Legendaddy (album)

Following the release of Daddy Yankee's seventh studio album Prestige (2012) and his mixtape King Daddy (2013), it was announced that his next project would be King Daddy II, which was later renamed El Disco Duro.[1][2][3] The album was scheduled to release in 2016 but Daddy Yankee announced on October 26, 2016 that it would be released during early 2017.[4][5] On June 21, 2017, when asked about the record, he stated that the release had been postponed due to standalone singles being more profitable.[6]

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.[7][8][9] He had his music distributed by Universal Music Group through Capitol Latin since 2012 and proposed the recording of a new album due to him owing the label several singles.[9] On September 15, 2021, Billboard's Leila Cobo stated that the then-unnamed album would release in the fall, while Daddy Yankee hinted at a retirement and said that he saw himself growing as an executive producer of movies and documentaries.[9][10] At the 28th Billboard Latin Music Awards on September 23, 2021, during his acceptace speech for his induction into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame, Daddy Yankee said to his fans to "enjoy his last musical round".[11] Following that, on December 30, 2021 he confirmed that in 2022 he would "give his last round to the world".[12][13]

On March 20, 2022, he posted a video on his social media announcing his retirement from music after a 32-year career by releasing the album Legendaddy on March 24, 2022 and touring across the Americas through his concert tour La Última Vuelta.[14][15] In the video, he said 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."[14] The announce was made on the 27th anniversary of Daddy Yankee's and his wife Mireddys Gonzalez's marriage; the latter posted that "[he] had enjoyed Daddy Yankee for a long time, but now is Raymond Ayala's turn to enjoy what he has built."[16] The album's track list was posted on March 22, 2022, while the guest features were announced a few hours before the release.[17][18][19]

Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro provided vocals for "Agua", a "dream come true" for him.[20]

Daddy Yankee described the album's themes as "fight, party, war and romance."[21][22] Primarily a reggaeton record, both old-school and contemporary, Legendaddy also incorporates trap and elements of salsa, bachata, cumbia, dembow and dance music.[10][23][24][25][26] Daddy Yankee co-wrote all lyrics with each track's respective guest features and producers.[27] Puerto Rican urban acts Pusho, Justin Quiles and Omy de Oro co-wrote four, two and one song, respectively.[27] The 48-second intro is performed by American ring announcer Michael Buffer, who presents Daddy Yankee as a "heavyweight champion with an undefeated record of 32 years" and uses his "Let's get ready to rumble!" catchphrase.[28] It is followed by "Campeón", an "electro-tinted reggaeton" track in which Daddy Yankee describes himself as a legend and questions how would reggaeton be called if he didn't exist.[23][25][29]

"Remix" is a reggaeton song about exalting the attributes of women with breast and butt implants and includes a sample of the chorus from his single "Impacto" (2007).[25][30] "Pasatiempo" features Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers and blends reggaeton with a sample of the melody of the house single "Show Me Love" (1990) by 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.[24][31] "Rumbatón" 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.[24][27][32] The song takes its chorus from "Báilame" (2006), written by Puerto Rican lyricist Wise and performed by compatriot duo Trébol Clan.[27][29][33]

"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," with lyrics about "wanting to rekindle old flames" one last time and "finally saying goodbye to a relationship."[10][25][24][34] Bad Bunny references Daddy Yankee's "Donde Hubo Fuego" (2004) by interpolating its chorus during his verse.[10] "Para Siempre" is a "romantic mid-tempo reggaeton" that features Panamanian singer Sech, who provides "R&B vibes", and is about confessing love to a special person.[10][23] 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.[30][35] The song uses an "old-school" reggaeton beat, a "heavy bass" and gunshot sounds.[30][36][35]

"Truquito" is a 26-second skit featuring a recording from late American salsa singer Frankie Ruíz 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.[10][37] Internet users have noted that the track includes lines that may be dedicated to Puerto Rican singer Don Omar, with whom Daddy Yankee used to have a feud, as a response to a 2006 diss track.[38][39] "Enchuletiao'" is a trap song in which he talks about "his unrivaled eminence in the genre."[30][36][29] 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.[10] Rauw Alejandro posted that the collaboration was a "dream come true" and acknowledged Daddy Yankee as one of his inspirations.[20][40] "Zona del Perreo" is a contemporary reggaeton song that features Dominican singer Natti Natasha and American singer Becky G, for whom Daddy Yankee co-wrote and co-produced their single "Sin Pijama" (2018).[24][36]

