Daddy Yankee fans knew that Sunday night’s concert in his native Puerto Rico was supposed to be the last of the Latin music superstar’s nearly 30-year career. However, the final concert of his La Meta (The Finish Line) tour ended with a surprise that left fans stunned and the Spanish-speaking media in a frenzy.
Beyond the farewell planned during the fifth concert he gave on the island since Thursday evening at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, there was a powerful statement from the creator of hits like “Gasolina” and “Despacito” . Raymond Ayala, the 46-year-old artist known as Daddy Yankee, announced that his retirement was entirely motivated by his conversion to Christ.
Ayala became the newest star of the urban music scene – and particularly reggaetón – who testified to her encounter with Jesus as her Savior.
A similar announcement had already been made by fellow Puerto Rican Farruko, who announced his conversion during a February 2022 concert in Miami and refused to sing the lyrics to his hit song “Pepas”, asking fans to forgive him. With seven stops left on the tour, he announced that he would return the money to anyone who did not agree to listen to him speak about Jesus.
Héctor Delgado, who previously played the role of artist El Father and now runs a ministry on the island, also left the Puerto Rican reggaetón scene in 2008 due to his conversion.
All three artists left the music world behind at the height of their careers and global fame, with the 2022 leg of Daddy Yankee’s farewell tour. generator $125 million.
“My people, this day is the most important day of my life for me 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 Daddy Yankee in front of a stadium. full of delirious fans who came to applaud their idol.
“For a long time, I tried to fill a void in my life that no one could fill. I tried to fill and find meaning in my life. Sometimes I looked very happy, but something was missing to complete me,” he said, “and I must confess those days are gone.
“Someone managed to fill this void that I had felt for a long time. I was able to realize that to everyone I was someone, but I was nothing without him,” Daddy Yankee continued, before making his most direct allusion to Christ.
“Now anyone who knows me as Daddy Yankee should say, “Daddy Yankee in Christ, Raymond Ayala in Puerto Rico.” “A story ends and a new story will begin, a new beginning,” he said. “All the tools I have – like music, social media, platforms, a microphone, everything Jesus gave me – are now for the kingdom. »
“Thank you very much, Puerto Rico, and I hope that you will walk with me in this new beginning and I hope that something very important is registered in you: do not follow any man. I am a human. All those who followed me: Follow Jesus Christ, for he is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
As he left the stage, Daddy Yankee said, “Christ loves you and Christ is coming.” »
This last phrase resonates deeply in Puerto Rico, as it has for decades been the central message of the preaching of one of the island’s best-known evangelists: Yiye Ávila, a former bodybuilder who has drawn comparisons to Billy Graham and died in 2013.
Ayala does not approach the gospel as a complete outsider. In his background there was a strong Christian foundation and he has a brother who is currently an evangelical pastor.
In fact, he thanked God’s mercy for allowing him to travel the world, become rich and still be alive. He also said he hopes this same mercy will enable him to evangelize the world from Puerto Rico.
“Finally, I reached the goal. I’m free. Amen!” said Ayala before leaving the stage.
A drone show at the end of the concert represented a giant pink cross and a message: Christo Viene (“Christ comes”).
Delgado, who later led Maranatha Iglesia in Rio Grande, reacted enthusiastically to the news of another former colleague having found the Gospel, noting that it was Daddy Yankee who sowed Delgado a seed about Christ.
“I will never forget that you were the first to tell me about the Gospel of Jesus. I only ask God to give you strength and wisdom so that you can carry out all that God has precious for you and your family,” Delgado wrote.
Farruko celebrated the news but told his followers not to “trip” Daddy Yankee, as non-Christians and Christians did after his own conversion. “Glory to the Father, there is a feast in the kingdom,” he said. wrote on Instagram.
The high-profile conversions of Puerto Rican stars are not necessarily surprising. Beyond these stars, Vico C, a pioneer of Puerto Rican rap and hip-hop, confessed Christ as his Savior and later recorded a Christian album.
Likewise, singers in the salsa music genre, such as Richie Ray, Bobby Cruz, Ismael Miranda, and Domingo Quiñones, have also announced conversions during their careers.
“Welcome home Brother Raymond,” wrote Redimi2, a Dominican Christian reggaetón artist. “Even though I had already heard the news, I became moved, almost to tears, to see you admit this publicly. »
Keropi Sánchez, one of Puerto Rico’s most famous comedians, Express his joy at the news too.
“With the same posture with which we rejoiced upon hearing of this conversion, we should also feel glad of anyone who comes to the feet of Christ, famous or not.”
With additional reporting by Jhonny A. Neito Ossa
