Daddy Yankee retires for Christ

Daddy Yankee, the reggaeton superstar known for global hits like “Gasolina” and “Despacito,” will devote his life to Christianity in retirement.

The 46-year-old rapper and singer from Puerto Rico made the announcement Sunday night on stage following his final concert in San Juan.

“This day for me is the most important day of my life, and I want to share it with you because living a life of success is not the same as living a life with purpose,” Daddy Yankee told the crowd at his sold-out show at the Coliseo.

The 46-year-old vocalist, real name Ramón Rodríguez, told the crowd of his plans at his final concert, held at Puerto Rico’s José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum.

“I am not ashamed to tell the whole world that Jesus lives in me and that I will live for him,” he said in Spanish. “For many years I’ve tried filling a hole in my life that no one could fill. I tried finding a purpose, on many occasions, it seemed as if I was happy but something was missing for me to feel complete.”

“I have to confess that those days are over. Someone was able to fill that emptiness,” he said.

Despite wearing stylish sunglasses onstage, the tears streaming down his face were visible to the thousands of fans around the world who watched him closely via livestream.

In his message, Daddy Yankee cited this Bible verse in Spanish: “What good will it be for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”

“That is why tonight, I recognise, and I am not ashamed to tell the whole world that Jesus lives in me and that I will live for him,” the singer said with his hand to the sky.

Daddy Yankee announced he would embark on “a new beginning” as Ramón Ayala, his birth name.

“All the tools that I have in my possession such as music, social networks, platforms, a microphone — everything that Jesus gave me — is now for his kingdom,” he said. “Thank you very much, Puerto Rico, and I hope that you walk with me in this new beginning.”

“To all the people who followed me, follow Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life,” he added. “Just like Jesus, with his mercy, allowed me to travel the world, in your mercy, Father, I hope you allow me to evangelise the world from Puerto Rico. Amen.”

“A story is over, and a new story is about to begin; a new beginning. All the tools that were given to me, such as music, social media, platforms, a microphone, everything that Jesus gave me is now for the Kingdom,” the performer continued. “Thank you so much Puerto Rico and I hope that you walk with me on this new beginning. I love you, Puerto Rico! We reached the goal.”

Daddy Yankee’s retirement from music comes more than three decades after starting a career that put reggaeton, a genre of music from Puerto Rico that fuses hip-hop with Latin American and Caribbean Rhythms, on the world map.

His success, which also includes hits like “Somos de Calle” and “Con Calma,” has made him one of the biggest idols in Latin music and a winner of six Latin Grammy Awards.

(Agencies; Picture Courtesy: Getty Images)