Daddy Yankee

Ramón "Raymond" Ayala, known as Daddy Yankee (born February 3, 1977) in San Juan, Puerto Rico is a Puerto Rican reggaeton singer. Ayala is famous for making songs in both English and Spanish, but Spanish is used more than English.

Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Ramón "Raymond" Ayala
Born	(1977-02-03) February 3, 1977
Occupation(s)	Reggaeton singer

Biography

During his childhood, Ramón grew up with the influence of his family musician, including those of his father and some members of his mother's family. At twelve, he began singing songs inspired by reggae and hip-hop.

Ramón wanted to become a professional baseball player, he will have to give up this goal after being shot in a neighborhood brawl when he was seventeen. He received two balls of AK-47, one touched his arm and the other touched him on the level of the right thigh, where he was wounded for life. After this incident, he will take a closer look at the underground rap movement, which was nascent at the time.

Career

He began his career flirting with hip-hop and with Latin rhythms like dancehall, but we can say that his greatest hits will come when he begins to perform and produce his Latin hip-hop songs. He will be one of the first artists to perform internationally in reggaeton music.

Ramón invested in the world of reggaeton for thirteen years before experiencing success. He first recorded with DJ Playero, of which he is the featured artist in a production called Playero 37, which will be released in 1992. He has also partnered with artists such as Laurena Snoop Dogg, Nicky Jam, Pitbull, Mey Vidal , DJ Blass, Eric DJ, Eliel, Nas, Tony Touch or members of the G-Unit, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck.

His album Barrio Fino is an essential music to the style: it comes from the deepest of his roots of his life but also his personal experience, in the neighborhoods or residential areas of Puerto Rico. The first excerpts from this album are titled Gasolina, King Daddy and No me dejes solo featuring Wisin y Yandel.

Daddy Yankee

Songs

His song, Impacto, released on the album El Cartel: The Big Boss of 2007, appears in the San Juan Sounds radio station's playlist of Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned games.

In the Grand Theft Auto IV video game, Daddy Yankee lends his voice to the San Juan Sounds station where he acts as a DJ of the reggaeton radio station; the song "Impacto" also appears. This is an open-world action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North.

Daddy Yankee's latest off-music project was the release of his Trilogy game, a 3D video game based on Tower Defense games. The game was successfully presented at the New York Comic Con and the 3D action video game impressed young and old alike. It was released on November 29, 2013 and also includes Ayala songs such as "Gasolina" and "Limbo".

In 2017, Daddy Yankee forms an amazing duet with Despacito in collaboration with Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi, who is a hit in the world.

As an actor he also plays in American movies and series of commemoration Love, Glory and Beauty.

On April 28, 2016, Daddy Yankee received the Industry Leader Award at the 2016 Latin Billboard Awards.

After a long feud with Don Omar for ten years for the title "King of Reggaeton", Daddy Yankee and Don Omar announced in early 2016 at a press conference that they would perform together on stage in a series of concerts entitled The Kingdom World Tour. The announcement of the tour left many fans in disbelief because it sold in minutes in major cities like Las Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles, New York. The concerts were structured like a boxing match, where the two artists were able to exchange musical tours, and fans voted for their winner in each city via an application designed for the event. "Two kings, one throne," said Pina Records founder Rafael Pina, who had a well-established relationship with both artists and who also came up with the concept of the tour. Speaking of the tour and his rivalry with Daddy Yankee, Don Omar said, "Let me clarify: I'm not his best friend, and he's not my best friend, but we respect each other. 'to be the best is what drove us to be better'.

Despacito

In 2017, Daddy Yankee, in collaboration with Latin pop singer Luis Fonsi, released the single "Despacito". It became the first Spanish-language song to reach number 1 of the Billboard Hot 100 since the song "Macarena" in 1996. The single has been a worldwide success. The official video of "Despacito" on YouTube was seen the billion times on April 20, 2017 after 97 days, becoming the second fastest video of the site to reach the milestone behind "Hello" Adele. His success led Daddy Yankee to become the most-watched artist in the world on the Spotify streaming service in June 2017, being the first Latin artist to do so.

In 2017, Daddy Yankee donated $100,000 to the Puerto Rico Food Bank following the damage caused by Hurricane Maria. The money provided food for about 9,000 families on the island.

