Arcángel

Arcángel is one of a handful of artists who have both shaped and evolved with the urbano sound. He was born Austin Santos in Harlem in 1985 to a mother who was a part of the first all-female merengue group in the Dominican Republic, spurring Santos’ early interest in music. Though he came of age listening to a wide variety of artists––like salsa legend Ismael Rivera––he took a special interest in reggaetón artists like Tego Calderón and Tempo, which motivated his decision to move to Puerto Rico to pursue a career in the genre’s burgeoning underground scene. Alongside De La Ghetto, Arcángel saw his first breakthrough hit in the way of "Ven Pégate" with Zion, featured on Hector El Father’s talent-packed Sangre Nueva (2005) compilation. Cuts like 2006’s “Ella Quiere” and 2007’s "Sorpresa" fleshed out a raw and sensuous sound that won the duo a sizable following. Building off his momentum with De La Ghetto, Arcángel went on to launch his first solo full-length effort in 2008 with El Fenómeno, where his seductive tenor shone equally in romantic numbers like “Por Amar a Ciegas” as well as in gritty bangers like “Pa’ Que La Pases Bien.” Despite being one of reggaetón and Latin trap’s true pioneers, Arcángel has never been afraid to venture outside his comfort zone, whether musically––as on 2018’s Ares, where he explores pop, tropical, and soulful sounds––or lyrically, as on 2019’s Historias de un Capricornio, which sees him returning to his dembow roots while showcasing his more introspective side.