The third installment of the Hangover franchise starring the Wolf Pack in another series of unexpected twists and turns. But would you expect anything different? Two years after the last Hangover everyone is content except Alan (Zach Galifianakis). While intervening for their friend, Alan, they are driving him to a home but are intercepted and kidnapped by Marshall (John Goodman) who wants them to get Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong) and his 21 million in gold bars that Chow stole. He holds Doug (Justin Bartha) hostage in the meantime. Black Doug (Mike Epps) returns. Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms return in their roles as Phil and “Doctor” Stu.

Spoiler Alert

Needless to say the team chases Chow from Tijuana, Mexico and eventually back to the old haunting grounds, Las Vegas, finding and then losing him in the interim. The team visits Jade (Heather Graham) now pregnant, to help find Chow, who had stolen Phil’s car. Chow gets away and all seems lost for him but for Alan it’s about holding to friendship despite Chow’s evil ways. Alan comes to a conclusion, helped by a chance encounter in a pawn shop with a girl behind the counter (Melissa McCarthy), cue Billy Joel music, and the chemistry is so hot that Phil and Stu have to leave the shop. Stu must once again overcome his old fears and gamble with his profession, and Phil remains the voice of common sense except Alan indirectly saves the day here and there. In the end Alan falls in love and the bells of a church sound. Is it possible?

The journeys of these four friends are played out in the final walk as they seem to be ready to return to normal lives again. But when Chow is involved, is it ever over? Don’t leave the theater during the final credits, a fourth movie may just be in the making. Hangover: Part 3 may very well surpass its predecessors and is hilarious throughout. A popular character does not return but Ken Jeong and Zach Galifianakis are so good, it more than makes up for it.

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Nacional Records ‘Best New Sounds of Latin Music. Volume 4’ compilation is available for free on amazon. The sampler features 23 tracks ranging from hip-hop/cumbia fusion, bilingual indie rock, ethereal pop, heavy electronic dance music, Latin funk and everything in between.

Nacional Records is one of the most exciting record labels in the Latin music world and they never disappoint with their yearly music sampler. Go download the sampler while it’s fresh, soon you might even be hearing the some of the lesser known artists on this sampler popping up on radio charts.

The free music sampler includes music from Grammy nominees Ana Tijoux, La Vida Boheme and Los Amigos Invisibles, plus exclusive unreleased music from Natalia Clavier (vocalist from Thievery Corporation) and Elastic Bond, not to mention great tracks from fan-favorites Tom Tom Club and Mexican Institute of Sound. Did we mention Nacional Records also hosts the popular Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) in New York City? Download this sampler and get ready for LAMC 2013!

Download the Sampler

Listen to Raul and Mexia “Las Escondidas” Remix by Captain Planet to get a small taste of what’s on ‘Best New Sounds of Latin Music. Volume 4’.

The TR3S Upfront 2013 event at Webster Hall in New York City was a fascinating night of circus thrills, exclusive show footage, and performance by Daddy Yankee.

The first act of the evening consisted of the members, of Circo Hermanos Vazquez, showing off their various skill sets or specific acts. Three which stood out was the lady who was able to dance on stilts. A contortionist performed extreme human yoga in front of stunned guests. Not to be outdone we had a gypsy with a snake wrapped loosely around her neck for people to touch or allow being touched. On stage we had fire eating performers, a woman with multiple hula hoops which closed her set by taking twenty of them and wrapping herself with it slinky style. A buff fireman wowed the audience by doing a handstand on ten chairs strategically placed upwards. While performing the act his suspender snapped and stunned the crowd momentarily.

The second act was a video preview of the upcoming shows on TR3S, which included Familia de Circo which takes a behind the scenes look at a forty-year family circus led by five Mexican brothers who are not always on the same page. Divas Del Azucar is a reality series about Bakers for the Stars.

In Nina’s Mal 2 we get a young adult novella that drew five million viewers in 2010. It follows the story of high society girls who challenge the mold set by their parents and their charm school. We also get a look at the character Adolfo Altamirano, living in two worlds with two families, in Fortuna.

EN TOUR uses a ‘making of’ format to take viewers into the reality of touring. It takes a more intimate look at what audiences take for granted. Wisin y Yandel were shown as examples in an upcoming episode. The Unplugged series will showcase Ricardo Arjona next as he does a stripped acoustic performance.

The finale brought us to the performance set by guest superstar, Daddy Yankee, decked out in a black cap with “Yankee” in bold lettering in front with white shirt and sweater vest which showed Daddy to be fitter than in recent years. He also was more involved with his background dancers in short dance combinations, also something he does more. Daddy did seven songs in his performance set which included “Rompe”, “Modelo” and “Lovumba”. The performance was power packed and precise throughout the set and no one was cheated. It was a vibrant close to a spectacular evening.

