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, is a Cuban singer and actor. He was born on October 6, 1976. Yotuel is famous as the lead singer and a songwriter for the rap group Orishas. Their album Emigrante won a Latin Grammy Award in 2003. It was recognized as the Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album. This album was also nominated for a Grammy Award.
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Early Life and Name
Yotuel was born in Havana, Cuba. His family is Afro-Cuban. His unique name, Yotuel, comes from three Spanish words: yo (I), tú (you), and él (he). His parents couldn't agree on a name, so they combined these words. Yotuel has built a career in the performing arts. He now lives outside Cuba.
Music Career
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 began acting in theater and on TV. He also 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, Amenaza won first prize at the Cuban Rap Music Awards. Later that year, they recorded a demo produced by X Alfonso. This early group became popular in Cuba. They were played on the radio and appeared on national television.
Because of their growing fame, they met Petra Morales. She represented a French non-profit group called ADHESIF. She liked their music and helped them travel to France. The plan was for them to join a cultural exchange program and promote their music outside Cuba.
Forming Orishas
While in France, things were difficult for the group. They had few shows planned and didn't agree with some requirements. The band ended up without a home in Paris for about a month. They ate at friends' houses and slept in the Paris Métro.
Paris had a strong rap music scene. Yotuel and his friends used this to their advantage. They met up with Liván again. A producer named Niko Noki introduced them to another singer named Roldan. This meeting happened at a club called Cupol. From that moment, the group Orishas was formed. They immediately started writing songs for what would become their first album, A Lo Cubano.
Orishas Albums and Other Work
Since then, Yotuel has continued to work hard. He has worked on several TV shows. These include La Casa de los Lios, Cuando Yo Sea Grande (from Peru), and Un Paso Adelante (from Spain). He has also acted in movies like Color Habana, Perfecto Amor Equivocado, and Chico Nuevo en la Ciudad. Yotuel has also appeared in advertisements for 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 composes and produces music. He produced two songs: "El rey de la pachanga" from Emigrante and "Distinto" from El Kilo.
In 2019, Yotuel released the song "Insomnio." He wrote it after seeing images of 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"
In February 2021, Yotuel released the song "Patria y Vida" (Homeland and Life). He created it with other artists like Descemer Bueno, Gente de Zona, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Maykel Osorbo, and DJ El Funky. Beatriz Luengo also helped compose it.
The song became very popular. The phrase "Patria y Vida" became a slogan for the 2021 Cuban protests in July. It changed the old Cuban Revolution motto, Patria o Muerte (Homeland or Death). The song and the artists, including Yotuel, faced criticism in Cuban media. However, "Patria y Vida" won two Latin Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best Urban Song.
Recent Projects
In June 2021, Yotuel released "Juntos somos más" (Together We Are More). This song was with Lara Álvarez and Beatriz Luengo. It became the anthem for the Spanish football team during the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship. This championship was held in summer 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.
Personal Life
Yotuel Romero has a son named Yotuelito, who was born in June 2000, from an earlier relationship.
In September 2003, he began dating Spanish actress and singer Beatriz Luengo. They met while working on the TV show Un Paso Adelante that same year. They got married secretly on November 16, 2008.
Beatriz Luengo gave birth to their first son, Angelo, on August 20, 2015. In December 2020, the couple announced they were expecting their second child. Their daughter, Zoë, was born on April 11, 2021.
Film and Television Roles
Movies
- Perfecto Amor Equivocado (2004) – He played a character named Leoncio.
Television Series
- Un Paso Adelante (2002–2005) – He played Pavel from 2003 to 2004.
Music Releases
Albums
- 2013 – Suerte
Singles
- 2013 – "Me Gusta"
- 2013 – "Suerte"
