AMG Review of Drama Queen

David Jeffries
All Music Guide

Going futuristic seems to be reggaeton’s thing in 2010, but minus the usual synths and slickness, Ivy Queen’s Drama Queen keeps all its sci-fi elements on its cover artwork. Otherwise, this is a standard issue effort from "La Reina del Reggaeton," with expected guest shots from folks like De la Ghetto and Wisin y Yandel. The beats are familiar as reggaeton drum machines meet R&B keyboards and the Queen herself is brassy as ever, commanding attention on every track with a stern yet sexy delivery. That said, she's hardly stuck in a rut, as it’s all executed very well -- you can check the furious "La Vida Es Asi" or the uplifting “Amor Puro” for instant proof. The competition may stumble by attempting to re-create the genre with hi-tech theatrics, but here the Queen keeps her reggaeton strain strong by sticking with the original formula.