Daddy Yankee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Daddy Yankee
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Daddy Yankee in 2021
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Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez
February 3, 1976 |
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| Years active | 1992–2023 |
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Notable work
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Discography |
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Mireddys González
(m. 1995; separated 2024) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez (born February 3, 1976), known to the world as Daddy Yankee, is a famous singer, songwriter, and actor from Puerto Rico. Many people call him the "King of Reggaeton" because he helped make the music style popular all over the world. He became a global star in 2004 with his hit song "Gasolina".
Daddy Yankee is a big influence on many other Hispanic musicians. After a long and successful career, he retired from music on December 3, 2023. His last show was part of his "La Meta" tour in his home country of Puerto Rico.
Before he was a music star, Ayala dreamed of being a professional baseball player. He even tried out for the Seattle Mariners baseball team. But before he could sign a contract, he was seriously injured. This injury ended his baseball dreams but allowed him to focus completely on his music career.
In 2004, his song "Gasolina" introduced reggaeton to people everywhere. It turned the genre into a global sensation. Throughout his career, he sold about 30 million records, making him one of the best-selling Latin music artists ever. His album Barrio Fino was the top-selling Latin album of the 2000s.
In 2017, he worked with singer Luis Fonsi on the song "Despacito". It was a massive hit and became the first Spanish-language song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in over 20 years. The music video for "Despacito" became one of the most-watched videos on YouTube. This success made Daddy Yankee the most-listened-to artist in the world on Spotify in June 2017. He was the first Latin artist to earn that spot.
Contents
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez was born in Río Piedras, a part of San Juan, Puerto Rico. His father was a salsa musician. Growing up, Ayala's first dream was to play professional baseball.
A serious leg injury stopped him from playing baseball. This led him to focus on music. He is considered one of the first artists of the reggaeton genre. He started his career by appearing on mixtapes by DJ Playero in the early 1990s. His first solo album, No Mercy, came out in 1995. At first, he tried to copy the style of other rappers but soon developed his own unique sound.
Rise to Fame
El Cangri.com and Early Success
In 2002, Daddy Yankee's album El Cangri.com became his first international success. It was popular in cities like New York City and Miami. The album had hit songs like "Latigazo" and "Guayando".
During this time, he also worked with other famous reggaeton producers like Luny Tunes. This helped him create more hit songs and grow his fame in Latin America.
Barrio Fino and "Gasolina"
In 2004, Daddy Yankee released Barrio Fino. This album changed everything. It included the song "Gasolina", which became a massive hit around the world. "Gasolina" is famous for introducing reggaeton music to a global audience.
The album Barrio Fino was a huge success. It sold over a million copies in the United States alone. Daddy Yankee toured the world, performing in countries across North America, South America, and Europe.
The success of "Gasolina" led to many awards for Daddy Yankee. It also helped create a new radio format in the U.S. just for Latin urban music. Many people say that Daddy Yankee and "Gasolina" started the worldwide explosion of Latin urban music.
A Global Superstar
El Cartel: The Big Boss
Daddy Yankee released his next album, El Cartel: The Big Boss, in 2007. On this album, he worked with American artists like will.i.am, Fergie, and Akon. This helped him reach even more fans. The album was a big success and led to another world tour.
He also appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV as a DJ for a radio station called San Juan Sounds.
Mundial and Prestige
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Daddy Yankee continued to release popular albums. Mundial came out in 2010, and Prestige was released in 2012. Prestige included the hit song "Lovumba", which was number one on the Latin music charts.
Another huge hit from this album was "Limbo". The music video for "Limbo" has been viewed hundreds of millions of times on YouTube.
The Massive Success of "Despacito"
In 2017, Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi released "Despacito". The song was a worldwide phenomenon. It was the first song in Spanish to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart since 1996.
The music video for "Despacito" broke records on YouTube. It was the first video to reach 3 billion views and continued to break records after that. The song's success made Daddy Yankee the most-streamed artist on Spotify worldwide in June 2017.
Retirement and Final Album
In March 2022, Daddy Yankee announced his plans to retire from music. He released his final studio album, Legendaddy, on March 24, 2022.
To say goodbye to his fans, he went on a final world tour called La Última Vuelta World Tour. The tour took place from August to December 2022. His very last concert was in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After the show, he confirmed his retirement.
Even after retiring, he has released new songs. In 2024, he released the singles "Donante de Sangre", "Loveo", and "Bailando en la Lluvia". In January 2025, he released the song "En el Desierto".
Other Projects
Besides music, Daddy Yankee has been involved in many other projects.
- Business: He was the first Latin artist to sign a deal with Reebok. He also had promotional deals with companies like Pepsi.
- Movies: He starred in the 2008 movie Talento de Barrio, which he also produced. The movie tells a story similar to his own life growing up.
- Charity: He started the Fundación Corazón Guerrero, a charity in Puerto Rico that helps young people. He has also worked with the Red Cross and supported recycling campaigns in Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Maria in 2017, he donated $100,000 to the Food Bank of Puerto Rico.
Personal Life
Daddy Yankee has mostly kept his personal life private. He married his wife, Mireddys González, when he was 17 years old. They have three children together. In 2024, it was announced that he and his wife were separating after nearly 30 years of marriage.
In December 2023, during one of his final concerts, he announced that he had become a Christian and wanted to dedicate his life to his faith.
Legacy and Achievements
Daddy Yankee is known as the "King of Reggaeton" for a reason. He helped bring the genre from the neighborhoods of Puerto Rico to the world stage. His album Barrio Fino and the song "Gasolina" are seen as major turning points for Latin music.
He has inspired a whole generation of artists, including J Balvin, Bad Bunny, and Ozuna. Many artists say that reggaeton would not be what it is today without him.
Over his career, Daddy Yankee has won many awards, including five Latin Grammy Awards and seven Billboard Music Awards. He holds 10 Guinness World Records. With 30 million records sold, he is one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time.
Discography
- No Mercy (1995)
- El Cangri.com (2002)
- Barrio Fino (2004)
- El Cartel: The Big Boss (2007)
- Talento de Barrio (2008)
- Mundial (2010)
- Prestige (2012)
- Legendaddy (2022)
See also
In Spanish: Daddy Yankee para niños
- Reggaeton
- Music of Latin America
- List of Puerto Ricans
