Daddy Yankee

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Daddy Yankee <tr style="text-align: center;"><td colspan="3"> Daddy Yankee </td></tr>
Background information <tr><td>Born</td><td colspan="2">February 3, 1977</td></tr><tr><td>Origin</td><td colspan="2">San Juan, Puerto Rico</td></tr><tr><td>Genre(s)</td><td colspan="2">Reggaeton</td></tr><tr><td>Years active</td><td colspan="2">1992–present</td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 1em;">Label(s)</td><td colspan="2">Universal Records El Cartel Records Bad Boy Records Interscope Records</td></tr><tr><td>Website</td><td colspan="2">Official website</td></tr>

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. He 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). Ayala is famous for recording songs in both English and Spanish, although the latter is more prominently used.

Ayala first became involved in recording music in the early 1990s alongside DJ Playero, a pioneer of reggaeton music. He rapped as a hobby, in private parties organized by friends in his neighborhood, the Villa Kennedy housing project in San Juan. At the time he was also involved in some minor illegal activities. By the time he 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 he 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). He 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.

Ayala'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.

He has appeared on over 70 albums, including compilations such as; "Más Flow 2" and "Blin Blin Vol. 1". He 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.

Ayala also hosts "Daddy Yankee On Fuego", a syndicated radio show from ABC Radio Networks. In his bonus DVD Barrio Fino En Directo, Ayala 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."

Ayala currently has new tracks featured on the new Luny Tunes and Tainy album, 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.

1 Discography
- 1.1 Albums
- 1.2 Singles
2 Movies
3 External links

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

ElCartel II----

2001: "Tu Cuerpo en mi Cama" ft. Nicky Jam

Cangri.com-----

2002: \"Latigazo\"
2002: \"Son las Doce\" ft. Nicky Jam
2002: \"Guayando\" ft. Nicky Jam
2002: \"Muevete y Perrea\"

Los Homerunes-----

2003: \"Gata Gangster\" ft. Don Omar
2003: \"Seguroski\"
2003: \"Party de Gangsters\"(Babilonia)

Ahora le toca al Cangri Live-----

2004: \"Cójela que va sin jockey\" (Luny Tunes-Mas Flow)
2004: \"Aquí esta tu caldo\" (Blin Blin)(Radio Released)

Barrio Fino-----

2004: \"Gasolina\" #1 US Latin, #5 UK, #12 France, #27 Japan, #3 Italy, #1 Mexico, #1 Spain, #1 Colombia, #21 Australia, #12 Switzerland, #7 Germany
2004: \"King Daddy\"
2004: \"Lo Que Pasó, Pasó\" #2 US Latin
2004: \"Salud y Vida\"daddy yankee
2004: \"Like You\" #78 US
2004: \"Machete\" (Los Anormales) (Radio Released)
2005: \"Corazones\"
2005: \"Tu Principe\" ft. Zion y Lennox #35 US Latin
2005: \"No me dejes solo\" ft. Wisin y Yandel

Barrio Fino En Directo-----

2005: \"Rompe\" #1 US Latin, #24 US
2005: \"Mirame\" ft. Deevani (Luny Tunes Mas Flow 2)(Radio Released)
2006: \"Dale Caliente\"(live)(Radio Released)
2006: \"Gangsta Zone\" ft. Snoop Dogg
2006: \"Machucando\" #2 US Latin
2006: \"Rompe (Remix)\" ft. Lloyd Banks & Young Buck
2006: \"Gangsta Zone (Remix)\" ft. Héctor El Father, Yomo, Angel Doze, Arcangel Y De La Ghetto.(Radio Released). Diss Track to Don Omar.

Collaborations-----

2002: \"Mi Gatita y Yo\"- Guanabanas ft. Daddy Yankee
2002: \"Haciendo Escante\"- Nicky Jam ft. Daddy Yankee
2002: \"Tra Tra\" Hector y Tito ft. Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Voltio
2002: \"Gata Salvaje\"- Hector y Tito ft. Daddy Yankee and Nicky Jam
2003: \"Esta Noche Esta Buena\"- Don Omar feat. Daddy Yankee
2003: "Maulla"- Yaga y Mackie ft. Daddy Yankee
2004: \"Saoco\"- Wisin ft. Daddy Yankee
2004: \"Se Activaron los Pistoleros\" Wisin y Yandel ft. Daddy Yankee
2004: \"Yo voy\"- Zion y Lennox ft. Daddy Yankee
2005: \"Oye mi Canto\"- N.O.R.E ft. Daddy Yankee and Nina Sky
2005: \"Tempted To Touch (Remix)\"- Rupee feat. Daddy Yankee
2005: \"Mayor que yo\"- Daddy Yankee, Wisin y Yandel, Hector, Tony Tun Tun
2005: \"Quítate tú pa ponerme yo\"- Eddie Dee y Los 12 Disipulos
2005: \"Drop it on me\" Ricky Martin ft. Daddy Yankee
2005: \"Mamacita\": Pharrell Williamsft. Daddy Yankee
2006: \"Paleta\"- Wisin y Yandel ft. Daddy Yankee
2006: \"Taladro\"- Eddie Dee ft. Daddy Yankee
2006: \"Mía\"- Tito El Bambino ft. Daddy Yankee
2006: \"Se Activaron los Anormales\" Divino ft. Daddy Yankee
2006: \"Caile (Remix)\" Tito El Bambino ft. Daddy Yankee, Julio Voltio
2006: \"Me Matas (Remix)\"- Rakim y Ken-Y ft. Daddy Yankee
2006: \"Agresivo (Remix)\"- Arcangel & De LaGhetto, Jowell y Randy, Daddy Yankee