Editing Daddy Yankee (section)

{{Short description|Puerto Rican rapper (born 1976)}}
{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Family name hatnote|Ayala|Rodríguez|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Daddy Yankee
| image              = Daddy Yankee entrevista.png
| caption            = Daddy Yankee in 2021
| birth_name         = Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez<ref name="YANKEE">{{cite web|url=http://www.latinrapper.com/daddy_yankee_interview.html|title=The Boss is Back: Daddy Yankee Returns to his Roots|website=LatinRapper.com|date=May 22, 2007|access-date=May 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823203334/http://www.latinrapper.com/daddy_yankee_interview.html|archive-date=August 23, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1976|2|3}}<ref name="Instagram45"/>
| alias              = {{Flatlist|
* The Big Boss<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/daddy-yankee-billboard-cover-story-2021-interview-9629826/|title=The Big Boss talks: Daddy Yankee is teaching reggaetón's stars how to own their careers|magazine=Billboard|date=September 15, 2021|last=Cobo|first=Leila}}</ref>
* ''El Cangri'' {{small|(The Chief)}}<ref name="tnyt" />
* Winchester<ref>{{cite news|url=https://remezcla.com/lists/music/hip-hop-reggaeton-collabs/|title=15 Reggaeton & Hip-Hop Collaborations You Probably Forgot About|work=remezcla.com|publisher=Remezcla|date=September 1, 2018|last=Domínguez|first=Tony}}</ref>
}}
| birth_place        = [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]]
| occupation         = {{Flatlist|
* Rapper
* singer
* songwriter
* actor
}}
| years_active       = 1992–present<!--Despite announcing retirement in 2022 and doing final tour in 2023, he is still releasing music in 2024, so effectively "still active".-->
| spouse             = {{Marriage|Mireddys González|1995|2024|end=separated}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B99daZ2FeUq/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/daddyyankee/2269099145070765354 |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |url-access=subscription|title=Una reina cree en ti, no te desanima. Una reina es leal, no piensa en traición. Una reina es como el ajedrez, siempre protege a su rey. Una reina como la que Dios me regaló no la cambió por nada en el mundo. Hoy esta reina y yo cumplimos #25 años de casados. Quizás mis fans me conozcan por ser el mejor pero yo soy fan de ella y te puedo dar fe, que ella es la mejor. En estos tiempos difíciles, sigo contagiado con su Amor y ella es mi corona!|via=Instagram|author=Daddy Yankee|date=March 20, 2020|access-date=April 17, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
| children           = 3
| website            = {{Official URL}}
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed         = yes
| genre         = {{Flatlist|
* [[Reggaeton]]
* [[Latin hip hop]]
* [[dancehall]]<ref name="amg">{{cite web |title=Daddy Yankee {{!}} Biography, Albums, Streaming Links |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/daddy-yankee-mn0000559405 |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=April 29, 2020 |language=en-us |archive-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416201945/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/daddy-yankee-mn0000559405 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
| label         = {{Flatlist|
* [[El Cartel Records|El Cartel]]
* [[VI Music|VI]]
* [[Universal Music Latino|Universal Latino]]
* [[Machete Music|Machete]]
* [[Interscope Records|Interscope]]
* [[Sony Music Latin|Sony Latin]]
* [[Capitol Latin]]
* [[Republic Records|Republic]]
}}
| associated_acts = {{Flatlist|
* [[DJ Playero]]
* [[Nicky Jam]]
* [[Wisin & Yandel]]
* [[Héctor el Father]]
* [[Luis Fonsi]]
* [[Bad Bunny]]
* [[Zion & Lennox]]
* [[Marc Anthony]]
* [[Don Omar]]
* [[J Balvin]]
}}
}}
| notable_works      = [[Daddy Yankee discography|Discography]]
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Daddy Yankee|Full list]]
| signature          = Firmadeyankee.png
}}

