Daddy Yankee announced his retirement to devote his life to Christianity during his final concert Sunday at the Coliseum José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan.
“My people, this is the most important day of my life and I want to share it with you, because living a life of success is not the same as living a life with purpose,” said the Puerto Rican from 46 years. said in Spanish.
“For many years, I tried to fill a void in my life that no one could fill. I tried to find purpose, many times I felt like I was happy but something was missing to make me feel complete. I must admit that those days are gone and someone has managed to fill this void that I felt for a long time.
“I realized that to everyone I was somebody, but I was nobody without him. Over the years I have been able to travel the world, win many awards, applaud and praise, but I realized something that is found in the Bible: for what profit is it for a man to gain the whole world and lose your soul? »
Daddy Yankee (born Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez) then told the 18,000 fans gathered inside the stadium on the final stop of his farewell tour La Meta (The goal) that “one chapter is over but a new one is about to begin”.
Daddy Yankee announced his retirement to devote his life to Christianity during his final concert Sunday at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan.
“All the tools that I have in my possession, like music, social media, platforms, a microphone, everything that God has given me is now for his kingdom,” said the “King of Reggaeton”.
“Thank you so much, Puerto Rico, and I hope you walk with me in this new beginning and I hope you remember something very important: don’t follow anyone. I am human. To all who follow me, follow Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life.
“Just as Jesus, with his mercy, allowed me to travel the world, in your mercy, Father, I hope you will allow me to evangelize the world from Puerto Rico. Amen.’
After Daddy Yankee’s tearful speech, dozens of drones took the shape of a cross in the night sky with the message “Cristo viene” (Christ will come).
The five-time Grammy nominee first announced his plans to retire in March 2022 following the release of his seventh (and final) studio album Legendaddy and subsequent tour.
Daddy Yankee – who has 134.3 million followers on social media – shared his speech on Instagram alongside a meaningful Bible verse from the book of Matthew 16:26-27.
The Gasolina hitmaker – who boasts 48.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify – began his career in 1994, and it peaked in 2017 when he and Luis Fonsi released their record-breaking single Despacito.
It went on to rack up a staggering 8.5 billion views on YouTube and the earworm became the first Spanish-language song to top the Billboard Hot 100 since Los Del Río’s 1996 dance hit Macarena.
Papa Yankee has three children: his daughter Yamilette, 29 years old; his daughter Jesaaelys, 27 years old; and son Jeremy, 25 – from his 29-year marriage to childhood friend Mireddys González.
The 46-year-old Puerto Rican said in Spanish: “My people, this is the most important day of my life and I want to share it with you, because living a life of success is not the same as living a life with a purpose.” . For many years, I tried to fill a void in my life that no one could fill.
Papa Yankee (born Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez) continued: “I tried to find purpose, many times I felt like I was happy but something was missing to make me feel complete. I have to admit those days are gone and someone was able to fill that void I felt for a long time.
The “king of reggaeton” added: “I realized that to everyone, I was somebody but I was nobody without him. Over the years, I was able to travel the world, win many awards, applauding and praising, but I realized something that is in the Bible: for what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?
Daddy Yankee then told the 18,000 fans gathered inside the stadium during the final leg of his La Meta (The Goal) farewell tour that “a chapter is over but a new one is about to begin.”
The five-time Grammy nominee said, “All the tools I have, like music, social media, platforms, a microphone – everything God has given me is now for his kingdom.”
Daddy Yankee first announced his plans to retire in March 2022 following the release of his seventh (and final) studio album Legendaddy and the subsequent tour.
The Gasolina hitmaker – who has 134.3 million followers on social media – shared his speech on Instagram alongside a meaningful Bible verse from the book of Matthew 16:26-27.
Daddy Yankee began his career in 1994, and it peaked in 2017 when he and Luis Fonsi released their record-breaking single Despacito.
It went on to rack up a staggering 8.5 billion views on YouTube and the earworm became the first Spanish-language song to top the Billboard Hot 100 since Los Del Río’s 1996 dance hit Macarena.
The Neon star producer has three children: his daughter Yamilette, 29; his daughter Jesaaelys (M, photo June 18), 27 years old; and son Jeremy, 25 – from his 29-year marriage to childhood friend Mireddys González (right)
