Daddy Yankee to Livestream His Last “La Última Vuelta” Show Globally in December

Posted on November 23, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is taking his final show global…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar is closing out his farewell tour, La Última Vuelta, with a series of four back-to-back shows, dubbed “La Meta,” in his native Puerto Rico kicking off on November 30. The last show, however, will be live-streamed globally.

Taking place on Sunday, December 3, at the Coliseo, the final concert, which, according to a press release, will be a “totally new show,” will be able to be streamed by fans who purchase a $20 ticket.

The live stream event will be powered by streaming company Kiswe with a “state-of-the-art technology will guarantee that fans worldwide experience the passion and thrill of Daddy Yankee’s final show.”

Yankee’s La Última Vuelta trek, which kicked off last year following his retirement announcement, landed at No. 13 on the Top 40 Tours of 2022 with a total gross of over $125 million, according to last year’s Year-End Boxscore charts.

The “Con Calma” singer announced in March 2022 that he was retiring and would culminate his decades-long career with a world tour and his album Legendaddy, which he dropped that same month. The set peaked at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart dated April 9, 2022.

“This career, that has been a marathon, I finally see the finish line. Now I get to enjoy what you all have given me. They say that I made this genre global but it was you guys that gave me the key to open the doors to make this the biggest genre in the world,” Daddy Yankee said in a statement then. “I confess that it’s the biggest treasure I can have in my career. I always worked so I didn’t fail you, so I didn’t get into problems, with much discipline, to inspire the new generation to be leaders. Today, I’m announcing my retirement from music by giving you my best production and my best concert tour.”

Born Raymond Ayala, his career exploded with 2004’s breakthrough hit “Gasolina,” launching a genre that altered the sound and business of Latin music and became a global phenomenon.

“This historic night will mark the end of a three-decade journey for one of the most iconic Latin American artists of our time,” said Glenn Booth, CEO of Kiswe. “We are thrilled that we have been chosen to help millions of fans experience Daddy Yankee’s final performance on a touring stage and witness his heartfelt farewell.”

Daddy Yankee to Executive Produce & Appear in Netflix’s Reggaeton-Themed Series “Neon”

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s an electric time for Daddy Yankee…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar is set to executive produce the upcoming Netflix series Neon.

Daddy Yankee, a pioneer of the reggaeton genre popularized in his native Puerto Rico, will also make a cameo appearance.

Across 8 episodes, Neon follows three friends who move from a small town in Florida to Miami, hoping to make it big in the world of reggaeton. The show chronicles their larger-than-life dreams and the harsh comic realities of attempting to make it in the music industry.

Tyler Dean Flores plays Santi, a budding reggaeton artist who, with the help of his friends, Ness (Emma Ferrerira) and Felix (Jordan Mendoza) and A&R rep, Mia (Courtney Taylor) hopes to become the biggest reggaeton star in the world—or at least make rent.

Shea Serrano created Neon and Max Searle is the showrunner. In addition to Serrano and Daddy Yankee, executive producers include Searle alongside Scooter Braun, James Shin and Scott Manson for SB Projects and Anne Clements. Kyle Vinuya and Demi Adejuyigbe co-executive produce. Jordan Mendoza serves as consulting producer.

Daddy Yankee, the multi-hyphenate born Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, recently announced his retirement as a performer following a successful three-decades-long career with his final shows set from November 30 to December 3 in Puerto Rico. The 5-time Latin Grammy Award winner’s biggest hit Gasolina, recently became the first reggaeton song to be inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

Daddy Yankee previously executive produced and starred in the film Talento de Barrio (2008) from director José Iván Santiago.

Although he has yet to announce his plans for the future, he remains dedicated to his non-profit Daddy’s House via his Corazon Guerrero Foundation.

Library of Congress Adds Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” to U.S. National Recording Registry

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is gassed about his latest honor…

The 46-year-old retired Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and actor, considered to be one of the pioneers of the reggaeton genre, has earned a place in the U.S. National Recording Registry.

