If the number of award nominations is an indicator of recent success, then it has been a very good year for Calle 13. The Puerto Rican hip-hop duo snagged five Latin Grammy nominations, including album of the year.
The Latin Grammy nominations were announced yesterday in Los Angeles.
Calle 13 also gathered noms for record of the year, best urban music album, best alternative song and best short form music video.
“We are super happy,” said Calle 13’s Rene “Residente” Perez, from his home in Puerto Rico. “The Latin Grammy Awards are, for us, valid because they have to do a lot with the music, with the art.”
Uh, okay. It’s not often a nominated act expresses their joy by reaffirming the legitimacy of the awards, but hey, a quote is a quote.
Calle 13 will face some tough competition at this year’s awards. Also up for album of the year is Colombia’s Andres Cepeda, Luis Enrique from Nicaragua, Argentine singer Mercedes Sosa and Brazil’s Ivan Lins & The Metropole Orchestra.
But Calle 13 wasn’t the only act receiving multiple noms yesterday. Salsa producer Jose Lugo, singers Ivete Sangalo and Gilberto Santa Rosa and reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel each received three nominations.
Other multiple nominees include Ricardo Arjona, Daddy Yankee, Laura Pausini, Babasonicos and Luz Rios.
This year’s Latin Grammy Awards show takes place Nov. 5 in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. For more information, please click here for the Latin Grammys Web site.