Daddy Yankee: podcast appearances and interviews

Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, known professionally as Daddy Yankee, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and songwriter. Born on February 3, 1976 or 1977, he is often referred to as the 'King of Reggaeton' and is recognized as an influential figure in Hispanic urban music. Originally aspiring to become a professional baseball player, he shifted his career focus to music following a shooting incident. In 1995, he released his debut studio album No Mercy independently. His subsequent albums, including El Cangri.com in 2002 and Barrio Fino in 2004, contributed to his rising fame. Barrio Fino became the best-selling Latin music album of the 2000s, and its lead single 'Gasolina' gained international recognition, earning a Latin Grammy nomination and helping to introduce reggaeton to a global audience. His 2007 album El Cartel: The Big Boss reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2017, Daddy Yankee collaborated with Luis Fonsi on the hit song 'Despacito,' which became the first Spanish-language song to top the Billboard Hot 100 since 1996. The music video became the most viewed on YouTube from 2017 to 2020 and is the platform's most liked music video. Daddy Yankee topped Spotify's global artist charts in 2017. He announced his retirement from music in March 2022 after releasing his seventh studio album Legendaddy and completed his final performance on December 3, 2023. Despite this, he later returned to music with the release of Lamento en Baile in 2025. Throughout his career, Daddy Yankee has sold over 30 million records and received numerous awards, including five Latin Grammys, two Billboard Music Awards, and multiple Billboard Latin Music Awards. He has been recognized as one of the most influential Hispanic artists and has received honors such as a star on the Puerto Rican Walk of Fame and inclusion in the Time 100.