Don Ricardo laughed—a wet, rattling sound, but real. “You’re a good son,” he said. Then, quieter: “Leave it on. When I go… let me go to the beat.”

Daddy Yankee, born Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, is a key figure in the popularization of reggaeton and has been influential in bringing Latin urban music to a global audience. His real name is Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, and he is also known for his entrepreneurial ventures, including his record label, El Cartel Records.