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the early 1990s in Panama and was later adopted in Puerto Rico. Reggaeton blends Jamaican reggae and dancehall with Latin American influenced bomba, plena and hip hop.

Daddy Yankee was born Raymond Ayala on February 3, 1977 in Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Yankee is often referred to as "El Cangri" which is derived from the word Cangrimán (congressman in English) which signifies a powerful and influential person in the Puerto Rican culture.

The Hispanic artist began rapping as a hobby and became involved in the recording industry in the early 1990s along with Reggaeton pioneer DJ Playero. He quickly earned respect as the "King of Improvisation". However, the young rapper was also involved in illegal activities at the time and was unfortunately shot in his legs at the age of seventeen. This life threatening experience allowed Yankee to focus his attention on pursuing a full-time music career.

His first debut was on the One Tough Cop soundtrack in 1998 with the song "Posición", a collaboration with recording artist Alberto Stylee. Yankee's first complete album El Cartel de Yankee, was released in 2000. A year later a second volume followed and in 2002 he released El Changri.com, then Los Homerun-es in 2003. Although maintaining a presence in the industry for 10 years, it was not until his major hit "Gasolina" in 2004 that he achieved international recognition.

The album Barrio Fino which contains "Gasolina"sold over 1 000 000 copies in Puerto Rico and fared extremely well globally. Barrio Fino was the first Reggaeton album to debut as number one on the Billboard chart and maintained its high position for almost a year.

Daddy Yankee has also released a live album, Ahora Le Toca al Cangri! Live, as well as re-issued Los Homerun-es in March of 2005. Barrio Fino en Directo, another live album is also set to be released. The rapper has also collaborated with other hip hop stars such as Snoop Dogg in 2006 for the song "Gangsta Zone" as well as with Lloyd Banks and Young Buck in 2006 with "Rompe" the remix.

Yankee has also earned credit appearing in the film tentatively entitled Talento de Barrio which is expected to appear on DVD in the spring of 2006. He also started his own clothing line named DY and has partnered with Reebok to design his own shoes and sporting goods. The Puerto Rican sensation is also the host of "Daddy Yankee On Fuego", a show on the ABC Radio Network.