Retirement announcements by artists and entertainers tend to elicit emotional responses from their followers, ranging from healthy skepticism to hand-wringing distress to genuine well-wishing. But unlike those whose exit statements come fairly late in their careers, nobody expected to see El Alfa leave. His contributions to Dominican dembow specifically, and to Latin music more broadly, proved all but invaluable over the years. As such, his publicly declared decision to depart from the thing that made him a pioneer as well as a certified star clearly comes from his heart. Thankfully, HASTA LUEGO (Vol. 1)—its existence implying at least a second installment—provides fans with a sendoff befitting a performer of his stature and import. Going out on one’s own terms is a luxury in an industry as fickle as music, and El Alfa takes proud ownership of this opportunity as he moves towards the door. The guest-heavy nature of the album certainly helps to ease the transition, linking with a somewhat surprising set of contributors, including música mexicana icon Alejandro Fernandez for the genre-blending “Pa Donde,” Puerto Rican hitmaker Myke Towers for the thumping “Se Riega,” and Colombian American rapper Lil Pump on the bilingual “Déjalo Que Corra.” More in line with expectations though still undeniably impressive are his collaborations here with other Dominican acts like the trailblazing rapper Vakero on “Princeso” and more junior talents like Yaisel LM on the booming “GUILLAO.” He bridges Latin worlds with El Bogueto and bluemoney on “4 PA 4,” an explicit and thrilling exhibition of his repetition-driven dembow mastery. The deeper HASTA LUEGO goes in its substantial runtime, the more evident the loss that his imminent absence will bring.