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Legendaddy (album)

Legendaddy is the eighth studio album by Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee, released on March 24, 2022, by El Cartel Records and Republic Records. It is his first and only album released directly under Universal, rather than its Latin division, after signing a global distribution deal in 2020.

Background
Following the release of Daddy Yankee's sixth studio album Prestige (2012) and his mixtape King Daddy (2013), it was announced in 2014 that his next project would be King Daddy II, which was later renamed El Disco Duro and scheduled to release in 2016. On October 26, 2016, he showed some of the album's tracks to Zumba creator Beto Pérez, with whom he had a partnership, and announced that it would be released during early 2017. On June 21, 2017, when asked about the record, he stated that the release had been postponed due to standalone singles being more profitable. In 2019, Vice contributor Gary Suarez opined that it was "either completely dead in the water or overdue for a radical revision from what he originally intended," while Ulises Fuente of La Razón anticipated that it might not be released because of the success of his standalone singles. In February 2020, Puerto Rican urban music news media Rapetón reported that Daddy Yankee's manager and label Pina Records' CEO, Raphy Pina, stated in a now-deleted post that "people [were] waiting for something that was never made". On September 10, 2020, Daddy Yankee closed a global distribution deal with Universal Music Group with plans of releasing a new album and producing a documentary about the history of reggaeton. He had his music distributed by Universal through Capitol Latin since 2012 and proposed the recording of a new album due to him owing the label several singles. On September 23, 2021, during his acceptance speech for his induction into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame, Daddy Yankee told his fans to "enjoy his last musical round". Following that, on December 30, 2021, he posted that he was going to "give his last round to the world" in 2022. On March 20, 2022, he posted a video on his social media in which he announced that he would retire from music after the conclusion of his upcoming farewell concert tour, La Última Vuelta, as well as the release date for his final album, Legendaddy. In the video, the rapper said that he "finally [saw] the finish line" and that he would "give [his fans] all the styles that have defined [him] in one single album," which he referred to as "his best production". The album's track list was posted on March 22, 2022, while the guest features were revealed a few hours before the release. Daddy Yankee decided to retire in 2020 while working on the album during the COVID-19 pandemic and after realizing that he was "feeling good, pleased and accomplished" and that he had to "give himself the opportunity to enjoy everything he had achieved" after working non-stop for 32 years. He always wanted to retire young and felt that the time had come to "look for something beyond the industry" and to be a "normal person". He decided to feature a track list consisting entirely of new songs, without including previously released singles from past years, stating that "it would make an impression because it's something that isn't done anymore." and that he sees himself "owning more teams, producing content for movies, documentaries and series [and] producing new music acts." In February 2023, Daddy Yankee announced an "extension" for the album with pre-recorded bonus tracks, including "Chispa", which was selected as the 2023 World Baseball Classic anthem. ==Composition==
Composition
Daddy Yankee described the album's themes as "fight, party, war and romance," while The New York Times also added "self-mythologizing". Primarily a reggaeton record, both old-school and contemporary, Legendaddy also incorporates trap and elements of salsa, bachata, cumbia, dembow and electronic dance music. Puerto Rican urban acts Pusho and Justin Quiles co-wrote four and two songs, respectively. It is followed by "Campeón", an "electro-tinted reggaeton" track in which the rapper summarizes his trajectory, describes himself as a legend and expresses that he can retire as an unbeaten champion. "Pasatiempo" features Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers and blends reggaeton with a repeating sample of the melody of Swedish producer StoneBridge's remix version of the house single "Show Me Love" (1992) by American singer Robin S., with lyrics about casual sex and a woman who wants to have fun at a nightclub and "take out the beast" she has inside. The following track, "Rumbatón", referred to by Daddy Yankee as the album's flagship, is a "bachata-infused reggaeton" reminiscent of his single "Lo Que Pasó, Pasó" (2004), with Puerto Rican producer Eliel on piano and American musician and former member of Aventura Lenny Santos on guitar. Daddy Yankee had never heard "Báilame" until it was shown to him by Dominican producer Luny and decided to use the chorus in order to reminisce and give the song a retro sound. "X Última Vez" features Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and is a "sad and nostalgic" song that blends "old-school reggaeton beats with edgy urban sounds," The title has a double meaning by also referring to the last time they will collaborate. Daddy Yankee identifies a lot with the track because of his relationship with his wife, to whom he dedicated lines about being together since poverty and the value of her companionship. In "Uno Quitao' y Otro Puesto", he boasts about his career, rapping about his beginnings, his "rise to the top," his invincibility against time and the "zero intimidation" he feels from his enemies. The song uses an "old-school" reggaeton beat, a "heavy bass" and gunshot sounds. "Truquito" is a 26-second skit featuring a 1993 recording from late American salsa singer Frankie Ruiz that serves as a prelude to the following track, "El Abusador del Abusador", an uplifting reggaeton and salsa fusion with lyrics about being humble while also knowing one's worth. "Enchuletiao'" is a trap song in which he talks about "his unrivaled eminence in the genre". The next song, "Agua", is a "1980s-inspired dance" track that features vocals by Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro and electric guitar funk riffs by American guitarist and producer Nile Rodgers. "Zona del Perreo" is a contemporary reggaeton song that features Dominican singer Natti Natasha and American singer Becky G. "Hot" features Cuban-American rapper Pitbull and is an "EDM fusion" that uses the beat from "Trompeta y Guaracha" (2019) by Mexican disc jockey DJ Morphius and American production duo Muzik Junkies. "La Ola" is an "old-school infectious perreo" with flirtatious and repetitive lyrics about joining a party. "Bombón" is a dembow track that features Dominican rapper El Alfa and American crunk act Lil Jon. "El Rey de lo Imperfecto" is a romantic "urban-infused cumbia song" about an imperfect man "promising to unconditionally love a person through her own insecurities and drama." It is followed by "Impares", a heartbreak song with a "heavy reggaeton beat" about an incompatible couple. The album closes with "Bloke", a reggaeton track that is heavily inspired by Daddy Yankee's 1990s songs and ends with him bidding farewell to his fans. ==Production==
Production
Daddy Yankee co-produced and programmed all tracks; American production duo Play-N-Skillz, producers of Daddy Yankee's "Con Calma" (2019), worked on six tracks, including the singles "Agua", "Hot", "Bombón" and "Pasatiempo". They felt "grateful" for being "part of [his] last footprint in music" and referred to the album as "one of [their] favorite projects" they have ever worked on. Puerto Rican El Cartel Records' producers JBD, OMB and Nekxum produced eight, seven and five tracks, respectively. Dominican producer and longtime collaborator Luny—one half of production duo Luny Tunes, who worked on Daddy Yankee's breakthrough album Barrio Fino (2004) and its single "Gasolina"―produced two tracks, including "Rumbatón". Puerto Rican producer and Grammy Record of the Year-nominee Tainy produced the single "X Última Vez"; he thanked Daddy Yankee for inspiring him and wrote that "being in [his] last album is incredible for a kid who grew up listening to [him]." Other producers include Puerto Ricans Chris Jedi and Gaby Music on "Zona del Perreo" and Wiso Rivera on "El Abusador del Abusador", Dominican Blu Rey on "Bloke", Puerto Rican Alex Killer, American G.O.K.B. and Colombian Maki Váez on "Enchuletiao'", and Panamanian BK on "La Ola" and "Para Siempre"; the latter was also co-produced by compatriot Jhon El Diver. Mexican disc jockey DJ Morphius and American production duo Muzik Junkies received credit for the use of their song "Trompeta y Guaracha" (2019) on "Hot". The album was recorded in Puerto Rico and Miami by OMB, Dímelo Flow, Gaby Music, Luny, Play-N-Skillz, Puerto Rican producer La Paciencia, American-Nigerian producer Emmanuel "Eman" Anene and American audio engineer Kellie McGrew. It was mastered by American engineer Michael Fuller at Fullersound in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. ==Album cover==
Album cover
The cover art was designed by Puerto Rican graphic design company Altoons Design, with creative direction by Alexis Hernández, who works for Daddy Yankee and his manager Raphy Pina's label Pina Records since 2015. It depicts the head of a mature, aged, wounded and bloodstained goat with golden horns, which has been interpreted as Daddy Yankee's experience and his "royalty, wealth, or high social status," as well as a "resistance symbol". The term "GOAT" is also an acronym for the expression "Greatest of All Time", which is frequently used by him. He conceived "Legendaddy"—a combination of "legend" and "Daddy"—after noticing production company Legendary Entertainment's name while watching a film. because it has the same pronunciation as "legendary" in English, but Raphy Pina convinced him to use it as the album's title instead. ==Release==
Release
Legendaddy was released digitally on March 24, 2022, on CD on September 26, 2022, and on vinyl on January 6, 2023, through Daddy Yankee's own label El Cartel Records and Universal Music Group's Republic Records. In the United States, the record debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 in the week ending April 9, 2022, with 29,000 album-equivalent units, calculated from 38.49 million on-demand streams and 2,000 pure sales. It was the highest-peaking, largest-debuting and first top 10 Latin album on the chart since Bad Bunny's El Último Tour del Mundo on the issue dated December 12, 2020. It subsequently received a Latin platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for units of over 60,000 sales plus equivalent units, the mid-year's highest for a Latin album released within the first half of 2022. It was the 19th best-performing Latin album of 2022 in the United States. An extended version of the album, titled Legendaddy Goat Edition, is set to be released in 2023. In Spain, Legendaddy debuted and peaked at number two on the issue dated March 31, 2022, and charted for 48 total weeks, becoming his highest-peaking and longest-running album in the country. Writing for Spanish music website Jenesaispop, Sebas Alonso opined that its debut placement in Spain was affected by its lack of a physical release, although it later received a vinyl edition, which peaked at number 21 on the Vinyl Albums chart on January 19, 2023. It was the 19th best-performing record of the year in Spain and received a gold certification for over 20,000 album-equivalent units. Singles -featured (pictured) "X Última Vez" was the album's best performing track of 2022 in three countries.|210px "Rumbatón", referred to by Daddy Yankee as "the album's flagship", It was accompanied by a music video directed by Dominican filmmaker Marlon Peña, which depicts a newlywed couple that end up joining a street party in Cabo Rojo and features cameos by Luny, DJ Joe and Trébol Clan member Periquito. It peaked at number 82 on the Billboard Global 200 and number one in Puerto Rico and Mexico for three and one weeks, respectively, and reached the top five in El Salvador, Honduras and Uruguay and the top 10 in Chile, Ecuador and Peru. It is the album's highest-peaking song in Spain, reaching number 11 and eventually receiving a platinum certification for units of over 60,000 track-equivalent streams. It was the 89th song with most radio spins of 2022 in Latin America, with 95,520, and was the album's most-played track of the year in Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela. "Remix" was also released as a single on March 24, 2022, alongside a music video directed by Venezuelan director Daniel Durán. It peaked at number 147 on the Billboard Global 200 as well as the top five in Honduras. In the United States, it reached number one on the Billboard Latin Airplay, ranked within the top 20 on its Hot Latin Songs and Bubbling Under Hot 100 charts and received a Latin platinum certification for units of over 60,000 track-equivalent streams. It was the 70th best-performing single of 2022 on Billboards Hot Latin Songs year-end chart and the 10th on its Latin Airplay list. It was the most-played radio song of the year in Puerto Rico, with 5,600 spins, and the 57th in Latin America, with 113,350. "Agua" was released as a single alongside the album as well, with a music video directed by Marlon Peña. It peaked at number 189 on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart and reached the top 20 in Panama and the top 30 on the US Hot Latin Songs. and reached the top five in Nicaragua, the top 10 in El Salvador and the top 20 in the Dominican Republic and Honduras. It was the seventh most-played song of the year in Nicaragua, with 4,220 spins. "Hot" was also concurrently released as a single, with a music video directed by Durán. It reached the top 20 in Honduras, the top 25 on the US Hot Latin Songs It was the album's best-selling track of 2022 in the United States, ranking at number 25 on the Latin Digital Songs year-end chart. "X Última Vez" was released as the sixth single on April 6, 2022, through a music video shot in New York City and directed by Mexican director Fernando Lugo, which depicts futuristic and dystopian visuals and a "video game-like setting." Chile, Honduras and Mexico and the top 10 in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, It was the only song from the album to enter the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 73 and later receiving a triple Latin platinum certification for units of over 180,000 track-equivalent streams. It was certified gold in Spain, where it reached