Rafy Mercenario is a Puerto Rican

reggaeton Reggaeton (, ) is a modern style of popular music, popular and electronic music that originated in Panamanian reggaetón, Panama during the late 1980s, and which rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s through a plethora of Puert ...

producer. He has produced hits for several artists including

Tego Calderón Tegui Calderón Rosario (born February 1, 1972) is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer and actor. He began his musical career in 1996 (as Tego Tec) and was supported by the famous Puerto Rican rapper Eddie Dee, who invited him on his second studio a ...

Daddy Yankee Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez (; born February 3, 1976), known professionally as Daddy Yankee (), is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor who rose to worldwide prominence in 2004 with the song "Gasolina". Dubbed the "Honorific ...

Don Omar William Omar Landrón Rivera (born February 10, 1979), known professionally as Don Omar, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is also known as the " King of Reggaeton" by music critics and fans alike. The ...

and

Ivy Queen Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez (born March 4, 1972), known professionally as Ivy Queen, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer and actress. She is considered one of the pioneers of the reggaeton genre, commonly referred to as the Queen of Reggae ...

. He has released compilation albums, including a collaboration with fellow producer

DJ Nelson Nelson Díaz Martinez (born on April 7, 1972, in San Juan, Puerto Rico), known professionally as DJ Nelson is a Puerto Rican DJ and record producer who played a significant role in the development and popularization of reggaeton. He first made a n ...

, ''The Kings of the Remix'' (2006), which debuted at number fourteen on the ''Billboard'' Latin Rhythm Albums chart.

Musical career

Rafy Mercenario has a long history in the genre, but it was in 2003 when he decided to join Oscar Lebron, better known as DJ Kalin, and they proposed to make a new group within the reggaeton genre, which they named the "Marroneo Crew." In 2005, Mercenario produced the four new studio tracks on Puerto Rican singer

's fifth studio/compilation release '' Flashback''. At this time, he had become "the most highly requested producer in reggaetón". The tracks included the lead single " Cuentale" and the second single " Libertad", which peaked at number three and thirteen, respectively on the ''Billboard'' Latin Songs chart. Rafy also co-produced the album '' El Abayarde'' with

, incorporating rhythms such as

salsa Salsa most often refers to: * Salsa (food), a variety of sauces used as condiments * Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music * Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music Salsa or SALSA may also refer to: Arts and ent ...

and

with Tego's own style of

hip-hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hi ...

. "Pa Que Retozen", a single from this album co-produced with DJ Joe, was listed in position 34 by

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

as one of the most important Latin pop songs from 1950 to the present. In 2008, Rafy Mercenario was in charge of producing the remix " Somos de Calle", the official theme of the

film, " Talento de Barrio". With the concept “Reggaeton Old School”, he was part of the cast of the Latin American tour along with

Alberto Stylee Carlos Alberto Pizarro, known professionally as Alberto Stylee, is a Puerto Rican reggaetón singer and songwriter. While his career began with hip-hop and reggae-influenced music, he is most famous for being one of the early pioneers of the re ...

Guelo Star Miguel de Jesús (born September 19, 1981, Ponce, Puerto Rico), also known as Guelo Star, is a Puerto Rican reggaeton rapper, singer, lyricist, occasional producer and promoter. In his musical career, he has worked with artists such as Daddy Yan ...

, Don Chezina, Maicol Super Star, MC Ceja,

Polaco Polaco is surname of: * Jorge Polaco (1946–2014), an Argentine filmmaker * Peter Polaco, better known as Justin Credible (born 1973), American professional wrestler * Pico Polaco, a mountain in the Cordillera de la Ramada range of the Andes of A ...

, Lito,

Ranking Stone Ranking Stone (born 14 January 1973) is a Puerto Rican reggaeton artist. He made four albums, '' Censurado'' being the most known. '' Censurado'' charted in the United States, reaching #36 on the Billboard Latin Albums chart and #4 on its Tropic ...

, among others, will also feature some of the DJs who made the advancement of the underground genre possible such as

DJ Playero Pedro Gerardo Torruellas Brito (born 2 November 1964), better known as Playero DJ, DJ Playero, Playe, Play, is a Puerto Rican DJ who was a key figure in the dissemination of reggaeton during its formative period in the 1990s in San Juan, Puerto ...