The TR3S event was quite a success from the décor of the room to the open bar and snacks that were available throughout the evening. A merging of three different styles of entertainment made for a pulsating event at Webster Hall.

Photos by Marlene Amaya-Vazquez [View photos on Facebook]

We joined forces with Don Omar’s Red Link Radio to bring you an exclusive interview with our favorite Gangsta, Kat Dahlia. In this interview Kat talks to Aj El Kallejero and gives you a piece of her mind on the music industry, her family, influences, Kat Hue and much more.

Kat has also been busy in this new social media app check it out below, she is pretty hilarious.

Enter to win Hollywood Movie Money and thematic promotional items on behalf of the film and LatinRecap by answering the following thematic question:

Unscramble the letters to reveal the city that Stu swore never to return to.

SLA SGAEV

Subscribe to our mailing list and share your answer on social media pages Facebook and Twitter for a chance to win!

One lucky winner will receive:
1 – The Hangover Part III One Sheet
1 – The Hangover Part III Drink Tumbler
1 – The Hangover Part III Foam/Mesh Trucker Hat
1 – The Hangover Part III Aviator Sunglasses
1 (Admit Two) – The Hangover Part III Hollywood Movie Money
-Hollywood Movie Money is a free admission voucher to see a predetermined film (The Hangover Part III) redeemable nation wide starting 05/24/13 through Wednesday., 06/19/13 in any theater excluding AMC Theaters.

Lilian Clark mother of Gustavo shares that they do not lose hope and the small signs in his recovery gives them hope.

Gustavo is not only an icon in the Latin American rock scene but has been recognized and respected by many. U2 remembered Gustavo Cerati in one of their concerts in La Plata, Argentina, in March 2011 during the intro of their song “Moment of Surrender”. Bono said “We would like you to think about Gustavo Cerati. We send him our love and respect, and he will hear our voices tonight”, earning a standing ovation from 60,000 fans at the Único Stadium.

Swedish rockers Roxette performed the intro of “De Música Ligera” just before “Joyride” in their set of concerts in Argentina during April and May 2012. The crowd was more than pleased and collectively sang the first verse of the song.

Shakira is a person who not only admired him but is also a dear friend, they worked together and shared stages throughout the years. Shakira dedicated the song “Sale El Sol” to him which calls for optimism through difficult times, it is also the title of her album.

Soda Stereo has a memorable picture of the group united which says “Fuerza Gus!”. The talents of this man are recognized internationally, he is a legend, his mind may be asleep but we wait for his awakening. Fuerza Gus! Estamos con vos!

Check out the full concert of Soda Stereo in 1997.

Madison Square Garden was the place. Alex Sensation was the host. The Mega Mezcla Block Party was the reason. On May 10th, an impressive array of Latin talent was assembled to entertain their fan base in the World’s Most Famous Arena.

There were young stars who have arrived, veterans who returned, legends live in the flesh, and reunions to wet the appetite for all age ranges and genres. The celebrities in the house included hosts from La Mega Radio, Telemundo NY, and Polito Vega, who initially was refused entrance. When the staff was informed who he was, he was immediately escorted to his spot and the party resumed. Jose Reyes, former New York Mets and current Toronto Blue Jays shortstop was also on hand to enjoy the festivities.

Early on Milly Quezada, the Queen of Merengue and Juliana, the would be Queen, shared the stage in one of the poignant moments of the evening. Miriam Cruz was not able to appear so between these two artists were symbolic of past meeting the present.

The biggest pop of the night was reserved for the return of an old favorite, Tego Calderon, wearing a Pittsburgh Pirate cap, presumably a tribute to Roberto Clemente and a carved wooden cane. Tego basically performed his old classics but the nearly sold-out arena crowd from stage center to the fans behind the stage, were not complaining.

Alex Sensation played a DJ set that was memorable for its table that displayed an elaborate visual mix of colors and splurges, and designs as the music pumped with various mixes including the Harlem Shake, which was most popular as everyone was gyrating and head banging.

Some of the new stars that were greatly anticipated included K. Rose, who sang the cover of Bruno Mars “Just the way you are.” with great range and power. Puerto rican J. Alvarez, showed how much reggaeton has evolved. His stage presence belied his years and was the best performance according to this reporter.

J. Balvin, Colombian, with his two electrifying dancers brought a cool cumbia sound with an urban touch to the preceding. Blackpoint was an inspiring story as he came out decked in a all white, glove on one hand included. He told his story of God, his near death experience, and his mother. It was as touching as the performance that followed.

