Alexis y Fido "Sobrenatural"

Rap has its crews, rock its bands. Reggaetón has duos. Wisin y Yandel, R.K.M. y Ken-Y and Héctor y Tito are just a few of the pairings that have made reggaetón one of the most successful new genres in years. But as sales decline, does reggaetón need a new "y" to stay alive? Alexis y Fido might think so and their new record, Sobrenatural (Supernatural), could be the jolt that keeps reggaetón moving forward.

Both 28 years old, Raul Ortiz (Alexis) and Joel Martinez (Fido) have outgrown the bravado that once inspired them to go by the name "Los Pitbulls." Like their predecessor Daddy Yankee, whose most recent album featured American stars like Fergie, Akon and will.i.am, the duo are open to experimentation. On the pounding "Intro (Si Me Matan)," Alexis y Fido declare themselves the "saviors" of reggaetón while dabbling in the synth tones of Dirty South.

But instead of lining up superstar guest acts or venturing far from their roots, "Los Reyes del Perreo" have chosen to take the best of reggaetón and make it their own. Combining Daddy Yankee's rapid-fire flows (Yo Se Lo Que Tu Das), Rakim y Ken-Y's romantikeo (Lento, Lento, Lento) and Tego Calderón's boom bap (Metele Mijo), Alexis y Fido have synthesized a "purer" reggaetón. The result is like a great piragua: a clear, crunchy base that improves whatever flavor it absorbs, be it bachata, merengue or hip hop.

On their hit single Soy Igual Que Tú, the duo lend an icy coolness to the romantic stylings of bachatero Toby Love. There's also balance in the album's lyrical content. The uptempo club jam 5 Letras tells a decidedly downtempo story: whispered late night propositions. Though the pair have taken to calling themselves "El Duo Sobrenatural," the album's title track isn't about their supernatural talents – it's a sobering tale of lost love. Only the closing track, "We Belong Together," featuring protégés Los Yetzons, feels like a misstep.

With their second album in as many years, Alexis y Fido are making a confident play for the future of reggaetón, betting that consistently infectious dance music is the key to the genre's future.