In a solemn video and with a studied message for his fans, the "boss of reggaeton" Daddy Yankee announced from his mansion in Puerto Rico that he will definitively retire from the stage.

"Today I formally announce my retirement from music by giving you my best production and my best concert tour," he promised.

His new album will be called Legendaddy, and he explained that it will be a mix of all the styles that define him in a single album.

"It's fighting, it's partying, it's war, it's romance," he said.

Yankee is known as the true pioneer of this genre. He was the first to use the word regegaton in the early 1990s, when he released his first album, Playero 34, with producer DJ Playero.

His most popular hit, “Gasolina,” is now an integral part of Latin musical history. With an enviable list of success, including seven Latin Grammys and 28 Latin Billboard Music Awards, the Puerto Rican artist recognized that “this race, which has been a marathon, is on its final stage. Now I am going to enjoy with all of you what you have given me.”

Regarding the label of 'boss,' he said that "people say that I took this genre worldwide. But it was you who gave me the keys to open the doors, to make this genre the biggest in the world."

 

“I always worked with a lot of discipline, to be able to inspire all the young people to be leaders. To not surrender about their dream of growing, to forget about limitations and work for their family and their people,” he said.

Something that makes him especially proud is to return to his neighborhood and see how the dreams of the boys have changed. Before, he and his friends dreamed of being drug traffickers. Today, the new generations aspire to be world famous singers.

In addition to his classic "Gasolina," Yankee was part of the 2017 mega hit "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi, one of the most played videos on YouTube with almost 8 billion views. He has also collaborated with Nas, Snoop Doog and Nicky Jam.

Daddy Yankee's vision was to export reggaeton and make it a worldwide genre.

"I retire with millions of thanks to my audience, my colleagues, all producers, radio, press, television, digital platforms, and you, especially you, who was with me from the beginning of reggeaton," he said.

The Legendaddy Tour now has more than 40 performances. It will start on Aug. 10 in Portland, Oregon, and will end on Dec. 2 in Mexico City. In addition to the U.S. and Mexico, the tour will also visit Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and Guatemala.