Farruko brought a smooth romantic rap delivery that translated well for the women in the audience. Secreto came dressed to the nines in black and showed a depth of ability that was most interesting to behold.

Young veteran Salsa trio N’ Klabe showed their flexible interaction of voices and arrangements to bring everyone back again to the simple days of Salsa. Plan B brought the polar opposite with the spoken word supported by precise beats and brought the crowd to life.

The next to last act, Hector Acosta, El Torito, represented the bachata genre with much emotion with spirited renditions of his hits that was lengthy and ended with a hug and kiss on Alex Sensation’s forehead. It was quite an evening and it was closed out by the return of Zion and Lennox who played a series of their classics one after another to an audience that sung back the lyrics. It was a good show and though devoid of many top stars, the artists were all enthusiastic and one could feel the momentum ridding from the first act to the next. The bottom line is this. Alex Sensation throws an awesome party.

Photos by Marlene Amaya-Vazquez [View photos on Facebook]

Que Bajo?! Is it the name of the group, or is it the name of the party? Does it really matter when the music is that good? Devoid of borders in their minds, Uproot Andy and Geko Jones focus on the music and how they can dissect different genres and create a genetic hybrid that makes you want to riot on the dance floor. “We would make a lot of music to play at the party. We were interested in all these kinds of music. The terms Global or Tropical didn’t exist back then.” said Uptown Andy.

Uptown Andy and Geko Jones performed at the Roseland Ballroom for Red Bull’s  ”Culture Clash”, an international sound clash that was first done in London in 2010. It’s ironic because they met at a party event of one of their rivals that evening. It’s a unique partnership, Andy from Canada and Geko, who shares a Puerto Rican-Colombian heritage. “We’re really two separate DJ’s, homies, and we wanted to start a party.” explains Uproot Andy “But we don’t really have a duo performance but we tend to get booked a lot together.”

Que Bajo’s music is labeled as Global Bass music. But they know better. Names are fleeting. Whether it’s called Tropical, Global Bass, New World music, or World music 2.0, it’s all the same to Que Bajo. Geko explains. “It’s a debatable term. There’s a lot of terms for it but because of the internet there’s a cross-pollination of different underground club music.” Andy has a similar view. “Instead of thinking of it like a genre of music, like it’s sort of an approach to playing a different bunch of genres altogether at the same time.”

Que Bajo?! has been working the NYC underground dance scene for five years now. Their unique blending of various styles has made their parties the place to be. The sheer amount of music they have produced has allowed them to entertain thoughts of creating a record label. And so it was. “We would make a lot of music to play and over the years, a lot of this stuff became like a catalog.”

The Red Bull Music Academy obviously knew what they were hearing. They made having Que Bajo?! a priority for this concert event. Red Bull did their research and through word of mouth, they found that Que Bajo?! was on many lips. “I think me and Red productions, they kind of helped put this together. They kind of picked the lineups and went to bat for us.” Geko stated “I think if you’re going to represent nightlife in NYC right now, this is a pretty fair gauge of what’s happening.”

Yet for Andy and Geko, they are primed and ready to do their thing, but competition as it is, does not move them either way. To them it’s about the party and how they can make their audience move. “I’m excited. I think we’re going to make it where the other guys compete against themselves and we out fun them.” Geko says. “What we’re bringing I think is a really different and new kind of sound that can stand up to these tried and tested sounds that other crews have, Andy adds.

The future is already in place. Que Bajo’s style may not be ready for the masses, but if you wandered into a NYC dance floor at one of their events, the world is smaller, and Que Bajo?! rules the city nightlife, and that’s more than enough. “We believe in folkloric stuff, it’s a time where folkloric is not appreciated. We’re in a very Urban market now.” Geko said “There are hardcore fans that enjoy this music, but will it be mainstream? We’re a few years from that yet.”

Photos of Red Bull Culture Clash: [View on Facebook]

The Red Bull Academy series, which has been presented by Red Bull for fifteen years now, is in New York City for the first time. The thumping beats of House Techno/Electronica music as represented this evening by Latino artists was in full effect last night at the Cameo Gallery in Brooklyn, NY, which stood behind a bar called the “Lovin’ Cup Café.”

The event was titled the “Nanobot Picket Line” and from the stage acoustics which played well in the small but cozy venue to the dominating visuals such as the large light/string sculpture that was used to reflect video images. The evening was quite a success. Ale Hop, from Lima, Peru and Astroboyz from Barcelona, Spain were the main attractions of the evening.