, DJ Negro,

DJ Blass A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at nightclubs or music festivals), mobile DJ ...

, Nico Canada, DJ Davey and DJ Adam.

Discography

Adapted from

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

Compilation albums

* 2003: ''Kakoteo Mix'' (with

) * 2005: ''Digital Reggaeton Pistas'' * 2005: ''Reggaeton Beats, Vol. 1'' * 2006: ''No Mercy'' * 2006: ''The Kings of the Remix'' (with

) * 2006: ''Mundo Demente''

Production discography

* 2002: ''A Mover'' (DJ Joe) * 2003: ''Sandungueo.com: Reggaeton Hits, Vol. 1'' (Various Artists) * 2003: ''Pina... the Company: Los Mas Duros'' (Various Artists) * 2003: ''La Confrontacion'' (Various Artists) * 2003: ''Innovando'' (DJ Anqueira) * 2003: '' Fuera de Serie'' (

Lito & Polaco Lito & Polaco were a Puerto Rican hip hop duo from Carolina, Puerto Rico. Musical careers Lito y Polaco were discovered in the early 1990s by Spanish-language hip hop and reggaeton pioneer DJ Eric Industry. They formed part of the hip hop/reggae ...

) * 2003: ''Conspiracion, Vol. 2: La Secuela'' (Various Artists) * 2004: '' Diva Platinum Edition'' (

) * 2004: ''

12 Discípulos ''12 Discípulos'' (''English: 12 Disciples'') is the debut compilation album, and fifth overall, by Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican reggaeton rapper Eddie Dee. It was released on January 29, 2004, and independently distributed by Diamond Music. ...

'' (

Eddie Dee Eddie Alexander Ávila Ortiz (born April 26, 1977), originally known by his stage name Eddie Dee, is a Puerto Rican rapper. He began his career in 1990 and launched his debut studio album three years later. His second album became popular in Pue ...

) * 2004: '' Vida Escante'' (

Nicky Jam Nick Rivera Caminero (born March 17, 1981), known professionally as Nicky Jam, is an American singer. He is best known for hits such as " X", " Travesuras", " El Perdón", " Hasta el Amanecer", and " El Amante"; the latter three are from his 20 ...

) * 2004: ''The Noise, Vol. 10: The Last Noise'' (The Noise) * 2004: ''

Sabotage Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening a polity, government, effort, or organization through subversion, obstruction, demoralization (warfare), demoralization, destabilization, divide and rule, division, social disruption, disrupti ...

'' ( Master Joe & O.G. Black) * 2004: ''Reggaeton Mixtape, Vol. 1'' (Various Artists) * 2004: '' Real'' (

) * 2004: ''

Motivando a la Yal ''Motivando a la Yal'' is the debut studio album by Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Zion & Lennox. It was released on May 4, 2004, by White Lion Records. The duo had already made waves with their hitmaking appearances on genre-defining compilation ...

(

Zion & Lennox Zion & Lennox was a Puerto Rican music duo from Carolina, Puerto Rico. In 2004, Zion & Lennox released their first studio album titled '' Motivando a la Yal'' under White Lion Records. After their first album, Zion & Lennox decided to start thei ...

) * 2004: ''Los Narcomujeriegos'' (Various Artists) * 2004: ''La Pelicula'' (Various Artists) * 2004: ''Jamz TV Hits, Vol. 2'' (Various Artists) * 2004: ''Guatuaba Mixtape'' (Various Artists) * 2004: ''Guatuaba Mixtape, Vol. 2'' (Various Artists) * 2004: ''

Flow la Discoteka ''Flow la Discoteka'' is the first album by DJ Nelson released on October 12, 2004. It was nominated for a Lo Nuestro Award for Urban Album of the Year. Track listing # "Cochiniar" (by Cochinola) - 3:36 # "Tú No Tienes Miedo" (by Daddy Yankee ...

'' (

) * 2004: ''Evolucion Arrestada'' ( Mikey Perfecto) * 2004: ''Entrando Al Juego'' (Trivales) * 2004: '' El Que Habla Con Las Manos'' ( Eliel) * 2004: '' Contra La Corriente'' ( Noriega) * 2004: '' Chosen Few II: El Documental'' ( Boy Wonder)

References

{{Authority control Reggaeton record producers