The Library of Congress announced the 25 albums, singles and other recording that have been added to the registry, including Daddy Yankee’s smash single “Gasolina.”

Appearing on Daddy Yankee’s 2004 album Barrio Fino, the track was the first reggaeton song to be nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

But Daddy Yankee isn’t the only Hispanic artist making this year’s list…

Mariah Carey’s modern holiday classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has made the grade.

“I’m honored beyond belief,” wrote Carey on Twitter about the single, which was released in 1994. “I definitely did not even imagine this would happen when writing and recording this song!”

The track became her 19th No. 1 the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2019, 25 years after its initial release, extending her record for the solo artist with the most number ones in the charts history.

Cuarteto Coculense’s album The Very First Mariachi Recordings (1908-1909) has also been added to the registry.

While mariachi music and its imagery are now emblematic of Mexican national identity, it was once a rural style of music played mainly in the state of Jalisco. In 1907, four musicians from the town of Cocula, Jalisco, led by the vihuela player Justo Villa, made the first recordings of it in Mexico City, where two years earlier they had introduced the style to the capitol when they performed for Mexican president Porfirio Diaz. These performances lack the trumpet now inextricably associated with mariachi, but even the early recording technology of the time could not fail to capture the group’s drive and spirit, and the recordings remained in print for many years. Due to the efforts of scholars and record collectors, the group’s work was collected and reissued in 1998 by Arhoolie Records, revisiting and reviving an otherwise lost chapter in mariachi’s history and paying overdue homage to these recording pioneers.

The late Irene Cara’s 1983 single “Flashdance…What a Feeling,” which she co-wrote for the film Flashdance, has also been named to the registry.

The hit single earned Cara the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female and a nomination for Record of the Year. As part of the Flashdance soundtrack, it gave her and all of the songwriters who contributed to the album the Grammy Award for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special, and she was also nominated alongside all of the other performers on the soundtrack for Album of the Year.

“Flashdance…What a Feeling” won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song and was also nominated in that category at the BAFTA Film Awards.

The 25 recordings were deemed worthy of preservation “based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage,” according to the Library of Congress.

The full list of #NatRecRegistry 2023 inductees.

Did you know you can nominate recordings for the registry? Here's how: https://t.co/IrF9swt9Ep pic.twitter.com/RVfQdBopsx

— Library of Congress (@librarycongress) April 12, 2023

Daddy Yankee Announces Retirement with Final Album & Tour

Posted on March 20, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is officially retiring from music.

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer and songwriter, known as the “King of Reggaetón,” will culminate his musical run with Legendaddy, his first new studio album in 10 years, and a world tour.

Born Raymond Ayala, Daddy Yankee’s career exploded with 2004’s breakthrough hit “Gasolina,” launching a genre that altered the sound and business of Latin music and became a global phenomenon.

Daddy Yankee had hinted at retirement and a last album and tour during an interview at Billboard’s Latin Music Week last year, but had yet to make an official announcement.

“Today, I’m announcing my retirement from music by giving you my best production and my best concert tour,” Daddy Yankee said in a statement in a press release issued on Sunday, March 20. “I will say goodbye celebrating these 32 years of experience with this new collector’s item, the album Legendaddy. I’m going to give you all the styles that have defined me, in one single album.”

Daddy Yankee’s Legendaddy will be released on May 24 at 8:00 pm ET.

His La Última Vuelta World Tour, a five-month trek, is set to kick off on August 10 in Portland, Oregon and run through December. Pre-sale tickets will go on sale on March 25, with a general public sale to follow on March 30. A full set of current tour dates is available on his official website.

Daddy Yankee has had six No. 1s on the Top Latin Albums chart, starting with 2004’s Barrio Fino, the first-ever reggaetón album to hit that spot. As of March 2022, he’s seen 76 entries on Latin Airplay and 86 on Hot Latin Songs, including the record-shattering “Despacito” alongside Luis Fonsi.

