The
legendary party starters are back with another dancefloor scorcher folks! Hold on to your hats, "Vacaneria!" (a savvy, smooth
street playa) is the word used to describe Fulanito’s latest album release by
founder, producer, and lead singer, D.O.S.E.....
Born to Dominican immigrants, D.O.S.E., whose real name is Rafael Vargas was born
and raised in the Washington Heights neighborhood of upper Manhattan in New
York City. During his early years,
D.O.S.E. was heavily influenced by the sounds of merengue, salsa, and
underground dance music of the 70s and 80s, before the emergence of the hip hop
era by artists such as Run DMC. ....
During
the 1990s, Dose was asked to produce and perform for the dance music group 2
In A Room,
a Latin hip-hop, dance, and house music duo that included producer/remixer Roger
"Rog Nice" Pauletta and who would later be replaced by Elvin
"Romeo" Ovalles. Their
first release in the USA and UK was "Somebody in the House Say Yeah!"
in the late part of 1989. However,
2 In A Room is best known for their 1990 hit "Wiggle It", which spent two
weeks at 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart (and 3 on the UK
charts) before crossing over to mainstream radio and climbing to 15 on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart, eventually earning a gold single sales award. Prior to
that, they were known for a track called "Do What You Want" (1990)
which received plenty of club and DJ recognition nationwide. "El Trago (the Drink)" was
86 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was among various 2 In a Room charted
dance songs released in the 1990’s. ....
Gold
and Platinum status reached worldwide ....
Following
the success of 2 In A Room, Dose later teamed up with Winston Rosa (aka “Rice
& Beans”) and Jose Fuentes (aka "Pickles") and formed another Dance
Hip House group called 740 Boyz.
The group’s most notable accomplishment was their 1996 single, “Shimmy
Shake,” a certified gold hit all through Europe. While Dose and the 740 Boyz
toured throughout Europe (including Russia), U.S.A., Australia, Africa and
Asia, Merengue Hip House groups such as Proyecto Uno, Sandy y Papo and
Illegales were dominating the nightclubs and radio airplay throughout Mexico,
Central and South America.
Motivated by the Merengue House movement in Latin America, Dose brushed
up on his native language and founded the artist group Fulanito with fellow 740
Boyz group member Winston Rosa.
The group consisted members of Dose's earlier bands such as Romeo,
Pickles and Reno. Anxious to make
a mark in the Latin music scene, Winston and Dose recruited Arsenio De la Rosa
(aka “El Maestro”) and his legendary accordion playing skills. Within six months of recording, the
artist group Fulanito released their debut album in 1997 titled “El Hombre Mas
Famoso De La Tierra,” which included the club and radio hits “Guallando,"
“El Cepillo," and "La Novela.” Their debut album achieved gold and platinum sales
status worldwide and solidified Fulanito as a household name throughout Latin
America. Dose and Win co-wrote and
co-produced the critically acclaimed and Grammy nominated second album,
"El Padrino," which spawned groundbreaking gems like "Quien Es
Fulanito,” "Mi Con Con,” "Serenata Negra" and the samba driven
"Chillando Goma, " and also featured in Paramount Pictures and John
Singleton’s 2000 remake of the film, “SHAFT,” starring Samuel
L. Jackson and Vanessa Williams.....
Fulanito
goes to Vina Del Mar, Chile! ....
In
the year 2000, Fulanito were invited to perform at the prestigious
international music festival of "Vina del Mar" in Chile, where they
rocked the audience at the Quinta Vergara amphitheatre and continued to perform
long after the televised broadcast of the concert had ended on Chile’s TVN and
Canal 13 TV networks. After their
performance, the group was presented with the famous Silver Gull award
(“Gaviota de Plata”), which is considered to be the festival’s highest honor
award. In their never ending quest
to keep the world moving, the group released their third installment titled
"Fulanito–The Remixes," which included crowd-moving hits such as
"Gozadera Total Medley", "El Generalisimo", "Take It
Off" (produced by reggaeton producers DJ Joe and Rafi Mercenario), and the
Latin Dance Pop Classic "Callate." Their follow up album releases, "Americanizao" and
"La Verdad” produced hits "La Tembladera," "Asi Es Que Vivo
Yo," "Pegate" and
"Gozando Vivire"(which included portion of the composition performed
by the group “Fruko Y Su Tesos”). ....
Vacanaria
In 2007!! ....
Nearly
three years since their last album release, Fulanito, aka D.O.S.E, has returned
with a brand new release entitled "Vacaneria!" Dose uncharacteristically invited
various artists and producers to participate in the construction of this
masterpiece to insure variety, depth and a breath of fresh air for Latin Hip
Hop listeners and partygoers everywhere.
Music producers and brothers, Cristian Mendez and Cleyton Mendez p/k/a Guary
y Cleyton, were among one of the contributors to the new album. The duo produced a Salsa Hip-Hop track
titled "Pa Que Sepa", properly utilizing a piece of the Roberto
Ruena’s “Que Se Sepa” composition (courtesy of Edimusica Records) and the track
“Mataron El Negro”, cleverly embodying a portion of the composition “El Negron
Bembon” performed by legendary salsero Ismael Rivera. Dose and Guary y Cleyton will
definitely not disappoint their listeners with the rhythms of
"Enciende," the bachata flavored "Rakina," and "Tate
Manza." When it's time for
Perico Ripiao, Dose and the Mendez brothers will do it again with the first
single release "Mira," which features an electrifying vocal
performance of industry veteran Rhingo “Truko" Fernandez (courtesy of Top
Dollar Entertainment). Truko
is
also featured along side of Magic Juan (former vocalist of
the group Proyecto Uno) in the song "Ajena." Rafaelito Vargas also boasts in the “No
Hay Otro Como Yo" with the assistance of verteran salsero Kevin Ceballo
singing the hook in Spanglish.
Your Saturdays will never be the same with the Tonny Tun Tun produced
and vocally featured song, "Sabado en La Noche," a merengue
influenced track that's assured to bring the house down every weekend. And yes, Dose also knows
Reggaeton!!....he is bringing a little something for the dog in you with the
A and X produced "Contigo" and the Guary Y Cleyton motivator
"Sigue." And if this
wasn't enough for your body and soul, Dose addresses the haters with
"Cotorra" and borrows "Dejalo Ahi" by Pena Suazo y La
Banda Gorda by adding his flair to this classic song. Finally, we have an Arabian flavored
club banger by music producer “Radical” called
"Culebrita"……the magic carpet ride concludes "Vacaneria!”....