'''Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez''' ({{IPA|es|raˈmon lwis aˈʝala roˈðɾiɣes|lang}}; born February 3, 1976),<ref name="Instagram45">{{Cite web|title=Daddy Yankee on Instagram|url= https://www.instagram.com/p/CK02uqyHO89/?igshid=dyaxje1jviq2 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/daddyyankee/2500864394642911037 |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |url-access=subscription|access-date=February 3, 2021|website=instagram.com|language=es}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Meganoticias|date=October 6, 2020|title=[VIDEO] La hija de Daddy Yankee eclipsa a su papá bailando reguetón|url=https://www.meganoticias.cl/tendencias/315517-hija-de-daddy-yankee-1ab.html|access-date=December 8, 2020|website=meganoticias.cl|language=es|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111175207/https://www.meganoticias.cl/tendencias/315517-hija-de-daddy-yankee-1ab.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Yankee cumple 45 y así lo mimó su esposa|url=https://adncuba.com/entretenimiento/yankee-cumple-45-y-asi-lo-mimo-su-esposa|access-date=February 3, 2021|website=ADN Cuba|language=es|archive-date=February 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203190327/https://adncuba.com/entretenimiento/yankee-cumple-45-y-asi-lo-mimo-su-esposa|url-status=live}}</ref> known professionally as '''Daddy Yankee''' ({{IPA|es|ˈdædi ˈjæŋki}}), is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor who rose to worldwide prominence in 2004 with the song "[[Gasolina]]". Dubbed the "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|King of Reggaeton]]",<ref name="tnyt">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/magazine/the-king-of-reggaeton.html|title=The King of Reggaetón|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 5, 2006|access-date=March 30, 2016|last=Corbett|first=Sara|archive-date=June 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612053940/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/magazine/05reggaeton.html?pagewanted=print|url-status=live}}</ref> he is often cited as an influence by other Hispanic urban performers. He retired on December 3, 2023, after completing his final stage performance on his "La Meta" tour in [[Puerto Rico]].<ref name="recordsold"/>

Ayala was born in [[Río Piedras, Puerto Rico|Río Piedras]] and was raised in the Villa Kennedy Housing Projects neighborhood.<ref name="shot">{{cite news|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Daddy Yankee Explains Why Getting Shot Made Him The Man He Is|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1529183/why-getting-shot-saved-daddy-yankees-life.jhtml|publisher=[[MTV]]|date=April 20, 2006|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-date=April 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401031632/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1529183/why-getting-shot-saved-daddy-yankees-life.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> He aspired to be a professional baseball player and tried out for the [[Seattle Mariners]] of [[Major League Baseball]].<ref name="shot"/> Before he could be officially signed, he was hit by a stray round from an [[AK-47]] rifle while taking a break from a studio recording session with reggaeton artist [[DJ Playero]].<ref name="shot"/> Ayala spent roughly a year and a half recovering from the wound; the bullet was never removed from his hip, and he credits the shooting incident with allowing him to focus entirely on a music career.<ref name="shot"/>

