Rapper Daddy Yankee to retire from reggaeton music to devote his life to Jesus

The Puerto Rican rapper has seemingly decided to retire from reggaeton music to embrace his faith.

Reggaeton artist and Puerto Rican rapper, Daddy Yankee, has seemingly decided to retire from reggaeton music to embrace his faith. Picture: Jennifer Szymaszek

The Father, the Son and Daddy Yankee.

The Puerto Rican rapper, 46, has seemingly decided to retire from reggaeton music to embrace his faith in Jesus Christ.

As reported by the New York Post, the Despacito singer held his farewell tour, La Meta (The Goal), on December 3 in his home country and announced his decision to depart from the music genre in a speech.

“My people, 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,” Yankee said in Spanish on the stage.

“I have to confess that those days are over. Someone was able to fill that emptiness,” he sobbed, saying that he has felt unfulfilled for quite some time from his extensive music career.

“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,” he said in his testimony.

Daddy Yankee has seemingly decided to retire from reggaeton music to embrace his faith. Picture: Jennifer Szymaszek

The Gasolina crooner continued: “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.”

“Thank you very much, Puerto Rico, and I hope that you walk with me in this new beginning.”

He then revealed that he would be going by his birth name — Ramón Ayala.

“To all the people who followed me, follow Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life,” he said. “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 light show then went over the arena of screaming fans, showing a cross as well as the saying “Cristo viene,” which is translated to “Christ will come” in Spanish.

He shared a clip of his speech from the concert on Instagram and fans applauded his choice.

Drones performed a light show where a blazing cross lit up the sky. Picture: Daddy Yankee

Another saying that sparkled across the concert was “Cristo Te Amo,” which means “Christ loves you” in Spanish. Picture: Daddy Yankee

“Amen! Now I admire and respect you a million times over,” a person gushed.

Another commenter chimed in: “The greatest of all time in music now to serve the greatest of all time our God.”

Yankee burst onto the music scene with his 2004 iconic party hit Gasolina, and achieved further recognition with his single Despacito with Latin pop star Luis Fonsi.

The 2017 song of the summer currently has over 8 billion views and was the first Spanish-language tune to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 since 1996’s Macarena.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Rapper Daddy Yankee to retire from reggaeton music to devote his life to Jesus