothers" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Paul Irrizary | Echo | 3:22 |
| 26. | "Vamos A Guerrear" (featuringÑengo Flow) | Pesante, Guadalupe, Irrizary, Edwin Vázquez | Echo | 3:46 |
| 27. | "Vendetta" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Irrizary, George Ladkani | Echo, Ladkani Beats | 3:04 |
| 28. | "Me Acuerdo" (featuringVico C) | Pesante, Guadalupe, Cruz, Luis Lozada | Keko Musik | 4:35 |
| 29. | "Lo Vamos A Danzar" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Johnny Lopez | Johnny Lopez | 3:12 |
| 30. | "I Don't Know" (featuring MC Ceja) | Pesante, Irrizary, Alberto Mendoza | Echo | 3:09 |
| 31. | "Dime A Mi Quién" (featuringFat Joe) | Pesante, Guadalupe, Irrizary, Ladkani, José Cartagena | Echo | 3:04 |
| 32. | "Ver Tu Fin" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Irrizary | Echo | 3:51 |
| Total length: | 123:24 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "De Pronto Desperté" | Martha Pesante, Jorge Guadlupe, Mikey Perfecto | Carlos García, Carlos Martinez | 4:32 |
| 2. | "Yare" (featuring Luisito Carrión) | Luis Carrión | 5:23 | |
| 3. | "Un Hombre Bueno" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Perfecto | García, Martinez | 3:52 |
| 4. | "Ella Me Hizo Deseo" (featuringTito Rojas) | Pesante, Julio Rojas | 4:47 | |
| 5. | "Se Me Vuelve A Olvidar" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Perfecto | García, Martinez | 4:03 |
| 6. | "Tributo A Celia: Quimbara/Bemba Colorá (Medley)" | Junior Cepeda, José Fumero | 3:41 | |
| 7. | "Dime Si Valió La Pena" | Pesante, Guadalupe | García, Martinez | 4:06 |
| 8. | "Casi Te Envidio" (featuringAndy Montañez) | Maestro Moncada, Andrés Montanez, Francisco Cepero, Paco Cepero, Francisco Martinez | Paco Cepero | 6:14 |
| Total length: | 36:38 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Haz Podido" | Martha Pesante, Jorge Guadalupe, Gabriel Gomez | Lenny 357 | 4:08 |
| 2. | "Dónde" | Pesante, Edwin Perez, Pedro Polanco | Edwin "EZP" Perez | 3:40 |
| 3. | "Ojo Ajeno" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Gomez | Lenny 357 | 3:06 |
| 4. | "No Soy Aquella" | Pesante, Perez, Polanco | Edwin "EZP" Perez | 3:50 |
| 5. | "Dime La Verdad" | Pesante, Perez, Polanco | Edwin "EZP" Perez | 2:57 |
| 6. | "Más Feliz Así" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Gomez | Lenny 357 | 3:09 |
| 7. | "A Dónde Va" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Gomez | Lenny 357 | 3:36 |
| 8. | "Por Un Descuido" (featuring Óptimo) | Pesante, Alixandro Sánchez, Rogelito Santos, Carlos Casillas, Carlos Bermudez | Rogelito Santos | 4:06 |
| Total length: | 28:32 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sacude & Levantate" | Lenny Medina, Ahmed Barroso, Joey Montana | Lenny Medina, Ahmed Barroso | 4:09 |
| 2. | "Te Sirvo De Abrigo" (featuringFarruko) | Pesante, Jorge Guadalupe, Jesus Benitez, Carlos Reyes, Edgar Vargas, Xavier Vargas | Mambo Kingz | 3:24 |
| 3. | "Imborrable" (featuringJ Alvarez) | Pesante, Javid Alvarez, O'Nell Lopez, Nelson Díaz | O'Nell Flow,DJ Nelson | 3:50 |
| 4. | "Nací Para Amarte" (featuringJowell & Randy) | Pesante, Joel Muñoz, Randy Ortiz, Migúel de Jesús, Jorge Erazo | Milliano Music | 4:17 |
| 5. | "Sola" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Vargas, Vargas | Mambo Kingz, Gabi Music | 4:01 |
| 6. | "Soy Libre" | Pesante, O'Nell Lopez, Nelson Díaz | DJ Nelson, O'Nell Flow | 3:46 |
| 7. | "Sin Mi" | Pesante, Gualaupe, Cruz | Keko Musik | 3:07 |
| 8. | "Quiere Castigo" (featuringJ King & Maximan) | Pesante, Cruz, Jaime Bolmes, Héctor Padilla | Keko Musik | 3:38 |
| Total length: | 30:12 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "To My Brothers" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Paul Irrizary | Echo | 3:22 |
| 2. | "Vamos A Guerrear" (featuringÑengo Flow) | Pesante, Guadalupe, Irrizary, Edwin Vázquez | Echo | 3:46 |
| 3. | "Vendetta" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Irrizary, George Ladkani | Echo, Ladkani Beats | 3:04 |
| 4. | "Me Acuerdo" (featuringVico C) | Pesante, Guadalupe, Hiram Cruz, Luis Lozada | Keko Musik | 4:35 |
| 5. | "Lo Vamos A Danzar" | Pesante, Guadalupe, Johnny Lopez | Johnny Lopez | 3:12 |
| 6. | "I Don't Know" (featuring MC Ceja) | Pesante, Irrizary, Alberto Mendoza | Echo | 3:09 |
| 7. | "Dime A Mi Quién" (featuringFat Joe) | Pesante, Guadalupe, Irrizary, Ladkani, José Cartagena | Echo | 3:04 |
| 8. | "Ver Tu Fin" | Pesante | Echo | 3:51 |
| Total length: | 28:02 | |||
| Chart (2014) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USTop Latin Albums (Billboard)[56] | 33 |
| USLatin Rhythm Albums (Billboard)[57] | 5 |
| Chart (2015) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| USTropical Albums (Billboard)[58] | 17 |
| Chart (2015) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| USTropical Albums (Billboard)[58] | 6 |
| Chart (2015) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| USLatin Rhythm Albums (Billboard)[59] | 9 |
| Chart (2015) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| USLatin Rhythm Albums (Billboard)[59] | 8 |
