Yandel is giving a hand up to the next generation…

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton singer and record producer, whose real name is Llandel Veguilla Malavé, and Angel “El Guru” Vera, the founder of popular website and media brand Rapetón, have joined forces for a new venture called Rapetón Approved that will sign and promote up and coming acts.

Rapetón Approved will sign new artists through Yandel’s label, Y Entertainment Records, and will help promote them via Rapetón’s platforms, including its website and YouTube channel.

Yandel is the latest among several Latin acts to launch or expand their label ventures in recent months. His longtime recording partner, Wisin, recently launched his own label with his manager, Walter Kolm.

Yandel, however, is partnering with a journalist, albeit one whose specialty is reggaeton and who has become a brand name within the genre.

“I’ve been following Angel’s growth for several years,” says Yandel. “I think he’s a natural A&R who truly wants to help new artists. I’m 100% convinced that with my record label, I can contribute to grow this Rapeton Approved, an idea Angel has been working on since 2016.”

Y Entertainment already has producers and artists signed to its roster, including Catalyna, Nesty and Izzy Guerra. However, the new Rapetón Approved will start from scratch in its search for talent, says Yandel’s manager, Andy Martínez, who helped piece the deal together.

Likewise, Rapetón will continue to function as it normally does, focused on covering the world of Latin urban music in general and the reggaeton in particular, where Guru is a widely respected fixture with a YouTube channel with over 900k subscribers.

“We are ready to support those who want to be successful in this industry and we’re doing it hand in hand with professionals who know their jobs,” added Guru. “There are no barriers to making dreams come true.”