Richard Lugo

There is an abundance of pop and R&B artists out there today, so it takes originality, flair, good looks, good moves and a certain amount of that thing called talent to make it as an artist in this category. Richard Lugo has all of the above, and he is only 15.\nBorn in Queens and raised in southern Florida, Lugo was discovered by producer Dallas Austin, a man partially responsible for the success of Boyz II Men, Monica and other well-known R&B artists.\nIn his debut album, Boom, Lugo proves himself worthy starting with his first track, "All the Girl I Need." This track starts out with a subtle Spanish flair before jumping into a piece sounding much like an 'N Sync tune with throbbing synthesizers and drums.\nThe title track is decent but nothing spectacular. Although Lugo's energy pulses through this piece starting with the breathy vocals in the intro, the song never really moves until it gets to the chorus, and the chorus is rather dismal.\n"Me" starts out with a pulsating synthesizer before moving into Lugo's rapidly yet clearly delivered lyrics. The chorus is sung intensely by Lugo and background vocalists, creating a good track with a beat.\nThe interlude, "You're Not 17," incorporates Lugo and a female in an exchange of dialogue dealing with age, which serves as a kind of transition into "Just Act Like." This track deals with how age doesn't matter in love, which coming from a 15-year-old is somewhat funny. The synthesizers move this track quickly with Lugo's fast-paced lyrics keeping the beat.\n"Ocean Drive" is a smooth track with the Latin beat coming through in the lyrics and the background music. The synthesized sounds keep the piece distinctly pop while managing to not cover up Lugo's vocals.\n"Ven, Ven, Ven" displays Lugo's vocal talent both in the chorus and the verses, creating a moving salsa track sure to inspire dancing. "Lil' Senorita" is a standout ballad, as is "Snow in June," combining to create a soul-filled debut by a fresh young Latino artist.