“I like to say I took the bullets,” he told Billboard in 2021 of bringing reggaetón to the mainstream music market. “I wanted people to understand my essence, where I come from, what I represent. But at the same time, I wanted to take my culture to the very top. I can’t tell you there was a formula. Reggaetón was initially only known on the East Coast. When I released Barrio Fino, the West Coast didn’t get it. I’d go to Los Angeles or Mexico and people knew Daddy Yankee, but they didn’t know what reggaetón was. I had to take the culture with me everywhere so it became permanent instead of fizzling out like other genres where artists simply promote themselves. When I did promotion, I talked about all the artists in my album: ‘This is me. But this album also features Zion & Lennox, Plan B, Ivy Queen.’ I had to play their music and say, ‘This is them. This is reggaetón.’”

Daddy Yankee to Be Inducted Into Hall of Fame at 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is heading into the Hall (of Fame)…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and rapper, known as the “King of Reggaetón,” will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards, Billboard and Telemundo have announced.

Given to artists who have achieved worldwide recognition for their work, transcending musical genres and languages, the accolade will honor the “Con Calma” hitmaker for his fruitful career that spans over three decades as a pioneer and top exponent of reggaeton.

Daddy Yankee will receive the award during the ceremony set to take place Thursday, September 23, live from Miami where he will also perform his latest hit “Métele al Perreo” for the first time on television.

The chart-topping, global star — known for reggaeton anthems such as “Gasolina” and “Dura” — has sold more than 17 million albums and placed 84 entries on the Hot Latin Songs chart, with seven of those hitting No. 1 and 36 landing in the top 10.

On the Latin Airplay chart, he has logged a total of 73 titles, including 24 No. 1s and 42 top 10s.

On the social front, his philanthropic work through “Daddy’s House” has been recognized by Billboard with the spirit of hope award.

Past recipients of the Billboard hall of fame award include José José, Vicente Fernández, Rocío Durcal, Marco Antonio Solís, Joan Sebastian, Marc Anthony, Franco de Vita and Alejandro Fernández, among others.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards will be broadcast live on Telemundo, kicking off at 7:00 p.m. ET with the traditional red carpet special, followed by the awards show at 8:00 pm.

Daddy Yankee Becomes First Latino Artist to Lead Spotify’s Global Artist List

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is the latest Spotify sensation…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, known as the King of Reggaetón, has ousted Ed Sheeran from the No. 1 spot on Spotify to become the first Latino artist to lead the music platform.

Daddy Yankee has hits that include “Gasolina,” ”Shaky Shaky” and “Despacito,” a song co-written with Luis Fonsi.

He’s surpassed 44,735,586 monthly listeners to reach the first global spot, Spotify announced on Sunday in an email sent to the Associated Press.

“Being the first Latin artist to reach #1 in Spotify marks a precedent not only for my career but for the industry in general,” Daddy Yankee, whose real name is Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, said in an email. “The musical digital revolution has unified the world and this is the proof. We are all in the same boat with no labels or stereotypes.”

He recalled that when he started his career in 1992 in Puerto Rico, many didn’t believe he would last more than three years, much less that he would become an international sensation.

“But I never stopped,” he said. “I had to keep fighting. I had to make big sacrifices, to miss important moments with my family, to feel the prejudice of many people that didn’t open the doors for me.”

Rocio Guerrero, Spotify’s head of Latin culture, shows and editorial says: “Spotify has been supporting Latin music for many years, and this is the moment that shows our passion and love for the genre are equally supported by our audience. We are grateful for all of our artists, and specifically for Daddy Yankee’s influence in bringing global appreciation to Latin music.”

The remix to “Despacito,” featuring additional vocals by Justin Bieber, is No. 1 on Spotify’s global charts.

More than a decade after Daddy Yankee’s best-selling album Barrio Fino and the single “Gasolina” that made him a global star, the Latin Grammy winner is still one of the most influential and recognizable names in reggaeton.

