After nearly a decade plying his trade with fellow reggaetónero Valentino, 24-year-old Magnate (Ramón Oliveira) is going it alone. Much like fellow romantikeros Tito "El Bambino" and Zion, who first paid dues with Hector "El Father" and Lennox, respectively, Magnate hopes to transition from trading verses with Valentino to carrying whole tunes.

With his make-over from cornrow-rocking mean-mugger to clean-cut, blazer-wearing pretty boy complete, his future as a pop star rests on the strengths of his debut album, Progresivo. If tracks like the Juanes-esque Me Pones Mal and the electro-pop Un Juego resonate, the San Juan-native could become a Latin American idol.

see: myspace.com/magnate2007