"Hot" features Cuban-American rapper Pitbull and uses the beat from "Trompeta y Guaracha" by Mexican disc jockey DJ Morphius and American production duo Muzik Junkies.[27][41] "La Ola" is an "old-school infectious perreo" with flirtatious and repetitive lyrics about joining a party.[10] "Bombón" is a dembow track that features Dominican rapper El Alfa and American crunk act Lil Jon.[25][24] El Alfa referred to the song as "one of the best moments" of his career and to Daddy Yankee as his idol, as well as an inspiration and an example to follow.[42] "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."[10][25] It is followed by "Impares", a heartbreak song with a "heavy reggaeton beat" about an incompatible couple.[25] The album closes with "Bloke", a reggaeton track that is heavily inspired by Daddy Yankee's 1990s songs and ends with him saying to his fans "cambio y fuera, los quiero" ("over and out, I love you").[25]

American duo Play-N-Skillz produced six tracks.

Daddy Yankee co-produced and programmed all tracks, while American production duo and longtime collaborators Play-N-Skillz produced six.[27] Puerto Rican El Cartel Records' producers JBD, OMB and Nekxum produced eight, seven and five tracks each, respectively.[27] Mexican producer Scott Summers worked on four songs, while Panamanian producer Dímelo Flow and Colombian group ChocQuibTown member Slow Mike produced three together.[27][43] Dominican producer and longtime collaborator Luny—one half of production duo Luny Tunes, who worked on the majority of Daddy Yankee's Barrio Fino (2004)―produced two tracks.[27][44] Puerto Rican producer Tainy produced the single "X Última Vez";[45][46] 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]."[32][47]

Other producers include Puerto Ricans Chris Jeday, Gaby Music, Alex Killer and Wiso Rivera, Panamanians BK and Jhon El Diver, Dominican Blu Rey, American G.O.K.B. and Colombian Maki Váez.[27][43][48] Mexican disc jockey DJ Morphius and American production duo Muzik Junkies received credit for the use of their song "Trompeta y Guaracha" on "Hot".[27][41] All producers were also credited as programmers and songwriters.[27] Gaby Music, who produced several singles for Daddy Yankee and was one of the recording engineers of "Despacito" (2017), posted that it was a "privilege to have worked with one of the artists that motivated [him] to make music."[49][50] The album was recorded by OMB, Dímelo Flow, Gaby Music, Luny, Play-N-Skillz, Puerto Rican producer La Paciencia, American-Nigerian producer Eman and American audio engineer Kellie McGrew.[27] It was mixed by OMB, Luny, Play-N-Skillz, Blu Rey, Tainy and American audio engineers Vinny DeLeón and Luis Barrera Jr.; the latter also provided immersive mixing for nine tracks.[27] It was mastered by American engineer Michael Fuller at Fullersound in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[27]

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.[51][52] 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."[53][54][55] The term "GOAT" is also an acronym for the expression "Greatest of All Time", which is frequently used by Daddy Yankee, while the album's title is a word play of "legendary" by combining "legend" and "Daddy".[24][54][56][57]

Legendaddy was released on March 24, 2022 through Daddy Yankee's own label El Cartel Records and Universal Music Group's Republic Records.[58][59] 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.[60] 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.[60] It is Daddy Yankee's highest-charting album in the country and his second top 10 after El Cartel: The Big Boss, which debuted and peaked at number nine in the week ending June 23, 2007.[60][61][62] It also debuted at number one on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart, the seventh in his career.[63] Internationally, it ranked at number two in Spain,[64] number 17 in Switzerland,[65] number 77 in Italy[66] and number 78 in Canada.[67]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[26]
Rolling Stone	[23]

Rolling Stone's Gary Suárez gave Legendaddy a 4 out of 5, stating that it is Daddy Yankee's best album since Barrio Fino due to its "tacit rejection of nostalgia" and "forward-looking approach" through contemporary tracks—like "La Ola" and "Enchuletiao"—and the choice of a "younger crop of identifiable" vocal collaborators.[23] Regarding the guest features, he referred to "Pasatiempo" as a "thumping collab" and "X Última Vez" as a "storming standout."[23] However, Suárez also wrote that the record "has its flaws, largely reflecting [Daddy Yankee's] history of making iffy decisions that lead to uneven albums."[23] He criticized the tracks "Bombón" for being "cringeworthy" because of Lil Jon "[vomiting] his ancient ad-libs" over El Alfa and "Hot", which he described as a "challenging listen".[23] Despite that, Suárez stated that Legendaddy is a "victory lap marked by safe choices" and a "blaze of glory" for Daddy Yankee's retirement.[23]

