Daddy Yankee, one of the top-selling Latin music artists, explained to his fans that he’s turning to Christianity at his farewell concert in Puerto Rico on Sunday. At The Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, the reggaeton star, whose real name is Ramon Ayala, declared that he’s abandoning his stage name, Daddy Yankee.
After singing his 2004 hit “Gasolina” to 18,000 fans, Ayala announced that he has found “a new beginning” by embracing his Christian faith and encouraged his fans to “follow Jesus.”
The Puerto Rican rapper, who achieved worldwide fame with “Gasolina,” sold over 30 million records and made history with his album “Barrio Fino” as the best-selling Latin music album in the first decade of the 21st century.
Apart from “Gasolina,” he is also known for his 2017 smash “Despacito” with Luis Fonsi, which became the first Spanish-language record to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 since “Macarena” in 1996.
At the concert, Ayala revealed that despite his international success as a recording artist, he felt incomplete. He shared from the Bible, quoting the Book of Mark, and warned about the dangers of “gaining the whole world” and “losing one’s soul.”
The 46-year-old confessed that for a long time, he tried to fill the void in his life with other things, but now his focus has shifted towards dedicating his life and talents to serving his faith.
Despite initially announcing retirement at the end of 2022, he officially held his farewell concert in December. His 2022 tour, “La Última Vuelta” (“The Last Lap”), was a massive success, grossing over $125 million from 55 shows.
“As a Christian rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor, Mr. Ayala is turning over “everything” Jesus has given him, including “music, social networks, platforms, a microphone” to serve His kingdom,” he announced at his concert.
The reggaeton star also asked his fans to walk with him in his new journey and to “follow Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life.”
The concert was also live-streamed on his social media, where he expressed his gratitude to Puerto Rico and his desire to evangelize the world through his faith.
The farewell concert was the final leg of four back-to-back shows known as “La Meta” (“The Goal”) from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3. The event marked the end of Ayala’s successful 20-year music career and the beginning of a new spiritual chapter in his life.
