found a way to keep his previous projects together by bringing Ovalles, Fuentes and adding Marino Paredes to the mix. Rosa, being very close to the genre, enlisted the talents of his father, Arcenio De La Rosa, an accomplished well-known traditional merengue artist in his own right, to add to the authenticity of the sound. They merged their hip hop styles with the sounds of merengue, as well as samba and cumbia, and released "El Hombre Mas Famoso De La Tierra" in 1997. The album gained immediate worldwide recognition selling over 500,000 units. The first single off the album, "Guallando," became a household chant, gaining song of the year honors in Colombia in 1998. El Padrino (1999–2001) Fulanito's second studio album, "El Padrino" (Cutting, 1999) used many of the same elements that garnered them international fame, with only minor changes to the sound and the frontline. Rosa decided to step down as one of the frontmen to concentrate on the production end. Vargas would add Welington Belen to replace Rosa. Belen, born and raised in the Dominican Republic and a student of merengue genre, was very instrumental in the production of "El Padrino". Vargas and Rosa were able to incorporate more of the authentic merengue sound while adding their American urban element with ease. The album received a Grammy nomination in 1999, and had several songs featured in John Singelton's modern day film release of Shaft. Americanizao (2001–2004) The release of "Americanizao" (Cutting, 2001) saw the group becoming a quartet. Belen left the group and Vargas would focus on a more urban dance feel for the album. With its hit single "Callate", hip-hop tracks "Otra Vez" and "Eight Million Ways", the sound that Fulanito producing was making waves for a change, while still staying grounded in its merengue roots with "Pecho A Pechuga", "La Tiembladera" and "El Generalissimo", a song that created slight controversy in the Dominican Republic. "El Generalissimo" was eventually prohibited from the nations airwaves just days after the album's release. Officials cited the use of the title "Generalissimo" as a certain glorification to the country's last dictator, Rafael Trujillo. La Verdad (2004–2007) In 2004, Fulanito had a slight change in its front staff. Vargas would replace Ovalles and Paredes, and add Jesus Martinez and Daniel Fernandez to fill in. Vacanería! (2007–2009) The release of "Vacanería!" saw the emergence of Rafael Vargas as he was solidifying his staple