Daddy Yankee, born Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez on February 3, 1976, in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, is a renowned singer, songwriter, and actor widely celebrated as the "King of Reggaeton." Raised in the Villa Kennedy Housing Projects, he initially dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player before a life-changing injury redirected his focus to music. Daddy Yankee rose to global fame in 2004 with the release of "Gasolina," a single that introduced reggaeton to international audiences and helped transform the genre into a worldwide phenomenon. Over his career, he has sold approximately 30 million records, making him one of the best-selling Latin artists of all time. His album "Barrio Fino" became the top-selling Latin album of the 2000s. In 2017, he reached new heights with the international hit "Despacito," alongside Luis Fonsi, which became the first Spanish-language song to top the Billboard Hot 100 in over two decades and broke records on streaming platforms. Daddy Yankee was the most-listened-to artist worldwide on Spotify in June 2017, becoming the first Latin artist to achieve this. Throughout his career, Daddy Yankee has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including multiple Latin Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, and honors from organizations such as ASCAP and MTV. He has also been featured among the most influential figures in global media. Daddy Yankee retired from music on December 3, 2023, after his farewell concert in Puerto Rico, ending a groundbreaking career that helped shape the landscape of Latin music.