Latin superstar Daddy Yankee announces that he has given his life to Christ and will be retiring from “this chapter of his life” after concluding his farewell tour, La Meta, in Puerto Rico on Sunday (December 3, 2023). The 46-year-old artist revealed his decision during a heartfelt speech, expressing his desire to devote his life to his religious faith.
The King Of Reggaeton, known for global hits like “Gasolina” which is the first reggaeton hit to be inducted in the American National Recording Registry and “Despacito,” the first latin song to sell Diamond in the US, shared in Spanish that despite his worldly success, he felt unfulfilled for a long time. Citing a Bible verse, he declared that Jesus now lives in him, and he will live for Him.
“Family: This day for me, is the most important day in my life.. tonight I recognize and am not ashamed to tell the whole world that Christ lives in me and that I will live for him. This is the end of one chapter and the beginning of a brand new one,” he posted on Instagram.
The artist, born Ramón Ayala, expressed gratitude to his fans and conveyed his intention to use all his talents for the kingdom of Jesus.
He added the bible verse Mathew 16:26:
“For what good is it for a man to gain the whole world, if he loses his life? Or how much can a man pay for his life? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father and with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to what he has done.”
The announcement by the Diamond selling rapper comes as he is one of the defendants in an ongoing copyright infringement case filed by dancehall riddim duo Steely & Clevie; who accuse the Reggaeton superstar along with other latin artist of ripping off there 1989 “Fish Market Riddim” to make over 1800 songs which are certified Gold, Platinum, multi-Platinum and Diamond by the RIAA.
The latest development in the case was filed early last month when Lawyers representing Steely and Clevie productions filed a motion to use a precedent set in the case involving YouTuber and Choreographer Kyle Hanagami who sued Epic Games, Inc. in 2022, the creator of the video game Fortnite, for copyright infringement of his choreographic work.
Steely & Clevie’s legal team is vigorously opposing a previous motion to dismiss the case, pointing to crucial evidence presented in Spotify’s “Loud Podcast” with Reggaeton pioneer Ivy Queen. In this podcast, various reggaeton artists openly acknowledged using the “Dem Bow” riddim in the creation of their songs. “Dem Bow” was produced by Bobby Digital and is a derivative of Fish Market.
Compelling videos featured reggaeton producer Tainy, renowned for collaborations with artists such as Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Ozuna, and Anuel. Tainy explicitly stated, “People call it like Dem Bow – because it came as a reference to a song called like that many years ago (Dem Bow Shabba sample).” This testimony serves as pivotal evidence in court, establishing a clear intent to infringe by reggaeton artists and producers.
Tainy further emphasized the unmistakable reggaeton identity embedded in the Dem Bow riddim, stating, “When you listen to it, you know you’re listening to a reggaeton track – that’s one of the most common percussion samples or elements that make a reggaeton track.” The acknowledgment by a prominent figure in the industry adds weight to the argument against dismissing the case, highlighting the widespread recognition and significance of the “Dem Bow” riddim in the creation of reggaeton music.
His Despacito collaborator Luis Fonsi who is also a defendant in the lawsuit, shared on X, “Last night I had the privilege of accompanying , who changed Latin music forever, in his farewell to the stage. It was very emotional to be there with you @daddy_yankee I owe you a lot bro, a lot! Enjoy this well-deserved break, we will continue to enjoy and celebrate your music ALWAYS”
Daddy Yankee joins other reggaeton artists like Farruko, Héctor “El Father,” and Voltio, who have also chosen to end the secular stage of their careers to focus on their Christian faith in recent times.
Rapper Kanye West, who announced that he was a Christian in 2019 was Billboard’s top Gospel artist for 2023.
Daddy Yankee is credited with popularizing reggaeton globally after Panamanian pioneers like El Genral made their mark in the late 1980s. His 2004 single “Gasolina” introduced the genre to a worldwide audience, marking a significant milestone. With approximately 30 million records sold, Daddy Yankee is one of the top-selling Latin artists.
His album “Barrio Fino” became the best-selling Latin music album of 2000-2009. In 2017, his collaboration with Luis Fonsi on “Despacito” topped the Billboard Hot 100, and its success made him the most-listened artist on Spotify, a first for a Latin artist.
His seventh studio album, “Legendaddy,” was released in 2022. Throughout his career, he received multiple awards, including Latin Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards.
