Daddy Yankee

Ramon "Raymond" Ayala (born on February 3, 1977 in Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico), known publicly as Daddy Yankee is a highly successful Puerto Rican reggaeton recording artist. Daddy Yankee is sometimes referred to as El Cangri (shortened form of Cangrimán, which in turn is a corruption of the English word congressman, and used in Puerto Rico to describe a brazenly powerful or influential person in the neighborhood). Daddy Yankee is famous for recording songs in both English and Spanish, although the latter is more prominently used.

Daddy Yankee first became involved in recording music in the early 1990s alongside DJ Playero, a pioneer of reggaeton music. Daddy Yankee rapped as a hobby, in private parties organized by friends in his neighborhood, the Villa Kennedy, housing project in San Juan. At the time Daddy Yankee was also involved in some minor illegal activities. By the time Daddy Yankee reached the age of seventeen he was shot in his legs at a skirmish with rivals. This experience was an eye opener to him, and Daddy Yankee swore off illegal activities for good (his brother Melvin became a born-again Christian -and eventually a Christian minister- at the insistence of Raymond, who persuaded him strongly enough to not follow a lifestyle similar to what he had experienced until then). Daddy Yankee then pursued music as a full-time profession, and explored reggaeton as his main musical style at a time when straight rap and hip hop were the norm in Puerto Rico.

Daddy Yankee's persistence over ten years eventually paid off. His sudden ascent to wealth and fame was a result of the hit song Gasolina (which was written by Eddie Dee and produced by the producing duo, Luny Tunes), from his 2004 album "Barrio Fino". The album has sold over 1,000,000 copies in Puerto Rico alone and has also sold well throughout Latin America, as well as in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Daddy Yankee has appeared on over 70 albums, including compilations such as; "Más Flow 2" and "Blin Blin Vol. 1". Daddy Yankee has also performed with Nicky Jam (which they were a popular duo-act from the late-90's to early 2000's), Luny Tunes, DJ Blass, DJ Eric, Eliel, Nas, DJ Tony Touch, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Snoop Dogg and many others.

In Italy, his international hit Gasolina was used in a TV ad campaign for the 2006 Citroën C2 Deejay, which was due to run through the spring and summer of 2005.

In 2005, Ayala was cast in a Paramount Pictures film, tentatively titled Talento de Barrio (Barrio talent). Ayala says that although the movie is not autobiographical, it does represent the lives of himself and others living on the streets of Latin America. The movie is expected to premiere on DVD in Spring 2006.

Also due out in 2006 is Ayala's own clothing line, named DY. He has also teamed up with Reebok to have his own shoes and sporting goods, to be available on May 23, 2006.

Daddy Yankee also hosts "Daddy Yankee On Fuego", a syndicated radio show from ABC Radio Networks. In his bonus DVD Barrio Fino En Directo, Daddy Yankee is quoted as saying he is going to make his next release, El Cartel: The Album, a hit. In the special edition of Barrio Fino En Directo, on the dvd side of the album, there is a quote exclaiming, "El Cartel coming soon."

Daddy Yankee was regarded as one of the 100 most influential people by TIME magazine.

Daddy Yankee currently has new tracks featured on the new Luny Tunes and Tainy album, Mas Flow: Los Benjamins.

Daddy Yankee's beef or "tiraera" war with Don Omar has become one of the hottest topics in the reggaeton community. Both have released numerous songs aiming at one another.