“Today, this genre is the most listened to in the world,” Daddy Yankee said. “Thanks to all the fans and colleagues that gave me the opportunity to collaborate with them. We did it!”

Daddy Yankee Scores 50th Hit on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart with “Hula Hoop”

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is officially in the same circle as some of Latin music’s superstars…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican singer/rapper has earned his 50th hit on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, as “Hula Hoop” earns the Hot Shot Debut, arriving at No. 30 on the March 25-dated tally.

The reggaetonero becomes one of only seven acts, and the only urban artist, to have placed 50 or more songs on the 30-year-old chart.

Even more impressive, Daddy Yankee earns the feat quicker than anyone other act, netting his first 50 hits in 12 years, four months, and three weeks. (Luis Miguel had previously accomplished it the fastest: 16 years, five months, two weeks).

Daddy Yankee debuted on the Hot Latin Songs chart in 2004 with his international hit, “Gasolina.” In total, he has gathered 21 top 10s and five No. 1s on the list.

“Hula Hoop” bows with 3,000 downloads sold in the tracking week ending March 9, according to Nielsen Music, concurrently notching a No. 3 debut on the Latin Rhythm Digital Song Sales chart. Streaming totaled 740,000 in its first week, with 54 percent stemming from YouTube, where a lyric video has amassed 16 million global views since its release on March 2.

Elsewhere, the new single lands at No. 25 on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, with 1 million audience impressions in the week ending March 12. WLZL, Washington DC, was the track’s biggest supporter, supplying 74 spins.

Artists With at Least 50 Hot Latin Songs hits:
Number of chart hits, artist
66, Los Tigres del Norte
58, Vicente Fernandez
57, Luis Miguel
53, Ednita Nazario
53, Intocable
50, Daddy Yankee
50, Marc Anthony

The new track originates from a remix for Daddy Yankee’s “Shaky Shaky,” featuring Nicky Jam and Plan B. Released in October, the remix included a “hula hoop” line, not present in the song’s original version, inspiring Yankee to derive a new song based on the catchy hook.

Meanwhile, Daddy Yankee remains at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs for a fifth straight week, as a featured guest on Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito.” The track earns its best streaming week yet, collecting over 8.8 million streams in the most recent tracking week (a four percent increase). It slips 52-56 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its eighth charting frame on the overall-genre ranking.

Daddy Yankee is the Face of Allstate’s New App-Focused Campaign

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is in good hands…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter leads Allstate‘s brand new, app-focused campaign.

The ad begins with the “Gasolina” singer using an app to find his car in a crowded parking lot. Then, for 30 seconds, Daddy Yankee proceeds to make the concept of car insurance cool.\

The campaign, titled “Estar en buenas manos nos da más,” is the Spanish iteration of Allstate’s “It’s good to be in good hands.” Except that for the first time in any language, the insurance company is using a pop artist to get its point across

“We wanted to leverage someone who was really well known and who really transcended all Hispanic cultures,” says Georgina Flores, Allstate’s vice president of product marketing. “He really was our first choice.”

Instead of going for a venerable, older celebrity, Allstate went for younger-but-respected. “We wanted younger, yes, but also broader,” said Flores. “We wanted to make sure that the artist an his or her music would be popular regardless of precedence.”

Daddy Yankee Takes Home Three Awards at Telemundo’s 2016 Premios Tu Mundo

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is celebrating Mundo madness…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, actor and record producer proved to be the big winner at Telemundo‘s 2016 Premios Tu Mundo, which kicked off with a high energy performance by the “Gasolina” singer.

The fifth edition of the annual awards show broadcast live from the American Airlines Arena in Miami, where the fan-voted awards recognized pop culture stars, mainly focusing on television, music and social media.

Daddy Yankee took home three trophies, including Favorite Urban Artist and Favorite Party-Starter Song for his collaboration with Chino & Nacho, “Andas en mi Cabeza.”