Since October 2017. Barrio Fino and Barrio Fino on Directo have been the seventh and thirteenth best-selling Latin albums in the United States. During his career, 63 songs by Daddy Yankees found themselves in the Hot Latin Songs chart, including 24 in the top 10 and 5 in the first place. Daddy Yankee is the ninth musician with the most singles on Hot Latin Songs. Billboard hot 100 list contains 10 songs of musicians.

In August 2018, Daddy Yankee participates in the Janet Jackson video, Made for Now. That same year, Daddy Yankee received an Icon Award at the Latin American Music Awards, and in October 2018, he received the YouTube Creators' Trophy for having more than ten million subscribers on his YouTube channel.

The song Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, has been inducted into the Guinness World Records 2019 edition for achieving seven milestones, while Daddy Yankee has been recognized for three other records.

In February 2021, Daddy Yankee released the single #Problema.

In April 2021, Daddy Yankee released the single El Pony.

In September 2021, Daddy Yankee released the single Métele All Perreo.

Achievements and recognitions

In February 2019, Daddy Yankee won a Lo Nuestro 2019 award for all of his works (Lifetime Achievement Award).

On April 17, 2019, the singer announces that a remix of his hit Con Calma will be released soon featuring with American singer Katy Perry. It is by posting a video on his account Instagram, listening to the remix, that he confirms the rumors. The two artists then followed each other on the social networks and began to make interactions announcing their collaboration.

On July 8, 2019, Daddy Yankee presents the HR Derby Champ Medallion Presentation to Pete Alonso after the MLB HR Derby victory.

In November 2019, Daddy Yankee inaugurated a reggaeton museum in Puerto Rico, the first of its kind.

Albums and Songs

• No Mercy (1995)
• El Cartel (1998)
• El Cartel II (2001)
• ElCangri.com (2002)
• Los Homerun-Es Vol. 1 (2003)
• Barrio Fino (2004)
• Barrio Fino En Directo (2005)
• Salsaton "Salsa Con Reggaetón" (Salsatón: Salsa con reggaetón) (2006)
• El Cartel: The Big Boss (2007)
• Talento De Barrio (2008)
• Daddy Yankee Mundial (2009)
• Daddy Yankee Prestige (2012)
• King Daddy (2013)
• Con Calma & Mis Grandes Exitos (2019)
• 2K20 (2020)
• El Disco Duro (2020)
• Legendaddy (2022)

Songs

1994

• So Persígueme (34)
• Donde Mi No Vengas (37)
• Me Quedo (37)
• Yamilette (37)
• Están Locos (37)
• Sigan Brincando (37)
• Ya Va Sonando (37)
• No Te Canses (38)
• El Funeral (38)
• Oh My God

1995

• Que Bien Te Vez (39)
• Abuso Official (39)

1996

• Camouflage (40)
• Usa La Uzi (40)
• Nunca Lo Olviden (40)

1997

• No Me Corre Police
• Posición FT. Alberto Stylee
• Por Que FT. Eddie Dee
• Freestyle Guatauba FT. Rey Pirín
• The Prophecy FT. NAS
• Peligro/Winchester Yankee
• Lirica Real

1998

• Llorando Por Tí
• Winchester Y El Bambino FT. Tito El Bambino
• Ragga Mania FT. Nicky Jam, Grupo Mania
• Las Calles De Mi Isla FT. D’Mingo

1999

• Calibre De Más Poder
• Knockout
• No Hacen Na FT. Nicky Jam
• Forma De Baile FT. Bimbo

2000

• Donde Están Las Gatas FT. Alex Gárgolas, Nicky Jam
• Por La Noche FT. D’Mingo

2001

• Tu Cuerpo En La Cama FT. Nicky Jam
• Eres Tu FT. Nicky Jam
• Vamos A Perrear FT. Nicky Jam
• Yo Se Que A Tí Te Gusta
• En La Cama FT. Nicky Jam
• Ritmo De Calle FT. Nicky Jam
• Sabanas Blancas FT. Nicky Jam
• Muévete Y Perrea

