COLOMBIA: Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee wows Colombian audiences with his Medellin show

Puerto Rican reggaeton musician Daddy Yankee, on tour in Colombia gave a concert in Medellin Thursday (September 15) saying his blend of reggae and hip-hop music represents the Latin character. Speaking at a news conference in Bogota on Wednesday (September 14), the proponent of reggaeton music, an urban dance music influenced by reggae said the music he plays represents the urban Latin movement. "It's the urban Latin movement that represents all our Latin characters. It's controversial. It's a genre that also has social lyrics and I tell you that it's so real, it's so real that this is why it continues to grow and create controversy because we are talking about the things that happen, and we don't adorn them," he said. The singer was presented with a platinum disc and a hat in tribute to his musical achievements. But Daddy Yankee said that despite his success, he liked to keep his feet on the ground. "Really, I keep my feet on the ground, and I'm saying that right now I'm having a good moment but there are a lot of talented people. I prefer instead of being the best, to be the champion of the people, do you understand?" he asked. " I don't like titles, I don't like any of that, I like to get with the people and work with the people, that is my thing." Daddy Yankee went on to Medellin, some 450 kilometres north west of Bogota, to headline a reggaeton show in the city's Atanasio Girardot stadium. The Puerto Rican star was joined by Two Swing, Kevin Litle and Silvestre Dangond, followed by Zionn & Lennox. But the star of the night was Daddy Yankee, whose show proved so popular that fans had to be forcefully removed from the stage. The show was proof that the reggaeton genre, which originated in Puerto Rico, has struck a chord with Colombian youth, and looks like it has arrived to stay.

ITN Source | September 22, 2005

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