Rafael Amaya, meantime, was the big winner in the acting categories. The 39-year-old Mexican actor took home the awards for Favorite Male Protagonist in a Super Series, Favorite Protagonist with Bad Luck and Perfect Couple in a Super Series alongside his El Señor de los Cielos costar Fernanda Castillo.

Other winners include Gloria Trevi, Gaby Espino and Adamari Lopez.

Norteño band Intocable took home the special award of the night “El poder en ti (The Power In You)” for their charitable work.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Favorite Super Series: El Señor de los Cielos IV
Favorite Novela or Series: Bajo El Mismo Cielo
Favorite Female Protagonist in a Super Series: Fernanda Castillo
Favorite Actress in a Super Series: Sabrina Seara
Favorite Actress in a Novela or Series: Carolina Gaitan
Favorite Female Protagonist in a Novela: Danna Paola
Favorite Male Protagonist in a Super Series: Rafael Amaya
Favorite Male Protagonist in a Novela: Gabriel Porras
Favorite Protagonist with Bad Luck: Rafael Amaya
Favorite Daily Show: Caso Cerrado
Favorite Weekend Show: ¡Que Noche! With Angelica and Raul
Favorite Specials or Realities Host: Gaby Espino
Favorite Entertainment Host: Adamari Lopez
Favorite Regional Mexican Artist: Calibre 50
Favorite Pop Artist: Gloria Trevi
Favorite Tropical Artist: Chino & Nacho
Favorite Urban Artist: Daddy Yankee
Favorite Party-Starter Song: “Andas en mi Cabeza” by Chino & Nacho feat. Daddy Yankee
Sexiest Female Villian in a Super Series: Maricela Gonzalez
Sexiest Female Villian in a Novela or Series: Erika de la Rosa
Sexiest Male Villian in a Super Series: Rodrigo Guirao
Sexiest Male Villian in a Novela or Series: Luis Ernesto Franco
Favorite Actor in a Super Series: Lincoln Palomeque
Favorite Actor in a Novela or Series: Alejandro Speitzer
Perfect Couple in a Novela or Series: Danna Paola and Eugenio Siller
Perfect Couple in a Super Series: Fernanda Castillo and Rafael Amaya
Revelation of the Year: Gala Montes
Fan Club of the Year: #DYArmy
Favorite Influencer: Caeli
“I’m Sexy and I Know It”: Gaby Espino

Daddy Yankee & Don Omar to Take Part in This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Conference

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee and Don Omar are headed for a clash…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and the 38-year-old Puerto Rican recording artist – the two most iconic names in reggaeton – will share the stage at a special panel discussion taking place during this year’s Billboard Latin Music Conference.

The “Clash of Titans” panel will offer audiences an inside look at the The Kingdom: Daddy Yankee vs. Don Omar Tour, one of the most anticipated tours of all time in the Latino market. The two stars will give the industry an inside look at the reunion and the marketing behind the 60-date, two-year international tour that launched on Dec. 5, 2015, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The panel will also include a discussion about their future and past recording projects and how both stars have changed the face and direction of Latin music.

Although reggaeton has long been an established and dominant force on the Billboard charts, its popularity exploded at an international level due in large part to Daddy Yankee and Don Omar, who both rose to stardom a decade ago and notched huge international hits like “Gasolina” and “Danza Kuduro.”

Between them, the two artists have placed 11 No. 1 hits on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart, 28 top 10 hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart and over 4 million combined views on their Vevo channels.

News of their joint tour, which had been discussed for years, resulted in four sold-out shows in San Juan, Puerto Rico, last December.

The Kingdom Tour will launch in the U.S. in May, following the Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards, where Don Omar and Daddy Yankee are also slated to perform, marking their first time ever to sing together on national television. The awards will air live on the Telemundo network April 28.

The “Clash of Titans” discussion will take place at 2:30 pm ET on Wednesday, April 27.

For more information on the Billboard Latin Music Conference, please visit BillboardLatinConference.com.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Gasolina