DJ Kane

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DJ Kane

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As former lead vocalist for A.B. Quintanilla y Los Kumbia Kings, DJ Kane offered up smooth vocals on top of Tejano, cumbia, and R&B rhythms. Kane plays up the pop and R&B elements on his self-titled debut album, but he still can't escape the Kings' sound. The Houston-born, Brooklyn-bred performer kicks off his album with "La Negra Tomasa," and his zippy cumbia take on the Cuban classic (which was also one of Los Caifanes' earliest hits) would sound right at home on any of the Kings' past efforts. Kane also peppers his album with tender R&B ballads, another of the Kumbia Kings' calling cards. The best of the bunch is "Mia," co-written by Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough. To maximize crossover appeal, the song is featured in English, Spanish, and cumbia versions, a trick often used by--you guessed it--the Kumbia Kings. Kane is a confident, charismatic singer, but it's a mystery why he chose to venture out on his own when his sound is still so clearly tied to his past musical life. --Joey Guerra