Yotuel Romero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yotuel Romero
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Yotuel Omar Romero Manzanares |
| Born | October 6, 1976 |
| Origin | Havana, Cuba |
| Genres | Latin rap |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Sony |
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Yotuel Omar Romero Manzanares, known simply as Yotuel, was born on October 6, 1976. He is a singer and actor from Cuba. Yotuel is the main singer and a songwriter for the famous rap group Orishas. Their album Emigrante won a Latin Grammy Award in 2003 for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award!
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About Yotuel's Life
Yotuel was born in Havana, Cuba. His family is Afro-Cuban. His name, Yotuel, is special because it combines three Spanish words: yo (I), tú (you), and él (he). His parents couldn't agree on a name, so they decided to combine these words! Yotuel has built a great career in the performing arts. He now lives outside Cuba.
Yotuel's Music Journey
Yotuel started making rap music when he was young. At 18, he formed a rap group called Amenaza (which means "Menace") with his friends Hiram Riveri and Joel Pando. It was hard to become a successful rap artist in Cuba. So, Yotuel also started acting in plays and on TV. He even did some modeling.
In 1996, a Cuban singer named Liván Nuñez, who lived in France, visited Cuba. He was interested in recording songs with Amenaza. In 1997, the group won first prize at the Cuban Rap Music Awards. Later that year, they recorded a demo with producer X Alfonso. This first group became very popular in Cuba. They were played on the radio and appeared on national TV.
Because of their growing fame, they met Petra Morales. She worked for a French non-profit group called ADHESIF. Petra liked their music and helped them travel to France. The plan was for them to share their culture and become known outside Cuba.
Forming the Group Orishas
While in France, things were tough for the group. They had very few shows planned. They also didn't agree with some special rules set for them. Soon, the band found themselves without a home in Paris for about a month. They ate at friends' houses and slept in the Paris Métro (subway).
Paris had a big rap music scene, and they used this to their advantage. They met up with Livan again. A producer named Niko Noki introduced them to another singer, Roldan, at a club. That's when the group Orishas was born! They immediately started writing songs for their first album, A Lo Cubano.
Yotuel's Many Talents
Since then, Yotuel has been very busy. He has worked on several TV shows, including Un Paso Adelante in Spain. He has also been in movies like Color Habana and Perfecto Amor Equivocado. Yotuel has even appeared in ads for brands like Ducados and Havana Club.
His work with Orishas continued with many albums:
- Emigrante (2002)
- El Kilo (2005)
- Antidiótico (2007)
- Cosita Buena (2008)
- Gourmet (2018)
Besides being a singer, actor, and model, Yotuel also writes and produces music. He produced two songs: "El rey de la pachanga" and "Distinto." In 2019, Yotuel released the song "Insomnio" (Insomnia). He wrote it after seeing the struggles people in Cuba were facing. The song asks, "Tell me if sleeping is easy for you, tell me if waking up is not the way out."
"Patria y Vida" and Its Impact
In February 2021, Yotuel released a powerful song called "Patria y Vida" (Homeland and Life). He worked on it with other artists like Descemer Bueno, Gente de Zona, and Beatriz Luengo. This song became very popular. The phrase "Patria y Vida" became a slogan for the 2021 Cuban protests in July. It changed the old Cuban motto Patria o Muerte (Homeland or Death). The song and the artists, including Yotuel, were talked about a lot in Cuban media. It won two Latin Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best Urban Song.
In June 2021, Yotuel released another song called "Juntos somos más" (Together We Are More). He sang it with Lara Álvarez and Beatriz Luengo. This song became the anthem for the Spanish football team during the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship. This championship was held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.
In September 2022, Yotuel worked with the department store Macy's. They released a special clothing collection to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Yotuel's Family Life
Yotuel Romero has a son named Yotuelito, who was born in June 2000, from an earlier relationship.
In September 2003, he started dating Spanish actress and singer Beatriz Luengo. They met while working on the TV show Un Paso Adelante. They got married secretly on November 16, 2008. Beatriz gave birth to their son, Angelo, on August 20, 2015. In December 2020, they announced they were expecting their second child, a baby girl. Their daughter, Zoë, was born on April 11, 2021.
Yotuel's Acting Roles
Movies
- Perfecto Amor Equivocado (2004) also known as Love by Mistake in the USA. Yotuel played Leoncio.
Television Shows
- Un Paso Adelante (2002–2005) TV Series. Yotuel played Pavel from 2003 to 2004.
Yotuel's Music Releases
Albums
- 2013 – Suerte
Singles
- 2013 – "Me Gusta"
- 2013 – "Suerte"
