In the wreckage left by
los Kumbia Kings' bloody in-fighting and turf wars led by group founders
A.B. Quintanilla and
Cruz Martinez, some thought that the music itself may have been among the casualties. As
Martinez and
Quintanilla battled it out for loyalty among personnel and rights to the Kumbia King Krown, the future of both was to an extent uncertain. When
Quintanilla established
los Kumbia All Starz, who appear to have weathered the storm and embarked on a prosperous path, the question of "what will happen with
Martinez?" remained with many fans. An answer came on August 14, 2007 with the release of
El Regreso de Los Reyes. The eleven young men who followed
Martinez and who now make up los Super Reyes include
Abel Talamantez, JoJoe, Pangie, Nando, Nino B, JP, Megga, Slim, Alex, Reynold and Pancho. Their debut record features a diverse mix of urban latino styles, including reggaeton, R&B, Latin pop, and of course, cumbia. The record boasts the slickest, most lustrous vocals of anything to come out of the Kumbia Kings Kamp. That, combined with startlingly pop-ready production, makes for a pleasing, contemporary release. As years pass, fans will certainly be able to separate
Martinez' creative endeavors from past controversy.
El Regreso de Los Reyes on the other hand, will certainly be viewed as a response to
Quintanilla's "Ayer fue Kumbia Kings, hoy es Kumbia All Starz." Lucky for
Martinez and crew, thanks to the strength of singles like "Muevelo" and collaborations with artists like
Obie Bermúdez on "Si Pudiera," it's a mouthy answer. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez