For many, the lyrics of reggaeton and the Christian faith are at the opposite end, but the reality is that several urban artists have had ties with churches, and in many cases they have been their refuge due to extreme personal situations or addictions.
The most recent case is that of Daddy Yankee, who last weekend closed what he has said will be his last concert, announcing that he will dedicate the rest of his life to preaching the word of Christ.
“To all the people who followed me, follow Jesus Christ, he is the way, the truth and the life,” the artist said Sunday night from the Puerto Rico Coliseum, before dozens of drones in the hall concert will light up the sky with the message “Christ loves you.”
Almost two years earlier, his colleague and compatriot Farruko had done the same. At a concert at the Miami Heat basketball team arena, the artist surprised his fans by apologizing for the messages in his music, especially for the biggest hit of his career, his song “Pepas.”
Daddy Yankee performs at his “La Meta” concert at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, in San Juan (Puerto Rico). EFE/Thais Llorca
“I believed my own lie. Because my song was number one, I didn’t know the message I was giving, that I was telling people ‘take a pill to be happy.’ And you know what? I’m not proud of that. God knows how many of his children I hurt!… And today I stand up, as a man, to tell them to forgive me as a human being,” he expressed.
“God is a fair being, he allowed me the bad and the good and wants to use me as an instrument for everyone who perhaps has many doubts. This is a real testimony. “A message of light in the midst of darkness,” he added.
His stories echo those of Panamanian artist El General, considered the father of the urban Latin music movement, and Héctor ‘El Father’, one of the creators of the current sound of reggaeton. Both made more radical decisions and abandoned public life to become pastors.
Reggaeton, the emptiness of bravado and sexual power
Reggaeton is often criticized for valuing toughness and sexual power over vulnerability and emotional transparency, but it can be a mask for some.
“For a long time I have tried to fill a void in my life that no one could fill. I tried to fill it and find purpose in my life. I have to tell you that those days are gone. I am not ashamed to tell the whole world that Jesus lives in me and that I will live for him,” said Daddy Yankee at his concert.
They also speak of this void, for example, in the songs ‘René’ (2020), by Residente, and ‘Nadie saber’ (2023), by Bad Bunny, performers who have not announced belonging to this Christian movement.
Likewise on his debut album “Odisea,” Ozuna explored themes of innocence, fragility and desire, presenting his art as a spiritual journey, while Wisin and Yandel have themes of gratitude on their individual albums.
Life and death
The Christian faith has been the response that some of these artists have found in extreme situations.
Daddy Yankee said that his approach to religion began at the age of 17, when he received a bullet in the leg that kept him in bed for more than a year and left him with a slight disability.
Vico C, Voltio and even Don Omar found in religion the way to keep their addictions under control and stay away from violence.
Don Omar told CNN that the first time he approached Christianity was when he was a teenager, when he saw several of his friends die, victims of organized violence.
“At that time I sold drugs,” the artist confessed.
He embraced Christianity and was ordained as a pastor. Years later he tried to reconcile his faith with a musical career and when the church authorities prevented him from doing so, he abandoned it.
He eventually returned to the fold, after acknowledging his addiction to sex, alcohol and drugs.
Héctor “El Father”, Lary Over, Voltio, Almighty and El General did not achieve that conciliation either, but decided the opposite. After declaring their faith, they retired from music.
“I don’t understand how you can be in those two worlds,” Héctor ‘El Father’ told EFE when he presented the autobiographical film “Héctor ‘El Father, you will know the truth” in 2020.
In the same vein as Daddy Yankee and Farruko, Tito ‘El Bambino’ has become an amplifier for other Christians. In the pandemic he regularly hosted Instagram Live sessions with Christian music preachers and artists.
The growing number of Christian reggaeton artists, including Alex Zurdo, Kike Pavón, Redimi2, and others, demonstrates the expansion of this movement.
These artists not only maintain the essence of reggaeton, but also infuse their lyrics with messages of faith and hope. With EFE