Isabelia Herrera of The New York Times wrote that Legendaddy "honors all the styles of [Daddy Yankee's] trajectory," highlighting his flexibility, which "enabled him to survive as a senior figure in a young artist's game."[30] She also stated that "the most dynamic moments come when [he] reaches for the magic of the past," praising the tracks "Uno Quitao' y Otro Puesto" as a "corrosively effective blast of late-career posturing" and "Enchuletiao'" as a "reminder of his technical skills," adding that he "hasn't sounded this electric, this deliciously abrasive in years."[30] Hererra also praised "Rumbatón" and "El Abusador del Abusador" as "nostalgic callbacks to the salsa-reggaeton fusions of the mid-2000s", "Remix" and "Bloke" as "classic reggaeton romps" and "Agua" as a "refreshing moment of adventure."[30] On the other hand, she found a "good portion of the songs" to follow "prosaic, predictable pop formats," describing "Para Siempre" as a "bland, mid-tempo popeton ballad," "La Ola" and "Zona del Perreo" as sounding like "they were engineered for Spotify's "Viva Latino" playlist" and "Bombón" and "Hot" as "egregious missteps."[30]

Billboard's Latin editors described the album as a "blend of pure reggaeton, heavy trap and experimental tracks, all while staying true to his essence".[10] The staff chose "X Última Vez", "Zona del Perreo", "Para Siempre", "El Abusador del Abusador", "Campeón", "La Ola", "El Rey de lo Imperfecto" and "Agua" as the record's essential songs, referring to the latter as "one of the most surprising tracks on Legendaddy" for "taking Daddy Yankee completely out of his comfort zone."[10] Lucas Villa of Spin praised the record as an "impressive amalgamation of reggaetón's legacy" and an "epic send-off."[24] He highlighted "Pasatiempo" as a "dancefloor delight" and a "seamless and magical collision of two very different musical worlds" between its reggaeton beat and the sample of "Show Me Love" by Robin S., as well as "Rumbatón" for its "colorful celebration of Daddy Yankee's roots in the genre" and "Agua", which he referred to as an "irresistible pop-infused romp" and one of the album's "most exciting moments."[24] Villa ended his review by stating that "Daddy Yankee lives up to the G.O.A.T. status depicted on Legendaddy's cover art one last time."[24]

Writing for Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día, Sugeiny Tirado described Legendaddy as a record "for everyone who listens to reggaeton" because "without Daddy Yankee the industry would have been completely different."[25] Tirado also wrote that it is a record "full of catchy choruses" that at the same time "leaves a bittersweet feel" because of the rapper's retirement.[25] Remezcla's Jeanette Hernandez stated that the record was executed "in a way that, from beginning to end, makes you feel like you're living through his whole legacy," and selected the tracks "Bombón", "Rumbatón", "Agua", "Hot", "Para Siempre" and "X Última Vez" as its highlights.[32] Jordi Bardají of Spanish music website Jenesaispop gave the album a 4 out of 5, writing that, despite not progressing reggaeton musically, the album does "provide a handful of hits," commenting positively about "Pasatiempo" and "Campeón", while criticizing the intro for sounding "fake" and "La Ola", "Impares" and "Hot" for being "expendable."[36][29] An editor of Argentine news website Filo News described it as a "succession of hits" and highlighted "Uno Quitao' y Otro Puesto" as its best track.[89]

Sample credits

• ^{^[a]} "Pasatiempo" contains a sample from "Show Me Love", written and produced by Allen George and Fred McFarlane, and performed by Robin S.[23]
• ^{^[b]} "Rumbatón" covers the chorus from "Báilame", written by Wise, produced by DJ Joe, and performed by Trébol Clan.[90]
• ^{^[c]} "Hot" samples the beat from "Trompeta y Guaracha", produced by DJ Morphius and Muzik Junkies.[41][91]
• ^{^[d]} "Bombón" interpolates the chorus from "Macarena", written, produced and performed by Los del Río.
• ^{^[e]} "Bloke" contains a sample from "Hot This Year", produced by Philip Smart and performed by Dirtsman.[27][92]