Proyecto Uno

Who Is Proyecto Uno?

Proyecto Uno (in English: Project One) is a Dominican-American hip hop/Merengue house group which helped popularize a style of music which blends merengue with techno, dancehall, reggae and hip-hop/rap music. The band was founded in New York City's East Side in 1989 by Nelson Zapata and managed by Porfirio "Popi" Piña. The current members are Nelson Zapata, Kid G and Paolo Tondo. The manager of the group currently is Rafael Zapata III.

Music Career

Proyecto Uno was the first  band to fully blend merengue and hip-hop, pioneering a musical genre. In the 1980s, the Wilfrido Vargas orchestra had already experimented with merengue-rap, but this group took it to the next level. Other groups with similar characteristics followed, such as Sandy and Papo, Fulanito, Ilegales, and Zona 7.

The group was founded by Nelson Zapata in 1989, with its first members being Zapata and Ricky Echevarría. The initial producers were Nelson Zapata and Pavel de Jesús, while the first manager was Porfirio "Popi" Pina. Currently, the group includes Nelson Zapata, Kid G, and Paolo Tondo. "El Tiburon" was one of their biggest hits in the 90s, along with other hits like "25 Horas", "Latinos", "Está pega'o", and "Another Night".

Their music has been played and enjoyed in many countries around the world, including Spain, Puerto Rico, Chile, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. They have also gained popularity in countries as far away as Japan, Australia, Thailand, Jerusalem, and Palestine.

In 2008, several former members of the group reunited for one night only at Madison Square Garden in New York during the "Greatest of the '90s" concert.

Awards and Accolades

Originally formed as traditional merengue band, Proyecto Uno received recognition in the 1990s, the group won Billboard Latin Music Awards, ”Premios Lo Nuestro” and was nominated for an Emmy award.

• 1993 and 1995: Premios Ronda and Premios Orquídea (Venezuela)
• 1993 and 1996: New York ACE Awards
• 1994: Premios Lo Nuestro, Música Rap 1994
• 1994, 1995 and 1997: New York Premios Estrella
• 1996 and 1997: New York Premios Too Much
• 1996: Song of the Colombian World Cup Team Está Pegao
• 1997: Billboard Latin Music Awards, Rap Album Of the Year, In Da’ House 1997
• 1998: Billboard Latin Music Awards, Latin Dance Single of the Year, Mueve La Cadera (Move your Hips) with Reel 2 Reel
• 1998: Nominated: Premios Lo Nuestro, Grupo Del Año-Tropical
• 1999: Nominated to Billboard Latin Music Awards, Latin Dance Club Play Track of the Year, No Nos Tenemos (NNT)
• 1999: Emmy Awards, Outstanding Original Music Composition
• 2000: Nominated Colombian Song of the Year 25 horas
• 2003: Premios Lo Nuestro, Album of the Year, Urbana for PURA GOZADERA