Farruko
Biography
Carlos Efrén Reyes Rosado, known professionally as Farruko, is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, on May 2, 1991, he began his career in 2009, using the social media platform MySpace to build a fanbase. His early music was primarily directed at a younger audience, with lyrics centered on relationships. The online popularity of his songs eventually caught the attention of Puerto Rican radio stations, which helped solidify his place in the reggaeton scene.
Career Breakthrough
Farruko's debut album, "El Talento del Bloque," was released in 2010 when he was 18 years old. This album featured collaborations with notable artists like José Feliciano and Daddy Yankee. In 2012, his second album, "The Most Powerful Rookie," was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Music Album. His success grew with the 2014 hits "Passion Whine" and "6 AM," the latter a collaboration with J Balvin that significantly boosted his career. The song "6 AM" won awards for Best Urban Performance and Best Urban Song at the Latin Grammy Awards in 2015.
Musical Style and Evolution
Throughout his career, Farruko has demonstrated significant musical versatility, exploring genres such as reggaeton, Latin pop, hip-hop, R&B, and Latin trap. He has also incorporated elements of pop, bachata, mambo, and vallenato into his music. In 2017, he released the album "TrapXficante," focusing on the fusion of reggaeton with Latin trap. His 2019 album, "Gangalee," highlighted his urban roots by mixing dancehall with reggaeton. A major international hit came in 2021 with the release of "Pepas," a track that blends tribal guarachero with reggaeton and has amassed over a billion streams on Spotify.
Notable Collaborations and Achievements
Farruko has collaborated with a wide range of prominent artists, including Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Don Omar, Bad Bunny, Ricky Martin, and Nicki Minaj. He has received numerous awards and nominations, including two Latin Grammy Awards. In 2014, Farruko co-founded the record label Carbon Fiber Music. His albums have consistently topped the Billboard Latin charts, and he has earned multiple gold, platinum, and diamond certifications from the RIAA.
Notable Albums:
- El Talento del Bloque (2010)
- The Most Powerful Rookie (2012)
- Farruko Presenta: Los Menores (2014)
- Visionary (2015)
- TrapXficante (2017)
- Gangalee (2019)
- La 167 (2021)
- CVRBON VRMOR (2024)
Personal Life and Religious Conversion
In 2022, Farruko announced his conversion to Christianity. This decision came after the massive success of his song "Pepas." During a concert in Miami in February 2022, he gave a speech about his newfound faith, expressed remorse for the lyrical content of some of his songs, and asked for forgiveness. He has since stated that his goal is to create music that reflects his beliefs and has begun to release music with Christian-based lyrics in 2024. This transition has been met with mixed reactions from his fanbase.