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.

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.

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

References

Other websites 
 Official site

Reggaeton
Puerto Rican singer-songwriters
Puerto Rican rappers
Latin singers
Living people
Singers from San Juan, Puerto Rico
Latin Grammy Award winners
1977 births