Daddy Yankee 'El Cartel The Big Boss' album

Daddy Yankee’s phenomenal career has taken him from the barrios outside San Juan, Puerto Rico, to being named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world in 2006 by Time magazine. With his rapid-fire freestyle flow and clever lyrics, Daddy Yankee helped pioneer the sound of reggaeton. In 2004, his “Gasolina” became the urban anthem that put reggaeton on the music map and made DY its first platinum-certified star.

Born Ramón Ayala in Rio Piedras, Daddy Yankee began rapping at friends’ parties in his neighborhood, the Villa Kennedy housing project in San Juan. When he was 17, after being shot in the leg while active in the criminal world, DY gave up illegal endeavors and devoted himself to music. Truly working his way up from the streets, DY became a grassroots success story. He worked with DJ/producer Playero in the late ‘90s and made his recording debut on the One Tough Cop soundtrack in 1998 (“Posición,” a collaboration with Alberto Stylee). Albums such as El Cartel (2000), El Cartel II (2001), El Changri.com (2002) and Los Homerun-es (2003)--then the biggest-selling album in Puerto Rican history--plus dozens of collaborations with other artists, followed and made him a star in his homeland.

Then came 2004’s Barrio Fino. The album and its “Gasolina” track, produced by Luny Tunes, were sensations around the world. Barrio Fino became the first reggaeton album to debut at #1 on the Billboard Latin chart, and spent a year at or near the top spot. Barrio Fino also won the Latin Grammy for Best Urban Music Album. While “Gasolina” broke into the Top 40 Pop chart and “Lo Que Paso, Paso” hit #2 Latin, the album (certified platinum U.S. and triple platinum U.S. Latin) crossed into the Pop Top 30 and the R&B/Hip-Hop Top 40. The next year’s Ahora Le Toca al Cangri! Live went Top 3 Latin and Reggae. Bringing together Latin, reggae and rap, teaming with the likes of Nicky Jam, Nas, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Snoop Dogg and many others, DY broke through barriers of genre and geography as well as language, performing in both English and Spanish.

In 2006, the live CD/DVD set Barrio Fino en Directo rocketed to #1, was certified gold in the U.S. and was the biggest selling Latin album of the year, according to Billboard. Its “Rompe” went #1 Latin and Top 30 Pop. Barrio Fino en Directo was named Reggaeton Album of the Year at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, where Daddy Yankee was named Artist of the Year, as he was at the MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamerica. DY also earned Latin Songwriter of the Year honors from ASCAP and the Urban Artist of the Year title at Univision’s Premios Lo Nuestro Awards. Along with the Time magazine kudos, People en Español ranked him among the upcoming year’s 100 Most Influential People.

The Cartel: The Big Boss (El Cartel/Interscope), released June 5, 2007, continues to expand reggaeton’s power and reach by featuring such diverse guest artists as Fergie and Will.i.am from Black Eyed Peas, Jim Jones, Nicole Scherzinger from The Pussycat Dolls, and Akon. Both Akon and Will.i.am also produce, as do Mr. ColliPark, Scott Storch (who produced the first single, “Impacto” featuring Fergie), Eli “El Musicologo,” Tiny Tunes, Diesel and Menace.

Daddy Yankee’s influence is matched by his entrepreneurial vision. Besides being founder and CEO of his own record label and management company, he is one of Pepsi’s Hispanic spokespersons and for sportswear powerhouse Reebok has created “Daddy Yankee by Rbk,” a footwear, clothing and accessory line available in stores nationwide. Talento de Barrio, his first film, as actor and executive producer, is slated for a U.S. release later this year. The reggaeton star also recently celebrated his first anniversary as the host of “Daddy Yankee On Fuego,” a nationally syndicated show on ABC Radio Networks that airs on 29 affiliates.

DY has not forgotten where he has come from either. He was the first reggaeton artist to offer free concerts for the children of the housing projects of Puerto Rico. Most recently, he partnered with the Puerto Rico Department of Education to lead a school cleaning and beautification program. He also continues to be a spokesperson for the American Red Cross in the U.S. Hispanic community and a member of its Celebrity Cabinet that reaches out to a new generation of volunteers and encourages people of all races, ages and ethnicities to support the Red Cross in their community. In 2007, Daddy Yankee will launch his own charitable organization, Fundación Corazón Guerrero.

Do you also would like to share your opinion? If so, please register or login here.

Tags

Details

Popular Songs

New Songs

Daddy Yankee - El Cartel The Big Boss