2002

• Guayando FT. Nicky Jam
• Soltera (OLD) FT. Nicky Jam
• Gata Salvaje FT. Hector & Tito, Nicky Jam
• El Gran Robo (OLD) FT. Lito & Polaco
• Latigazo
• Muévete Y Perrea (MIX)
• Son Las Doce
• El Cangri FT. Lito & Polaco
• Le Gusta La Mujer FT. Yaga & Mackie
• Maulla FT. Yaga & Mackie
• Mi Gatita Y Yo FT. Las Guanábanas
• Muévete Y Perrea RMX FT. Nicky Jam

2003

• Buscarte FT. Nicky Jam
• Musica Killer FT. Nicky Jam
• Suena El Bajo FT. Don Omar
• Gata Gangstar FT. Don Omar
• Segurosqui FT. Don Omar
• Donde Mi No Vengas (NEW)
• Me Quedo (NEW)
• No Te Canses/El Funeral (NEW)
• Ya Va Sonando (NEW)
• Aquí Esta Tu Caldo
• Cojela Que Va Sin Jockey

2004

• Gasolina
• No Me Dejes Solo FT. Wisin & Yandel
• Saoco FT. Wisin
• King Daddy
• Like You
• Tu Principe FT. Zion & Lennox
• Yo Voy FT. Zion & Lennox
• Salud Y Vida
• Lo Que Paso Paso
• Corazones

2005

• Rompe
• Mírame
• Mayor Que Yo FT. Wisin & Yandel, Tony Tun Tun, Hector El Father
• Machucando
• Gangsta Zone FT. Snoop Dogg
• Taladro FT. Eddie Dee

2006

• Royal Rumble (Se Van) FT. Wise Da Gangsta, Don Omar, Hector El Father, Yomo, Wisin, Franco El Gorilla, Alexis, Zion, Arcángel
• Noche De Entierro (Nuestro Amor) FT. Wisin & Yandel, Zion, Hector El Father, Tainy, Tony Tun Tun
• Impacto

2007

• Ella Me Levantó
• Bring It On FT. Akon
• Who’s Your Daddy
• Tension FT. Hector El Father

2008

• Somos De Calle
• Pose
• Llamado De Emergencia
• Salgo Pa La Calle FT. Randy
• Pasión FT. Arcángel
• Pa-Kum-Pa
• No Es Culpa Mia

2009

• Que Tengo Que Hacer
• Si Te Vas FT. Omega
• Que Tengo Que Hacer RMX FT. Jowell & Randy
• Fiel Amiga
• Bailando Fue FT. Jowell & Randy
• Grito Mundial

2010

• Hasta Abajo RMX FT. Don Omar
• Taboo RMX FT. Don Omar
• Danza Kuduro FT. Don Omar, Lucenzo, Arcángel
• Descontrol
• El Ritmo No Perdona
• La Señal
• Me Entere FT. Tito El Bambino
• La Despedida
• La Despedida RMX FT. Tony Dize

2011

• Ven Conmigo FT. Prince Royce
• Llegamos A La Disco FT. De La Ghetto, Arcángel, Ñengo Flow, Farruko, Baby Rasta & Gringo, Alex Kyza, Kendo Kaponi

2012

• Limbo
• Limbo RMX FT. Wisin & Yandel
• Lovumba
• El Amante FT. J Álvarez
• La Pregunta RMX FT. J Álvarez, Tito El Bambino
• After Party FT. De La Ghetto
• El Party Me Llama FT. Nicky Jam

2013

• La Noche De Los Dos FT. Natalia Jimenez
• La Nueva Y La Ex
• La Rompe Carros

2014

• Moviendo Caderas FT. Yandel
• Ora Por Mi
• Palabras Con Sentido
• Sábado Rebelde FT. Plan B

2015

• Sígueme Y Te Sigo
• Nota De Amor FT. Wisin, Carlos Vives
• Vaivén
• Ginza RMX FT. J Balvin, Yandel, Arcángel, De La Ghetto, Nicky Jam, Farruko, Zion

