Name: Daddy Yankee aka Raymond Ayala aka El Cangri

Age:29

Occupation:Reggaeton recording artist, business man, actor, radio host

Place of Residence: Puerto Rico

Bio:From Daddy Yankee’s Website and Wikipedia: Raymond Ayala was born and raised in Las Lamas and Villa Kennedy barrios of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Since the early 1990’s Daddy Yankee worked alongside DJ Playero in P.R. rapping and making music in the genre that would blow up to become reggaeton, that is both loved and hated. Living in the Rican barrio ain’t never been easy and young Raymond did what he had to to survive. When he was shot in the leg between the ages of 16-17 in the hood, he decided to dedicate his life to music. He helped pushed the once undergorund/Rican-centric music into the mainstream and even crossover. He is the first reggaeton artsita to go platinum and international. This thanks in part to the single Gasolina from his 2004 album Barrio Fino. To date he has appeared in over 70 albums, is starring in a movie, is launching his own clothing line, and hosts a syndicated radio show.

Why he’s loved: He’s brought a little known genre into the international spotlight, making everyone from little kids to adults shake their bodies to reggaeton while paving the way for an explosion of new reggaeton artists. While he loves his bling bling, Ricans and all Latinos appreciate him bringing an urban musical style reflective of real experiences in Latino barrios to the mainstream.

Why he’s hated:Some people say reggaeton isn’t music and if it is it’s only a fad. Daddy Yankee and his like can be criticized for their bling bling worship and promoting a lifestyle that is unattainable for the majority of the urban youth that listen to him. If you’ve seen the videos and listened hard enough, you know that Daddy Yankee isn’t beyond objectifying mujeres and featuring a whole mess of them with hardly any clothes.

Why he’s influentual:So far Daddy Yankee has defied those who have said that the reggaeton genre would quickly fade. If anything he continues to be on the top of the growing game and should be credited for that. Reggaeton, like one of it’s influences, hip hop, is becoming more than just a musical style, it is transforming into a lifestyle that represents Latino urban youth culture.

VOTE for Daddy Yankee as VL’s Most Influential Latino 2006.