DADDY YANKEE

The Urban Latin Artist Of The Decade

With more than eight million albums sold, five No. 1 hits on Billboard's radio charts a blockbuster film and four chart topping albums to his name—including the top-selling Latin album of the decade and the top-selling Latin urban artist of the decade according to Billboard Magazine (2010), Daddy Yankee is the single most relevant Latin urban artist in the world.

A multiple Billlboard and Grammy award winner who has been named one of the most influential people in the world by both CNN and Time Magazine, Yankee is widely regarded as the artist who spearheaded the popularity of Latin Urban music worldwide.

A constant innovator who has expanded beyond the confines of his genre to become a leading figure of urban music, Yankee not only popularized a revolutionary musical style but also redefined the role of the artist as the architect of his own destiny.

Yankee's most recent artistic venture is Television and film. He guest starred in the Emmy award winning series “The Bold and the Beautiful“ in June 2010. The series airs in over 100 countries. In 2008, Yankee starred in the movie “Talento de Barrio“ (loosely based on his life), which was released in the United States, Puerto Rico and Latin America. The music from the movie was featured on the CD which sold over 1 million copies around the world, landing the number one spot on the “Billboards Top Latin Album“ chart and his single “Pose“ took the top spot on “Billboards Hot Latin Songs“ chart.

As the founder and CEO of his own label, El Cartel Records, Yankee single-handedly thrust Latin urban music into the world arena, long before any major label dared take a risk on a musical genre whose appeal was untested. Yankee's maverick approach revolutionized the way Latin music was marketed, promoted and distributed, and his business model has served as the blueprint for countless acts who now helm their artistic and business ventures.

Today, Yankee presides over an empire that includes El Cartel Records; a production house; his award-winning publishing; his fragrance deal (Falic); his TV show (with TV Azteca in Mexico); his philanthropic ventures; and his multiple sponsorship deals. Aside from having had his own, successful line of footwear (with Reebok) and having starred in “Talento de Barrio,“ the highest-grossing film in Puerto Rico's history, Yankee has also had major branding deals with the likes of Pepsi, Movistar (Chile), ABC, and Coors Light. Most recently, Yankee launched his own cologne, DY in 2008 and just launched DYAmante, a fragrance, this time for women.

Acutely aware of his role and responsibility within the Latin community, Yankee also created his “Corazón Guerrero“ foundation, with which he actively works to transform the lives of thousands of needy children in his native Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Colombia among other countries, via targeted programs that seek to improve education and quality of life. Yankee's philanthropic efforts made him the recipient of Billboard's Spirit of Hope Award, given yearly to an artist for outstanding humanitarian work.

In April 2010, Daddy Yankee released “Mundial“. The album was released by his own El Cartel Records and distributed through Sony, “Mundial“ brought Yankee back to his Latin roots. While there was mainstream influence here and there, there were no collaborations with any American mainstream artists.  “Mundial“ features in true Daddy Yankee nature, 13 tracks(plus three bonus tracks, available on iTunes). The first single from the release “Descontrol“ topped Billboard's Latin Rhythm charts. Only a few hours after its release, “Mundial“ reached number one on iTunes Latino and Amazon.com. and went gold in the U.S., Mexico , Argentina and Chile. “Grito Mundial“ also featured on the album, was chosen for FIFA World Cup campaigns on Telefutura and ESPN Latino. This powerful and pulsating track shows the many genres of the world that have influenced the king of Reggaeton.  Mundial's success earned Yankee three Latin Grammy nominations, An American Music Awards nomination, and MTV Video Music Award nomination and three nominations for Univision's coveted, Premios Lo Nuestro 2011.

Yankee is currently in the studio working on his next release due out April 2011.He has played more than 60 sold-out arena shows worldwide, leading CNN to name him “the most influential Hispanic artist in the United States and Latin America.“
Yankee was Googleʼs most-searched for artist in 2009 for Argentina and Chile, behind only the late Michael Jackson. The artistʼs Internet appeal is immediately evident on his website, http://www.daddyyankee.com, an innovative, interactive site that features a constant news feed and sells all Yankee merchandise. “Yankee in Puerto Rico is the slang we use for someone tall, who is big in what he does,“ Yankee told Billboard in 2005. “So the name means Big Daddy.“ A full decade after his first forays with DJ Playero, Yankee released his first solo album, “El Cangri.Com.“ Yankeeʼs name was big enough that the album spent three weeks on Billboardʼs Top Latin Albums chart. “Los Homerunes Vol. 1,“ was released in 2003 and peaked at No. 8, remaining four weeks on the chart. That album was accompanied by a catchy single, “Segurosky,“ that solidified Yankeeʼs knack for coming up with solid, easy to remember hooks. Yankeeʼs breakout album was 2005ʼs “Barrio Fino,“ debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. The album also included “Gasolina,“ the ultimate party song. By the end of 2005, “Barrio Fino“ was the top selling Latin album of the year and Yankee, the man who didnʼt want to sign with a major label, had been courted by all major labels. Yankee delivered almost immediately with “Barrio Fino En Directo,“ a live version of “Barrio Fino“ that became the top selling Latin album of 2006. Daddy Yankee is a member of the American Red Crossʼ Celebrity Cabinet Daddy Yankee was the first Urban Latin artist to guest star on CBS' The Bold and Beautiful. DY has a fanbase of over 3 million fans on Facebook. Daddy's House is Yankee's latest charitable organization. It is based in Dominican Republic, where the establishment feeds over 125 children every single day of the year and provides materials for all of the children to attend school.