Hector & Tito, aka Los Bambinos, were a pioneering reggaeton duo in existance from 1998 to 2003, after which the two split and went on to lucrative solo careers as
Hector and
Tito. Thereafter each referred to himself as "El Bambino" in accordance with their previous nicknames, though
Hector, somewhat confusingly, changed his name a couple times, first to
Hector Bambino "El Father" (
Los Rompe Discotekas, 2006) and then simply to
Hector el Father (
The Bad Boy, 2007). Just before
Hector & Tito split in 2003, they won a Latin Billboard Award for Latin Rap Album of the Year, for
A la Reconquista (2002). In 2005, around the time reggaeton was growing in popularity and commercial clout, Machete Music in conjunction with VI Music released
Season Finale 1998-2003, a compilation of highlights from the duo's back catalog.
Tito signed with EMI Televisa, debuting in 2006 with
Top of the Line;
Hector, more notably, signed with Roc la Familia (a division of Def Jam under the reign of
Jay-Z) and debuted later that same year with a CD mixtape,
Los Rompe Discotekas.
–
Jason Birchmeier, Rovi