Sergio Contreras had developed a sharp musical ear and longed to unite the flamenco music of his heritage and the R&B/hip-hop that he worked with as a DJ. He began work toward these ends in 2004 with "Racisme (Maqueta Asere)." His debut full-length, De Luz y de Sal, contained the teen anthem "Yo No Quise" and sold more than 50,000 copies, earning the artist his first gold record. Following a summer full of live performances and promotional stops, Contreras released his breakthrough work, El Espejo.