Bagging groceries in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico while uploading self-produced tracks to SoundCloud laid the groundwork for Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio’s meteoric ascent. His breakout track “Diles” caught the attention of producer DJ Luian in 2016, rapidly inducting him into Latin trap’s inner circle. Blending deep, subterranean vocals with eclectic fashion sense and candid emotional vulnerability, early collaborative triumphs like “Soy Peor” and high-profile features alongside Cardi B on “I Like It” signaled the arrival of a distinctive artist set to challenge traditional Latin pop conventions.
Mainstream Latin music underwent a seismic shift with the Christmas Eve 2018 release of his debut studio album, X 100PRE. Garnering widespread critical praise for its genre-bending exploration of synth-pop, punk rock, and traditional reggaeton, the record earned a Latin Grammy for Best Urban Music Album. His momentum exploded into global ubiquity in 2020 through an astonishing run of releases, dropping three chart-topping albums in a single year, including YHLQMDLG, Las Que No Iban a Salir, and El Último Tour Del Mundo, the latter becoming the first all-Spanish album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200.
Artistic ambition reached historical proportions with 2022’s cultural phenomenon Un Verano Sin Ti. Celebrating Caribbean sounds ranging from mambo and bachata to indie pop, the record spent 13 weeks atop the Billboard 200 and became the most streamed album in Spotify history. The era spawned the record-shattering World’s Hottest Tour, filling stadiums across the globe and solidifying his position as the world’s top touring act while proving that complete crossover success required zero translation into English.
Commercial dominance expanded through his dark, trap-heavy 2023 project Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana and its massive Most Wanted Tour, before reaching new heights with his January 2025 release, Debí Tirar Más Fotos. Anchored by the introspective lead single “Efecto Secundario,” the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, celebrating deep Puerto Rican roots and salsa textures while securing multiple 2026 Grammy nominations and fueling his 2026 international stadium campaign.
Beyond his staggering record sales and historic chart achievements, his cultural legacy lies in his unapologetic subversion of machismo, his passionate advocacy for Puerto Rico, and his seamless cross-industry moves. From starring roles in Hollywood feature films and high-fashion campaigns to high-profile appearances in professional wrestling, he operates as a true polymath. Remaining at the peak of his creative power, he continues to dictate the tempo of global music culture without ever sacrificing his authentic identity.