Album: Miss Little Havana

Introduction
"Miss Little Havana" is the l lth studio album by Cuban-American vocalist, songwriter, and starlet Gloria Estefan. Launched on September 27, 2011, this album marks a return to her Latin and dance music roots after a long hiatus from the music scene. The album is mainly produced by Pharrell Williams, with 2 songs co-produced by Emilio Estefan, marking the first time Gloria had actually worked with producers beyond her hubby's production team. The album features a mix of Latin, samba, pop, electronic, dance, and other uptempo genres, with track titles in both English and Spanish. It got mixed to favorable reviews from music critics and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.

Background and Production
After a six-year break from launching original music, Gloria Estefan decided it was time to return to the recording studio. She met with Pharrell Williams in Miami, where they connected over their shared love for Latin music and culture. Williams had made up numerous Latin-inspired tracks for his task that eventually became "Miss Little Havana".

Estefan felt that Williams recorded the sound and essence she was seeking for her go back to Latin and dance music. They invested 3 weeks tape-recording in Miami, embracing her Cuban-American roots, with the goal of producing an album that felt fresh and innovative yet remained real to her musical background.

The album was separately launched through Estefan's own Crescent Moon Records, with Verve Forecast managing circulation. Its cover features a vibrant, tropical design of Estefan posturing in front of a mural portraying various Latin cultural signs.

Music and Lyrics
"Miss Little Havana" is a blend of various music genres, consisting of Latin pop, samba, electronic, dance-pop, and even rap. Estefan's powerful vocals shine through in each track, as she effortlessly switches in between English and Spanish lyrics.

The album opens with the transmittable title track, "Miss Little Havana", a memorable dance tune that admires the lively Cuban district in Miami. Other standout tracks consist of the positive "Wepa", which includes Estefan rapping in Spanish, the emancipating dance anthem "Hotel Nacional", and "I Can't Believe", a song assessing a stopped working relationship.

"Miss Little Havana" likewise consists of a number of ballads, such as "Say Ay" and "Time Is Ticking", showcasing Estefan's psychological variety and vocal expertise. The closing track, "On", is a feel-good, celebratory number that wraps up the album with an uplifting message of moving on and letting go of the past.

Reception and Impact
Upon its release, "Miss Little Havana" got combined to positive reviews from music critics. While some applauded Estefan's capability to provide a fresh sound and preserve her signature Latin influence, others felt that the album's production was too refined or lacked coherence.

The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and peaked at No. 105 on the Billboard 200. It spawned numerous chart-topping songs, including "Wepa", which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, and "Hotel Nacional", which reached the No. 1 area on Billboard's Latin Songs chart.

"Miss Little Havana" marked a successful return for Gloria Estefan to her Latin and dance music roots, offering fans with an energetic and varied album that stabilized both her Cuban-American heritage and modern pop sensibilities.