After a trajectory that spans over 20 years, Zion y Lennox are parting ways.
Zion (real name: Felix Gerardo Ortiz Torres) announced the news on his Instagram account, where he revealed that after a “careful evaluation” since the beginning of 2024, he made the decision to separate from his long-time duo member, Lennox (real name: Gabriel Enrique Pizarro).
“This decision reflects his commitment to continue expanding his legacy in music, focusing on his next project, The Perfect Melody II, and the projects that will follow its release,” reads official press statement. “As a team, we reaffirm that this separation is strictly professional and does not imply any kind of personal conflict beyond the differences in the current priorities of each artist.”
Zion y Lennox now join a wave of popular Puerto Rican duos who have parted ways to pursue solo careers including Plan B, Nova y Jory, Ñejo & Dálmata, and R.K.M. y Ken-Y, to name a few.
Meanwhile, other reggaetón pairs are still going strong, such as J-King y Maximan, who have had a 17-year career and are currently making the rounds with their new single “La Conversación Remix” featuring Ken-Y.
“He and I have known each other since we were 9 years old,” J-King says to Billboard of the duo’s longevity. “We got through the fights, the ego, the battles that didn’t make sense and we were able to move forward. And it’s also recognizing that at the end of the day I can’t eat without him and he can’t eat without me. In addition to that, he brings to the table a talent that I also bring and by complementing that talent, the duo was created.”
Below, check out some emblematic Latin urban duos going strong today:
Alexis y Fido
Image Credit: Courtesy of TelevisaUnivision
Raul Ortiz and Joel Martinez form Alexis y Fido, a duo that’s been active since the early 2000s. Known for timeless perreo hits such as “5 Letras,” “Mala Conducta,” and “Soy Igual Que Tú,” the duo earned its first Billboard chart entry in 2005 with their debut album The Pitbulls peaking at No. 4 on the Top Latin Albums chart. Ortiz and Martinez met as teenagers during the 1990s when they competed at rap battles in their neighborhoods. Most recently, the duo dropped an album titled Barrio Canino in 2021 and form part of Rauw Alejandro’s 2024 album Cosa Nuestra in the track “Baja Pa’ Aca.”
Ángel y Khriz
Ángel y Khriz, who received the stamp of approval by Héctor el Father in the early 2000s, is known for the rhythmic urban bangers “Ven Bailalo,” “Na De Na” and “Ayer La Vi,” to name a few. The duo released an album in 2020 called New Season but has remained active. Earlier this year, they were a surprise act at the 2024 Tecate Pa’l Norte Festival in Monterrey, Mexico, and they performed at the 2024 Premios Juventud in Puerto Rico. Ángel y Khriz is currently on tour, taking their hits to fans in countries such as Honduras and Peru.
Baby Rasta y Gringo
Image Credit: John Parra/Telemundo via Getty Images
Considered one of the pioneers of the movement, Baby Rasta y Gringo has been making the rounds since the early ’90s. The duo, which took a break from 2005 to 2008, gained commercial success with titles such as “El Carnaval,” “Mañana Sin Ti,” “Me Niegas,” “Ella Se Contradice” and “Na Na Na Na Na,” to name a few. They’ve placed four entries on Hot Latin Songs and three on Top Latin Albums, including Los Cotizados which hit No. 2 on the latter chart in 2015. In 2023 the duo dropped their set The Hunting, and they became a finalist at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards for Latin rhythm artist of the Year, duo or group.
Gigolo y La Exce
Gigolo (real name: Ronald Rafael Tejeda Santos) and La Exce (real name: Jean Carlos Ferreira Suero) are one of the most recent duos of the movement. With an almost 10-year trajectory, the Puerto Rican pair became a household name with its captivating Latin trap sound. Gigolo y La Exce has collaborated with artists such as Bad Bunny, Arcángel, Maluma and Jay Wheeler. Earlier this year, the duo dropped its 11-track album Santurcinos Deluxe.
J-King y Maximan
Image Credit: Kennedy Photography
With a trajectory that spans almost two decades, J-King and Maximan has delivered timeless party bangers such as “Cuando, Cuando Es” and “La Noche Esta de Fiesta (Hoy Si Que Se Bebe)” in collaboration with 3Ball MTY — both songs entered various Billboard charts, including Hot Latin Songs and Latin Airplay. “Sr. Juez” and “Déjame Tocarte” also gained commercial success. Friends since they were nine years old, Maximan assures Billboard that the secret to the duo’s durability is “the two of us our one identity. The admiration we have for each other is very important — also for our chemistry to keep evolving.” The duo plans to release a new single before 2024 comes to an end, promising pure perreo.
Jowell y Randy
With its signature hard-hitting perreo and sultry, witty lyrics, Jowell y Randy has positioned itself as one of the most popular duos in the reggaetón realm. Going strong since 2002, members Joel Muñoz and Randy Ortiz have earned nine titles on the Hot Latin Songs charts including two Top 10 hits: “Bonita” (2017) with J Balvin, Nicky Jam, Yandel, & Ozuna; and “Safaera” (2020) with Bad Bunny and Ñengo Flow. This year the duo dropped its album Viva La Musik, where they reeled in artists such as Maluma, De La Ghetto, Cultura Profetica and many more.
Wisin y Yandel
Image Credit: John Parra/Getty Images
Wisin y Yandel has singlehandedly become of the most iconic duos in reggaetón history. The duo kicked off in 1998 and had a successful run until 2013, before embarking on their solo careers. In 2018, they returned with their album Los Campeones del Pueblo, as well as two compilation albums Como en los Tiempos de Antes and Juntos Otra Vez. Wisin y Yandel has logged 49 songs on the Hot Latin Songs chart — including 10 No. 1 hits such as “Pam Pam,” “Llame Pa’ Verte,” “Me Estas Tentando,” “Sexy Movimiento,” and “Abusadora.” Their collaboration with Chris Brown & T-Pain, “Algo Me Gusta De Ti,” spent 14 weeks at the top in 2012.
Though Wisin and Yandel each has a successful solo music career, the duo still comes together to collaborate with their fellow colleagues. In 2022, the duo dropped their album La Última Misión and hit the road with a 20-date U.S. tour, culminating in a historic 14-day residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot. “It’s the last mission, but we haven’t said when it’s going to finish,” Yandel previously told Billboard.