the top 20, for units of over 30,000 track-equivalent streams. It was the 44th best-performing single of 2022 on Billboards Hot Latin Songs year-end chart and Puerto Rico. Filmed in Colombia and the Puerto Rican municipality of San Germán, it premiered exclusively on Facebook and depicts a marriage proposal. which incorporates "vintage elements" and a "black and white minimalistic setting". It reached the top 20 in Chile and the top 30 in Spain and the US Hot Latin Songs chart. "Zona del Perreo" and "El Abusador del Abusador", both directed by Fernando Lugo; and "Impares", directed by Nuno Gomes. To avoid the songs being leaked online during the filming of the music videos, dancers used in-ear monitors to listen to the tracks while the public and extras listened to a generic reggaeton drum pattern through speakers. 12 of the album's tracks debuted concurrently on the US Hot Latin Songs chart, including "Zona del Perreo", "Uno Quitao' y Otro Puesto" and "Campeón" in the top 40 and "El Abusador del Abusador" in the top 50. where it was the 48th most-played song of 2022 in the country, with 1,730 spins. Visualizer videos for the tracks "Enchuletiao'" and "Campeón", both filmed during his farewell concert tour and directed by Marlon Peña, were released on November 23, 2022, and December 22, 2022, respectively. ==Touring==
Touring
.|210px La Última Vuelta World Tour is Daddy Yankee's final concert tour. Comprising 87 shows, it began in Denver on July 25, 2022, and will conclude in San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 3, 2023. It was originally scheduled to end with three shows from January 6 to 8, 2023, at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico but, due to "logistics problems", these were postponed to the end of the year with two additional dates and the venue changed to the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum. His three concerts at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Chile were the 24th highest-grossing boxscore of the year, with a gross of 17.6 million dollars and 196,917 attendees. It also was the year's 21st highest-grossing tour in North America, with a gross of 65 million dollars and 427,981 tickets sold. It was the second most-successful tour of the year in Latin America after grossing 112.7 million dollars and selling 1,383,000 tickets. He also became the first artist to sell out three shows in a single day at the Estadio Nacional in Chile after doing so in five hours. It received a Lo Nuestro Award for Tour of the Year at the 35th Lo Nuestro Awards and for Tour of the Year at the 8th Latin American Music Awards and the 4th Premios Tu Música Urbano. ==Critical reception==
Critical reception
(pictured), who he admired since his childhood, on the praised "Agua". Rodgers was enlisted due to his involvement as producer on several hits from the 1980s.|210px Legendaddy received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who referred to it as a good send-off for Daddy Yankee's retirement as well as its incorporation of other genres. with Isabela Raygoza of the Grammy Awards website commending the album for "[encapsulating] his dynamic and linguistic prowess," with "plenty of moments [...] where [his] creative brilliance shines through." The site's Taila Lee called it "a passionate [...] love letter" and an "emotional swan song". as well as one of the album's "most exciting moments" and "surprising tracks" for "taking Daddy Yankee completely out of his comfort zone." The album's collaborations were generally approved, with some of them—including "Pasatiempo" and "X Última Vez"—being selected by critics among its best songs, while Cruz Bonlarron Martínez of American media outlet Latino Rebels noticed the absence of Don Omar, Puerto Rican duo Wisin & Yandel and American singer Nicky Jam, but understood that its guest features "give [it] a more contemporary sound, placing it closer to the new wave reggaeton". On the contrary, Luis Maínez of Spanish magazine Mondo Sonoro criticized the featured artists for "falling short of the opportunity they were given" and wrote that the record lacks the "epic moments" like the ones that helped to improve Daddy Yankee's career. while the single "X Última Vez" was ranked 80th on their best songs of the year ranking. The publication's Spanish-language edition considered it to be one of the year's most important records in Spanish, describing it as a "love letter to the genre". Uproxx contributor Lucas Villa found it to be among the best Latin albums of the year, writing that "reggaeton music's G.O.A.T. didn't let his crown slip," while streaming platform Audiomack's editors included it on their "50 Best Albums of 2022" unranked listicle. Legendaddy was also selected by Univisión as one of the year's best albums, while Milenio ranked it seventh on their top 10 list of 2022. "X Última Vez" was selected by Time as one of the best Latin songs of the year. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Música Urbana Album at the 65th Grammy Awards, garnering his fifth Grammy nomination and becoming his second album to be nominated at the event. "Agua" was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the 23rd Latin Grammy Awards, while Legendaddy became Daddy Yankee's first album since Barrio Fino to not receive a nomination by the Latin Recording Academy. He received numerous nominations at the 35th Lo Nuestro Awards, with Legendaddy nominated for both Album and Urban Album of the Year categories, while the tracks "Hot" and "Remix" were nominated for Pop Urban/Dance and Urban Song of the Year, respectively. At the 3rd Premios Tu Música Urbano, Legendaddy and "X Última Vez" received the Album of the Year – Male Artist and Top Song – Pop Urban awards, respectively, while "Agua" was nominated for Video of the Year. At the 19th Premios Juventud, Legendaddy and "Bombón" were nominated for Album of the Year and Best Social Dance Challenge, respectively. At the 17th Los 40 Music Awards, the record and "Rumbatón" received nominations for Global Latin – Best Album and Global Latin – Best Video, respectively. Legendaddy was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Urban Album at the ninth Latin American Music Awards, while the singles "Remix" and "Hot" received nominations for Best Urban Song and Best Pop/Urban Collaboration, respectively. ==Track listing==
Track listing
;Sample credits • "Pasatiempo" contains a sample from StoneBridge's remix version of "Show Me Love", written and produced by Allen George and Fred McFarlane, and performed by Robin S. • "Hot" samples the beat from "Trompeta y Guaracha", produced by DJ Morphius and Muzik Junkies. • "Bombón" interpolates the chorus from "Macarena", written, produced and performed by Los del Río. • "Bloke" contains a sample from "Hot This Year", produced by Philip Smart and performed by Dirtsman. ==Personnel==
Personnel
Credits adapted from TidalRauw Alejandro – vocals, songwriting (12) • El Alfa – vocals, songwriting (16) • Reggi El Auténtico – songwriting (12) • Luis Barrera Jr. – mixing engineer (4, 10, 12, 14, 16–18), immersive mixing engineer (11–19) • BCA – songwriting (7, 15) • Becky G – vocals (13) • BK – producer, programming (7, 15) • Michael Buffer – voice (1) • Bad Bunny – vocals, songwriting (6) • Trébol Clan – songwriting (5) • Vinny DeLeón – mixing engineer (2, 7, 11, 15) • Altoons Design – graphic design • Manuel DH – producer (19) • Dirtsman – songwriting (19) • Jhon El Diver – producer, programming (7) • Eliel – piano (5) • Eman – producer (1, 17), recording engineer, songwriting (12) • Dímelo Flow – producer, recording engineer, programming (2, 7, 15) • Michael Fuller – mastering engineer • Allen George – songwriting (4) • G.O.K.B. – producer, programming (11) • Tyron Hernandez – songwriting (9–10, 17–18) • Izaak – songwriting (7, 15) • JBD – producer, programming (1, 3–4, 8–10, 18–19), songwriting (3–4, 8–10, 18) • Chris Jedi – producer, programming, songwriting (13) • DJ Joe – songwriting (5) • Lil Jon – vocals, songwriting (16) • Muzik Junkies – producer, programming, songwriting (14) • Alex Killer – producer, programming (11) • Nikki Luchese – songwriting (4) • Luny – producer, recording engineer, mixing engineer (5, 19), programming (19) • Fred McFarlane – songwriting (4) • Slow Mike – producer (2, 7, 15), programming (7, 15) • DJ Morphius – producer, programming, songwriting (14) • Kellie McGrew – recording engineer (1) • Gaby Music – producer, programming (13), recording engineer (6, 13, 17), mixing engineer (6, 13) • Natti Natasha – vocals (13) • Nekxum – producer, programming (3, 8–10, 18) • OMB – producer (1, 3, 8–10, 18–19), recording engineer (3–6, 8–11, 13–14, 16, 18–19), mixing engineer (3–4, 8–9, 19), programming (1, 3–4, 8–10, 18–19) • Omy de Oro – songwriting (11) • La Paciencia – recording engineer (6) • Pitbull – vocals, songwriting (14) • Play-N-Skillz – producer, programming (1, 4, 12, 14, 16–17), recording engineer (4), mixing engineer (1), songwriting (14) • Pusho – songwriting (3–4, 8, 11, 19) • Justin Quiles – songwriting (15) • David Raey – songwriting (12) • Blu Rey – producer, mixing engineer, programming (19) • Los del Río – songwriting (16) • Nile Rodgers – guitar (12) • Frankie Ruiz – voice (9) • Rey Santana – songwriting (12) • Lenny Santos – guitar (5) • Sech – vocals, songwriting (7) • Philip Smart – songwriting (19) • Scott Summers – producer, programming, songwriting (12, 14, 16–17) • Tainy – producer, mixing engineer, programming (6) • Myke Towers – vocals, songwriting (4) • Maki Váez – producer, programming (11) • Gary Walker – songwriting (12) • Wise – songwriting (5) • Wiso Rivera – producer, programming (9, 10) • Daddy Yankee – vocals (2–8, 10–19), producer, programming, songwriting (all tracks) ==Charts==
Charts
Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications==
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