Arcángel
Biography
Austin Agustín Santos, known professionally as Arcángel, is an American singer and rapper born in New York City on December 23, 1985, to Dominican parents. He moved to Puerto Rico with his family as a baby and was raised in Villa Palmeras in Santurce. His mother, Carmen Rosa, was a member of the popular all-female merengue group Las Chicas del Can in the 1980s and 1990s. Growing up, Arcángel was a fan of rock music, but in the early 2000s, he developed an interest in the burgeoning reggaeton scene, inspired by artists like Tego Calderón and Tempo.
Career Beginnings: Arcángel & De La Ghetto
In 2004, Arcángel teamed up with Rafael "De La Ghetto" Castillo to form the duo Arcángel & De La Ghetto. They were signed to Zion's (of the duo Zion & Lennox) record label, Baby Records. The duo gained significant underground popularity with tracks like "Agresivo," "Sorpresa," and "Mi Fanática". Their breakthrough came in 2006 with the song "Ven Pégate," which was featured on the compilation album "Sangre Nueva," hosted by Héctor el Father. Despite their success, the duo never released a studio album and decided to part ways in early 2007 to pursue solo careers.
Solo Career
After the split, Arcángel embarked on a solo career, quickly making a name for himself with collaborations on various compilation albums. His song "Chica Virtual," from DJ Nelson's "Flow la Discoteka 2," became a major hit. In 2008, his planned debut album, "La Maravilla," was leaked online. Despite the leak, tracks from the album gained popularity, particularly "Pa' Que la Pases Bien". Later that year, he officially released his debut studio album, "El Fenómeno," which included some tracks from the leaked project as well as new material. The album featured the hit single "Por Amar a Ciegas".
Continued Success and Musical Evolution
Arcángel continued to release a string of successful albums and mixtapes. His 2013 album, "Sentimiento, Elegancia & Maldad," reached number one on the US Top Latin Albums chart. He is recognized as one of the pioneers of the Latin trap genre, and his music often blends reggaeton with hip-hop and R&B influences. Over the years, he has collaborated with numerous prominent artists in the Latin music industry, including Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Daddy Yankee, and Farruko. Some of his most notable solo hits include "Hace Mucho Tiempo," "Me Prefieres a Mí," and "La Jumpa".
Recent Work
In recent years, Arcángel has maintained his prominence in the Latin urban scene. He signed with Rimas Entertainment and released the albums "Historias de un Capricornio" (2019) and "Los Favoritos 2" (2020), both of which performed well on the charts. He followed up with "Sr. Santos" in 2022, an album dedicated to the memory of his late brother. This album included the highly successful collaboration with Bad Bunny titled "La Jumpa".