Daddy Yankee

Daddy Yankee, born Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez in Puerto Rico, is one of the most influential figures in the history of reggaeton, often credited as the genre's «King». He rose through Puerto Rico's underground music scene in the 1990s, releasing a string of albums that helped shape reggaeton's sound before achieving a commercial breakthrough with 2004's «Barrio Fino», the first reggaeton album to top the Billboard Latin charts and one of the best-selling Latin albums of its era.

His breakout single «Gasolina» became a global phenomenon, introducing reggaeton's dembow rhythm to mainstream audiences far beyond Latin America and cementing his status as a pioneer who helped move the genre from the streets of San Juan to international stages. He continued to release hit records over the following decade, blending reggaeton with pop and dance elements.

In 2017, Daddy Yankee reached a new commercial peak with «Despacito», his collaboration with Luis Fonsi, which became one of the best-performing songs in streaming history and helped trigger a new wave of global interest in Latin urban music; a remix featuring Justin Bieber further extended the song's reach. Later hits like «Con Calma» and «Dura» reaffirmed his lasting influence and chart presence well into his career's later stages.