Vico C

As a godfather of Latin hip-hop and reggaetón's mythical first wave, Vico C boasts a monumental influence equaled only by the perils of his journey. Born in 1971 in New York City, Luis Armando Lozada Cruz grew up in Puerto Rico, where he flourished in the island's buzzing rap scene of the mid-'80s, honing his voice as an incisive social critic. Early collaborator and mentor DJ Negro infused productions like "Bomba Para Afincar" and "Saborealo" with a plethora of Caribbean influences, including dancehall and merengue. A near-fatal motorcycle accident brought Vico C's meteoric ascent to a screeching halt and triggered a painkiller addiction the rapper unpacked on acclaimed 1998 album Aquel Que Había Muerto. His Christian faith has proven instrumental in his recovery and artistic output and became a central theme of subsequent records Emboscada (2002) and Desahogo (2005).