Unbeknownst to many, Yankee coined the word 'reggaeton' 1994 on DJ Playero’s seminal 1994 mixtape Playero 36 (DJ Nelson would popularize the word reggaeton the next year). As the genre currently enjoys massive mainstream popularity the world over, Daddy Yankee has also gained the respect and admiration of the majority of reggaeton’s new class. He became el género's biggest export during its first international explosion in the aughts and, in the decades that followed, D.Y. In fact, the 46-year-old reggaetonero is the most successful person to emerge from the underground in the mid-'90s. In his nearly three-decade-long career, Yankee (real name Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez) has reigned tall with hardly any visible competition (with all due respect to Don Omar), and his journey to the top is the stuff of legends.

While many of them are self-proclaimed, it’s undeniable that the artist is a reggaeton icon. In this edition, pays tribute to reggaeton legend Daddy Yankee, examining his biggest hits and most memorable collaborations.ĭaddy Yankee goes by many names: The Big Boss. Presented by, Songbook is an editorial series and hub for music discovery that dives into a legendary artist's discography and art in whole - from songs to albums to music films and videos and beyond.

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