Ale was a surreal sight on stage. Enclosed in darkness, the mystery that is Ale, was suddenly bathed in light, only to return, with the heavy riffs of her Ferring guitar provoking images of Prince’ Purple Rain, Ale spoke her story with her strumming fingers and poker face. The crowd responded hysterically. If one song could define Ale, it would be “Doce Pasos”, a song she did with her band “Las Amigas de Nadie.” Ale explained, “It’s really personal and has a lot of meaning. It plays like a narrative of my life. When I do music, I think of images like a movie, a soundtrack for me.”

“The Red Bull experience has been a positive one but also one with great expectations. Being able to work with David Bowie’s producer is cited a major plus for Ale. But this is far from a working vacation. “We wake up and go to lectures then have studio time with our ideas.” Ale added “It’s been great. But there are deadlines. If you have an hour, then you will work the entire hour. If you have an evening only, you will not sleep until you finish. You have to make it happen.”

It’s been an interesting journey for Ale Hop with many odd stopovers along the way. One of the experiences Ale Hop recalls was a gig that she and her band secured at a marathon in Lima, Peru. Ale tells the story. “It was to be a two hour set, but we didn’t have enough material for two hours. But the organizers explained that since the runners would pass only once, it would not be noticed. We played it four times while the producers screamed to stop it.”

Astroboyz, who was a fan of the Japanese cartoon Astroboy, is a product of a mixed musical culture that is Spain. “I like it also because my music is like different personalities of myself. My music is taken from a variety of styles and that became Astroboyz.

His set is simple but complicated in its results. The thumping combinations vibrate from head to toe, resulting in a lot of head banging in the audience. “I only use my laptop and controllers. I hope in the future to buy some machines. I want to play without my laptop and with only my machines alone.” It doesn’t stop him from using what he has to experiment. “I am always looking for something new in styles or things. I take from things and see what happens. I mix so many styles in my music.”

He also is a full supporter of the Red Bull Academy and what they have done for artists such as himself. “It’s like a dream. All of us we are music lovers, we do music all the time. They give to use some rooms with all the stuff necessary to make music and the lectures are often done by people who we are fans of.”

The song that Astroboyz mentioned that was a good indication of what he is all about is contained in the song “Pianobatacazoo.” Though he can’t quite pinpoint exactly why, he knows what it represents as a definition of his art. “I want to follow the path of that song. That song is Astroboyz. It contains many styles and says it. I want to be free, I want to be young. I want to be me.”

For upcoming Red Bull Events and Photos visit: http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/gallery

Cinco de Mayo is a major holiday in the U.S. and now thanks to the beer companies that spend millions of dollars promoting it, May 5th is celebrated by everyone, not just Mexicans. And no it’s Not Mexican Independence day, for those of you who still don’t know, read more here.

As a celebration of that great victory, people here in the states celebrate with Festivals around the country. And one of the biggest is Festival Cinco de Mayo which takes place in Flushing Meadows Park is Queens, NY. The festival, celebrated on Sunday, was a family event with clowns, food and merchandise booths. Lines formed in front of sponsor booths giving out samples and creating fun experiences for families to enjoy. There was also major international Latin talent and it was all Gratis, Gratis, Gratis! The main headliner was the queen of pop and rock & roll Gloria Trevi, who gave us a nice taste of her tour. Gloria had dancers in full “backless” tuxedos singing hit songs like “Todos me miran”, “Cinco minutos” and oldies like “Me siento tan sola”. Her hits are endless so people were left wanting more, one song that was surely missed was “Pelo Suelto” which is an iconic song to many. An emotional moment came when Pedro Rivera sang his tribute song to his daughter, La Diva de La Banda, Jenni Rivera. We also enjoyed performances by Haragan, 3d2, Diego Verdaguer to name a few, see the full list here. Gloria was very outspoken about the immigration reform and its importance for the U.S. Latino community and made it a point to not just include Mexicans but also spoke for all Latinos and immigrants general.

“Estoy muy agradecida por la invitación a participar en el festival, sobre todo en este momento tan importante en que se está planteando la reforma migratoria y necesitamos mostrar el poder latino”,  ”Y no nada más como mexicanos, sino como latinos todos, súper unidos, y hasta los no latinos y que aman este país”

“I am grateful for the invitation to take part in the festival, especially in such an important moment that is considering immigration reform and we need to show the power latino”, “And not just as Mexicans, but as Latinos all super together, and even the non-Latin and who love this country “

At the press conference Gloria Trevi talked about her upcoming work, she will be playing a taxi driver in the telenovela Libre para amarte produced by Emilio Larrosa. She also mentioned the name of her new upcoming album which titled De Pelicula, the first single off that album will be ”No soy un pajaro”.

Cinco de Mayo at Flushing Meadows Park: [View on Facebook]