Daddy Yankee

Daddy Yankee, born Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez on February 3, 1976, in San Juan,Puerto Rico, is considered the King of Reggaetón and one of the mostinfluential Latin artists in modern music. He began his career in the early1990s, blending hip-hop, dancehall, and Latin rhythms at a time when reggaetónwas still an underground movement.

His breakout came in 2004 with the album Barrio Fino and its global anthem “Gasolina,” a song that introduced reggaetón to internationalaudiences and changed the landscape of Latin music. With his commanding voiceand innovative production, Yankee pioneered the modern reggaetón sound.

Throughout his career, he released hit albums such as El Cartel, Mundial, and Prestige,delivering classics like “Rompe,” “Lo QuePasó, Pasó,” “Limbo,” “Descontrol,” and “ShakyShaky.” In 2017, his collaboration with Luis Fonsi on “Despacito” became one of the most-streamed songs in history,topping charts in more than 40 countries.

Yankee’s genre fuses reggaetón, Latin trap, hip-hop, anddancehall, setting the foundation for today’s urban Latin stars. He has wonseven Latin Grammy Awards and four Latin American Music Awards.. In 2021, hereceived the Billboard Hall of Fame Award.

After announcing his retirement in 2022, he released Legendaddy, his final studio album,followed by a worldwide farewell tour.

With over 30 years in the industry, Daddy Yankee leaves behinda powerful legacy as a cultural innovator and global ambassador of Puerto Ricanmusic.

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