Don Omar says Marcy Place are the future of bachata – and he's putting his money where his mouth is.

Earlier this year, 28-year old Juan Carlos Cabrera and brothers Billy (26) and Joel Pabón (20) met Don Omar during a recording session in Aventura's studio – located on Marcy Place in the Bronx. Don Omar was impressed, but not by what he heard on his headphones. The reggaetonero says he was struck by the Dominican-American trio's enthusiasm and strong work ethic, which reminded him of his early struggles in Puerto Rico. Don Omar christened the group Marcy Place and signed them to his Orfanato imprint.

The group's debut album, B From Marcy Place, was released earlier this month and features collaborations with Aventura's Lenny Santos, Don Omar and Wisin y Yandel. Driven by slinky guitars and slithering bass, lead single Todo Lo Que Soy finds Marcy Place proclaiming: "I wish I could give you more than love." On the Spanglish R&B ballad "Unfaithful," the NYC outfit is hearbroken: "You don't know que es el amor, te llevaste mi corazón."

Marcy Place are currently promoting their album across the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

See: myspace.com/marcyplacemusic

(image by ceonyc via flickr)

This week's top story: Marcello Lucero, a 37-year-old immigrant from Ecuador, was killed by seven New York City high school students in an apparent hate crime. Police officials say the group of teens, which includes one Latino, are facing charges of first-degree "gang assault."

New York rapper Felipe Coronel – aka Immortal Technique – relishes a battle.

Like Eminem before him, the Peruvian-born MC made a name for himself in underground hip hop by defeating established rappers in freestyle battles. In 2001, he dropped his debut, Revolutionary Vol. 1. An aggressive political album in the vein of Dead Prez and Public Enemy, the album's most popular track, Dance With The Devil, is a seven-minute lament on the tragic, violent fall of a criminal. His sophomore release, Revolutionary Vol. 2, became an underground sensation in 2003, spawning hits like The Point of No Return and Industrial Revolution.

One year later, the gravel-voiced Immortal Technique teamed up with the ubiquitous DJ Green Lantern (Eminem, 50 Cent) to release Bin Laden featuring Mos Def and Eminem. The controversial track samples a line from Jadakiss' Why to claim "Bush knocked down the towers." This summer, Immortal Technique and Green Lantern are back with a new album, The 3rd World, on indie Viper Records (Coronel is the label's Executive VP). With guest appearances by Psycho Realm, Ras Kass and Chino XL, the record should hold over fans eagerly awaiting Immortal Technique's forthcoming albums, The Middle Passage and Revolutionary, Vol. 3.

In the meantime, they can catch Coronel on the multi-city Rock the Bells Festival tour with hip hop legends A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and Rakim.

See: myspace.com/immortaltechnique