Daddy Yankee revisited the musical influences that helped shape reggaeton, from American hip-hop to Jamaican dancehall and Puerto Rican salsa, during an appearance on Track Star.
The Puerto Rican superstar joined host Jack Coyne for the show’s signature music trivia challenge, quickly recognizing The Notorious B.I.G. and Shabba Ranks. He recalled how Biggie inspired him early in his career and credited Jamaican dancehall pioneers, including Super Cat, Buju Banton, and Beenie Man, with influencing a generation of Puerto Rican artists.
Reflecting on reggaeton’s beginnings, Daddy Yankee also claimed to have coined the genre’s name in 1992, clarifying that he was referring specifically to the term. He explained that his familiarity with hip-hop’s development helped him recognize the potential of the emerging Puerto Rican sound. It’s a claim he has made before, although historical accounts differ on precisely when the word first appeared in recordings.
The conversation also touched on his love of salsa. After immediately identifying Héctor Lavoe’s “El Cantante,” Daddy Yankee declared, “I’m a salsa boy, man, from the heart.” He wasn’t quite as successful with Lisa M’s “Tu Pum Pum,” which briefly stumped him.
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Elsewhere, Daddy Yankee credited New York with helping bring reggaeton to international audiences, calling the city “the biggest bridge to reggaeton.” He also discussed discovering the reach of his music in India through his collaboration with Diljit Dosanjh on his latest album La Postal which came out last week. “I didn’t know how my music was impacting India,” he admitted.
Daddy Yankee’s newest release also features collaborations with Myke Towers, Cardi B and Bizarrap.
Watch Daddy Yankee’s appearance on Track Star below.