Daddy Yankee is the Puerto Rican rapper and singer born Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez in 1977, a foundational figure who took reggaeton worldwide — he even coined the genre's name. Barrio Fino (2004), home of Gasolina, is the landmark to start with. Explore Daddy Yankee vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez was born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico on February 3, 1977. He began recording reggaeton in the early 1990s during the genre's underground phase, working with DJ Playero on early mixtapes. He coined the term reggaeton during this period. His 2004 album Barrio Fino became a foundational document of mainstream reggaeton, with the single Gasolina becoming an international hit. His 2017 collaboration with Luis Fonsi on Despacito became one of the best-selling singles of all time. He announced his retirement from secular music in 2023.
Daddy Yankee's catalog defines mainstream reggaeton, combining reggaeton with Latin trap, dembow, Latin pop, and Latin hip hop.
El Cartel pressings of Daddy Yankee catalog have been issued, with Barrio Fino in particular receiving multiple anniversary editions.
Listeners new to Daddy Yankee typically start with Barrio Fino (2004).
