SmirnoffLMW2023 Archives

Best Quotes from ‘Wisin & La Base: Eye of the Tiger’ at Billboard Latin Music Week 2023

October 12, 2023

Wisin’s three decade career was celebrated during Billboard Latin Music Week 2023 for the urban music icon’s lengthy history of creating hits and birthing a business empire.

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On Wednesday, October 4, Wisin & La Base: Eye of the Tiger presented by Smirnoff incited a conversation about reggaeton smashes, alongside hitmakers Luny Tunes, DJ Nelson and mix engineer and producer Hyde El Químico, with moderator Molusco. During the 40-minute discussion, the panelists reflected on their impact in the trajectory of the genre and how the genre has evolved over time. Wisin was also celebrated with a gift from Smirnoff when a specialty designed güiro by Mexican illustrator Totoi Semerena was presented to the superstar.

We’ve selected the standout quotes from the few panels that were captured on video. Below, check out the conversation in full, with some memorable quotes from each panelist:

Wisin on Achieving His Dreams (And More): I believe that work, discipline … I think that is what the urban movement is all about. We are here because we decided to do big things because we did not think we would be here. When we started to see money, for us, it was like “Wow” because we are humble people. We never thought that this movement was going to be where it is, so when we started our movement, we only had dreams in [a] sack. We had no money. We had no tools. We had no technology. So, thanks to God and life and the public, millions of people, who as Nelson says, we go to different cities and still receive us with open arms.

Wisin on How Collabs Impacted His Mainstream Appeal: I think it is very important that people understand that our collaborations made demographics that did not look at our movements, look at it differently and it was due to the affirmation of different superstars who decided to work with us. Reaching the mainstream world was the most important thing. At that time, it was a dream for us to be able to work with Jennifer [Lopez], with Ricky [Martin], with Enrique [Iglesias], with all of them.

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Hyde on The Landscape’s Biggest Change: The desire to always seek the highest quality was always there from the beginning since the genre began in a room, in our homes, in Marquesina. What changed was that now because of technology, we have access to create good music with fewer resources. Before you needed a super expensive studio and much more equipment to achieve a good sound; now a kid from home with a laptop, a good microphone and a good ear can aspire to have a good quality. Now, to reach that maximum level, as an artist’s career grows because of the maturity of the genre, he has more resources to have access to better quality, better studios [and] better equipment. I think that, in all genre scales, what has changed the most is the access to technology and quality.

DJ Nelson on Balancing Strategy & Creativity: There were no record companies. It was pure passion. But what is happening is not bad either because we have to change with the times. There are new budgets, new fashions, new equipment [and] new qualities. It is a very different business. Luny. La Razón, Luny Tunes, Flow Music, Noriega, what is happening attracted these big record companies. The business changes, of course.

Luny on Straddling the Producer/Artist Role: They forced us to be artists because, as we started and we had so many projects and the artists couldn’t. Well, they said, “Look, you guys, take care of promoting your music.” When we started, I remember it was VA Music. I said, “We don’t like that idea,” but we managed to go to the places [and] to the shows. We started something that we changed normally what a producer did at that time and I think that was something that helped us. With [DJ] Nelson, we went to Ricky [Martin]’s studio to work. We did a lot of projects [and] many things that were not on the agenda of what I wanted to do as a producer. I always wanted to be in the studio with Tunes.

Molusco at the Wisin Panel, Presented by Smirnoff held at Faena Forum as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 4, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.

David Cabrera for Billboard

Atmospher at the Wisin Panel, Presented by Smirnoff held at Faena Forum as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 4, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.

David Cabrera for Billboard

Wisin at the Wisin Panel, Presented by Smirnoff held at Faena Forum as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 4, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.

David Cabrera for Billboard

Molusco, Wsin, Hyde el Quimico, Dj Nelson, Luny Tunes , Leila Cobo at the Wisin Panel, Presented by Smirnoff held at Faena Forum as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 4, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.

David Cabrera for Billboard

Earlier in the week, Wisin brought Billboard En Vivo with La Base and Wisin presented by Smirnoff to the Oasis Wynwood for a three-hour event featuring the aforementioned panelists. The event marked the first La Base party outside of Puerto Rico and included a few special surprises.

Celebrated for more than 30 years, Billboard Latin Music Week is the longest running and biggest Latin music industry gathering in the world, and coincides with the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which was broadcast live on Telemundo on Thursday, Oct. 5, from the Watsco Center in Miami.

Wisin Celebrates Label During Hits-Packed Show at Billboard Latin Music Week 2023

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October 12, 2023

For their first annual party outside of Puerto Rico, Wisin and La Base, the record label he launched in 2020, took over Miami’s Oasis Wynwood venue for a hits-packed show, special guests and cheers to the future.

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At the 35,000 square foot outdoor venue, attendees gathered together on Tuesday, October 3, for Billboard En Vivo with La Base and Wisin presented by Smirnoff, a celebratory night of the urban music icon’s staples as a solo artist and as part of Wisin y Yandel. His set started towards midnight and saw the man of the hour in a black-leather outfit accompanied by backup dancers for performances of “Fiel,” “Pam Pam,” “Major Que Yo,” “Cuerpo a Cuerpo” and more. Elsewhere during the La Base concert celebration, the reggaeton titan took time to cheers to the dedicated audience with a can of Smirnoff ICE Neon Lemonade, celebrating not only the success of his three decade long-catalog, but to his future.

Special guests Luny Tunes and DJ Nelson were on-site to serve up the biggest reggaeton hits of yesterday and today. Among the star power in the audience included the likes of J Balvin, Darell, Farina and Goyo of ChocQuibTown. Yet, it was a surprise appearance from El Alfa that brought the show to new heights when he and Wisin delivered performances of “Paleta Pa To El Mundo” and “La Mamá de la Mamá.” Beyond the music, attendees of the event were also treated to a specialty cocktail, samples, güiro giveaways, activations and more from Smirnoff ICE and Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind.

Wisin at Billboard En Vivo Featuring Wisin held at Oasis Wynwood as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 3, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.

Melody Timothee for Billboard

El Alfa and Wisin at Billboard En Vivo Featuring Wisin held at Oasis Wynwood as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 3, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.

Melody Timothee for Billboard