In 2004, Daddy Yankee released his international hit single "Gasolina", which is credited with introducing reggaeton to audiences worldwide, and making the music genre a global phenomenon.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/latin-awards/6553877/daddy-yankee-backstage-behind-the-scenes-of-his-billboard-latin |title=Daddy Yankee Backstage Behind the Scenes |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=May 17, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509021802/http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/latin-awards/6553877/daddy-yankee-backstage-behind-the-scenes-of-his-billboard-latin |archive-date=May 9, 2017 }}</ref> Since then, he has sold around 30 million records, making him [[List of best-selling Latin music artists|one of the best-selling Latin music artists]].<ref name="recordsold">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/03/21/daddy-yankee-announces-retirement-farewell-tour-and-final-album/7117364001/|work=[[USA Today]]|date=March 21, 2022|access-date=September 15, 2022|last=Annie Martin|first=Bryan|title=Reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee shocks fans by announcing retirement, farewell tour and album|archive-date=September 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916022931/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/03/21/daddy-yankee-announces-retirement-farewell-tour-and-final-album/7117364001/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sold1">{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2022/03/21/Daddy-Yankee-retire-final-album-Legendaddy-tour/9561647868197/|work=[[United Press International]]|date=March 21, 2016|access-date=September 15, 2022|last=Martin|first=Annie|title=Daddy Yankee to retire from music after 'Legendaddy' album|archive-date=April 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428083215/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2022/03/21/Daddy-Yankee-retire-final-album-Legendaddy-tour/9561647868197/|url-status=live}}</ref> Daddy Yankee's album ''[[Barrio Fino]]'' made history when it became the top-selling [[Latin music (genre)|Latin music]] album of the decade between 2000 and 2009.<ref name="billboard2014">{{Cite magazine|author= Leila Cobo|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin-notas/6207108/daddy-yankee-on-gasolina-barrio-fino-reggaeton-10-years-later-i-knew-it-was-a-home|title=Daddy Yankee Remembers 'Gasolina' 10 Years Later: 'I Knew It Was a Home Run'|magazine=Billboard| date=August 10, 2014 |access-date=May 2, 2017|language=en|archive-date=November 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113022603/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin-notas/6207108/daddy-yankee-on-gasolina-barrio-fino-reggaeton-10-years-later-i-knew-it-was-a-home|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/album-review/6205088/daddy-yankee-barrio-classic-track-by-track|title=Exclusive: Daddy Yankee's Track-by-Track Review of His 'Barrio Fino,' 10 Years Later|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 2, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113012539/https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/album-review/6205088/daddy-yankee-barrio-classic-track-by-track|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, Daddy Yankee, in collaboration with Latin pop singer [[Luis Fonsi]], released the hit single "[[Despacito]]". It became the first Spanish-language song to hit number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] since "[[Macarena (song)|Macarena]]" in 1996.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Despacito-Becomes-First-Spanish-Song-to-Peak-No-1-Since-Macarena-423220794.html|title='Despacito' Becomes First Spanish #1 Song Since 'Macarena'|website=Nbcmiami.com|date=May 19, 2017|access-date=January 27, 2018|archive-date=October 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015095222/http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Despacito-Becomes-First-Spanish-Song-to-Peak-No-1-Since-Macarena-423220794.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The single gained global success. The video for "Despacito" on [[YouTube]] received its billionth view on April 20, 2017, and became [[List of most-liked YouTube videos|the most-liked video]] on the platform. Its success led Daddy Yankee to become the most-listened artist worldwide on the streaming service [[Spotify]] in June 2017, the first Latin artist to do so.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/daddy-yankee-is-1-on-spotify-1st-latin-artist-to-do-so/2017/07/09/42a78bb2-64da-11e7-94ab-5b1f0ff459df_story.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170709221642/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/daddy-yankee-is-1-on-spotify-1st-latin-artist-to-do-so/2017/07/09/42a78bb2-64da-11e7-94ab-5b1f0ff459df_story.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= July 9, 2017|title=Daddy Yankee is #1 on Spotify; 1st Latin artist to do so|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|last=Ratner-Arias|first=Sigal|date=July 9, 2017|access-date=July 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.vibe.com/2017/07/daddy-yankee-number-1-spotify/|title=Daddy Yankee Breaks Barriers Becoming Top Streamed Artist On Spotify|magazine=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|last=Pickens|first=Ashley|date=July 10, 2017|access-date=July 10, 2017|archive-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711032033/http://www.vibe.com/2017/07/daddy-yankee-number-1-spotify/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2022, Daddy Yankee announced that he would be retiring from music after the release of his seventh studio album ''[[Legendaddy (album)|Legendaddy]]'' and its supporting tour.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 20, 2022 |title=Daddy Yankee, the 'King of Reggaeton' announces retirement |url=https://abc7.com/daddy-yankee-retiring-is-king-of-reggaeton/11667841/ |access-date=March 21, 2022 |publisher=[[WABC-TV]] |location=New York |via=[[KABC-TV]] |language=en |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321020630/https://abc7.com/daddy-yankee-retiring-is-king-of-reggaeton/11667841/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

During his career, Daddy Yankee earned numerous [[List of awards and nominations received by Daddy Yankee|accolades]], including five [[Latin Grammy Award]]s, two [[Billboard Music Awards|''Billboard'' Music Awards]], 14 [[Billboard Latin Music Awards|''Billboard'' Latin Music Awards]], two [[Latin American Music Awards]], eight Lo Nuestro Awards, an [[MTV Video Music Award]], and six ASCAP Awards. He also received a Puerto Rican Walk of Fame star, special awards by ''[[People en Español]]'' magazine, and the Presencia Latina at Harvard University. He was named by [[CNN]] as the "Most Influential Hispanic Artist" of 2009, and included in [[Time 100|''Time'' 100]] in 2006.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Latin Hearthrob Daddy Yankee Joins "B&B"|url=http://www.canyon-news.com/latin-hearthrob-daddy-yankee-joins-bb/24112|website=Canyon-news.com|access-date=January 27, 2018|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801110158/https://www.canyon-news.com/latin-hearthrob-daddy-yankee-joins-bb/24112|url-status=live}}</ref>