2016

• Andas En Cabeza FT. Chino & Nacho
• No Quiere Enamorarse RMX FT. Ozuna
• Sola RMX FT. Anuel AA, Farruko, Wisin, Zion & Lennox
• Alerta Roja FT. Nicky Jam, Plan B, Zion, J Balvin, Brytiago, Coscuella, Kafu Banton, Mozart La Para, Gente De Zona, Secreto, Alexio, Arcángel, De La Ghetto, Farruko
• La Ocasión RMX FT. Ozuna, Anuel AA, Arcángel, De La Ghetto, Farruko, Zion, Nicky Jam, J Balvin
• Hasta El Amanecer RMX FT. Nicky Jam
• All The Way Up Spanish RMX FT. Nicky Jam
• Shaky Shaky
• Shaky Shaky RMX FT. Plan B, Nicky Jam

2017

• Vuelve FT. Bad Bunny
• Tu Hombre FT. Nicky Jam
• Hula Hoop
• Tu No Metes Cabra RMX FT. Bad Bunny, Coscuella, Anuel AA
• Todo Comienza En La Disco FT. Wisin, Yandel

2018

• Dura
• Hielo
• Azukita FT. Steve Aoki, Elvis Crespo, Play-N-Skillz
• Zum Zum FT. RKM & Ken-Y, Arcángel
• Zum Zum RMX FT. RKM & Ken-Y, Arcángel, Plan B, Natti Natasha
• Assesina RMX FT. Brytiago, Darell, Ozuna, Anuel AA
• Adictiva FT. Anuel AA

2019

• Con Calma FT. Snow
• Baila Baila Baila RMX FT. Ozuna, J Balvin, Farruko, Anuel AA
• No Lo Trates FT. Pitbull, Natti Natasha
• Soltera (NEW) FT. Lunay, Bad Bunny
• Runaway FT. Sebastian Yatra, Natti Natasha, Jonas Brothers
• Si Supieras FT. Wisin & Yandel
• Instragram FT. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, David Guetta, Natti Natasha, Afro Bros
• China FT. Anuel AA, Karol G, Ozuna, J Balvin
• Que Tire Pa Lante

2020

• Muévelo FT. Nicky Jam
• Definitivamente FT. Sech
• La Santa FT. Bad Bunny
• PAM FT. Justin Quiles, El Alfa
• Confía FT. Sech
• Bésame FT. Play-N-Skillz, Zion & Lennox
• Relación RMX FT. Sech, J Balvin, Rosalia, Farruko
• No Se Da Cuenta FT. Ozuna
• Don Don FT. Anuel AA, Kendo Kaponi
• 120 FT. Musicólogo Y Menes, Bad Bunny
• De Vuelta Pa La Vuelta FT. Marc Anthony
• Corona

2021

• Problema
• El Pony
• Súbele El Velumen FT. Jhay Cortez, Myke Towers
• Tata RMX FT. Eladio Carrion, J Balvin
• Métele Al Perreo
• Sal Y Perrea RMX FT. Sech, J Balvin
• El Gran Robo (NEW) FT. Lito MC Cassidy

2022

• Campeón
• REMIX
• Pasatiempo FT. Myke Towers
• HOT FT. Pitbull
• Impares
• Bloke
• X Ultima Vez FT. Bad Bunny
• La Ola
• Zona Del Perreo FT. Becky G, Natti Natasha
• Agua FT. Rauw Alejandro, Nile Rodgers
• Mayor Que Usted FT. Natti Natasha, Wisin & Yandel
• Bailar Contigo FT. Black Eyed Peas
• ULALA FT. Myke Towers

2023

• Panties Y Brasierias FT. Rauw Alejandro
• La Hora Y El Día FT. Justin Quiles, Dalex
• Gasolina Fast And Furious RMX FT. Myke Towers
• Beachy FT. Omar Courtz
• Yankee 150 FT. Yandel, Feid
• La Baby FT. Feid, Tainy, Sech

Daddy Yankee Media

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  Daddy Yankee during a concert in 2006

• 

  Don Omar (left) and Daddy Yankee at the 2009 Latin Billboard Music Awards red carpet

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  Daddy Yankee in a post-game concert at Marlins Park in 2012

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  Daddy Yankee during an interview in 2015

• J Balvin 2019.png

  J Balvin has cited Daddy Yankee as his main inspiration.

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  Daddy Yankee at 2009 Latin Billboard Music Awards red carpet. He was honored with the Spirit of Hope Award for his humanitarian achievements that night.

Other websites

• Official site