Rafael Castillo Torres (born September 17, 1984), known professionally as De la Ghetto, is an American rapper and singer, and the one-half of reggaeton duo Arcángel & De la Ghetto, alongside Arcángel. He is known for fusing reggaeton music with hip hop and trap rhythms, eventually creating Latin trap music.[4]
De la Ghetto | |
|---|---|
.png) De la Ghetto in 2020 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Rafael Castillo Torres |
| Also known as | De la Geezy[1] El Chulito[2] El Jefe de la Versatilidad[1] El Jefe del Bloque[1] El Rey de los Remixes[1] |
| Born | September 17, 1984 New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels |
|
| Formerly of | Arcángel & De la Ghetto |
Early life
editRafael Castillo Torres was born in The Bronx, borough of New York, NY, on September 17, 1984, to a Dominican father, Rafael Castillo, and a Puerto Rican mother, Migdalia Torres. His father died months after he was born,[5] while his mother was incarcerated for six years in Argentina when Castillo was around the age of eight, eventually relocating to San Juan, Puerto Rico where he lived with his grandmother.[6]
Career
editIn 2004, just before his twentieth birthday, Castillo met with another young reggaetón musician born in New York City by the name of Austin Santos—better known to the public as Arcángel—and the two decided to form a duo, Arcángel & De la Ghetto.[7] The pair debuted with their single "Ven, Pégate", which was featured on Naldo's mixtape Sangre Nueva, in 2005. From there, Castillo was signed to Zion's label, Baby Records, and immediately began to make music.[5] Castillo has appeared on numerous reggaetón compilation albums and collaborations, including the album Mas Flow: Los Benjamins. In 2006, De la Ghetto officially began his solo career, appearing the following year on two hit singles, as well: a remixed version of "Siente el Boom" by Tito el Bambino, plus a collaboration with Randy called "Sensación del Bloque", which has been viewed on YouTube over 200 million times as of July 2023.[8] Masacre Musical was then released in 2008.[9] Masacre Musical peaked at #46 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart in the U.S.;[10] its lead single, "Tú Te Imaginas", peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.
The 2018 album Mi Movimiento (my movement) was nominated in 2019 for a Latin Grammy Award for "Best Urban Music Album", and the track "Caliente" was also nominated for a Latin Grammy for "Best Urban song".
Personal life
editIn an interview, he revealed that he is married to a woman named Verónica, who have three kids together.[11]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Masacre Musical (2008)
- Geezy Boyz: The Album (2013)
- Mi Movimiento (2018)
- Los Chulitos (2020)
- GZ (2023)
Mixtapes
edit- The Boss of the Block (2007)
- The Boss of the Block, Vol. 2 (2007)
- Masacre Musical Mixtape (2007)
- Masacre Musical Presents: El Movimiento (2008)
- Masacre Musical Presents: El Movimiento, Vol. II (2010)
Compilation albums
edit- El Jefe de la Versatilidad, Vol. 1 (2011)
- El Jefe de la Versatilidad, Vol. 2 (2011)
Singles
editAs lead artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [12] |
US Latin [13] |
SPA [14] |
WW [15] | |||
| "Es Difícil" | 2008 | — | 42 | — | — | Masacre Musical |
| "Tú Te Imaginas" | 2009 | — | 33 | — | — | |
| "Come Out and See" (featuring Mavado) |
— | — | — | — | ||
| "Lover (Remix)" featuring Juelz Santana) |
— | — | — | — | ||
| "Momento Que Te Vi" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Stripper Pole" (featuring J-Merk) |
— | — | — | — | Masacre Musical Presents: El Movimiento Vol. II | |
| "Tapu Tapu" (with Jowell & Randy) |
2010 | — | — | — | — | Lost in Time |
| "Nocturno" | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Jala Gatillo" | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Tumbao" (with Wisin & Yandel) |
— | — | — | — | Los Vaqueros: El Regreso | |
| "La Reunión de los Vaqueros" (with Wisin & Yandel, Franco el Gorila, Tego Calderón, Cosculluela) |
— | — | — | — | La Revolución Live Vol. 1 | |
| "Tú y Yo" | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Ya Es Hora" (with Ana Mena and Becky G) |
2018 | — | — | — | — | Index |
| "F.L.Y." (featuring Fetty Wap) |
— | — | — | — | Mi Movimiento[16] | |
| "Acho PR" (with Bad Bunny, Arcángel and Ñengo Flow) |
2023 | 83 | 24 | 22 | 47 | Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana |
As featured artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Latin [13] | |||
| "Aparentemente" Yaga & Mackie featuring Arcángel & De la Ghetto) |
2007 | 42 | La Reunión Callejero Flow |
| "Inalcanzable (remix)" (RBD featuring Jowell & Randy & De la Ghetto) |
2008 | — | Non-album single |
| "Mala Conducta (remix)" (Alexis & Fido featuring Franco el Gorila, Arcángel & De la Ghetto) |
2010 | — | Perreologia |
| "Tú Me Robaste el Corazón (Remix) (featuring Fidel Nadal) |
— | Mi Movimiento | |
| "De La Calle" (with Ivy Queen) |
— | Drama Queen | |
| "El Jefe" (Los Vagos featuring De la Ghetto) |
2012 | — | Vida Acelerada |
| "Actúa (remix)" (J Alvarez featuring Zion & De la Ghetto) |
— | Imperio Nazza: J. Alvarez Edition | |
| "No Es Una Gial" (Farruko featuring De la Ghetto) |
2013 | — | Imperio Nazza: Farruko Edition |
| "Si Tú No Estás" (Nicky Jam featuring De la Ghetto) |
2014 | — | |
| "Nadie Como Yo" (J Alvarez featuring De la Ghetto) |
2015 | — | |
| "Bailen" (Franco el Gorila featuring De la Ghetto) |
— | ||
| "Todavía Te Quiero" (Thalía featuring De la Ghetto) |
2016 | — | Latina |
| "Pide Lo Que Tú Quieras" (Ozuna featuring De la Ghetto) |
2017 | — | Odisea |
| "Tócame" (Anitta featuring Arcángel and De la Ghetto) |
2020 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Mala (Remix)"[17] (Pitbull featuring Becky G and De la Ghetto) |
— | ||
| "New Calle" (Doeman Dyna and De la Ghetto) |
2021 | — | |
| "Fardos" (JC Reyes featuring De la Ghetto) |
2024 | — | |
| "Morning" (Cheat Codes and Jason Derulo featuring De la Ghetto and Galantis)[18] |
— |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "De La Ghetto llega esta semana a Lima para dos presentaciones". rpp.pe (in Spanish). December 9, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ "Los mejores looks de De La Ghetto en el 2018". Moda (in Spanish). Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ Mota, Jennifer (September 25, 2019). "The Rise of Spanish Language R&B". Tidal. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
..same year Randy and De La Ghetto dropped "La Sensación Del Bloque," a track singer Lyanno notes as an early R&B-inspired track.
- ^ Salud, April (August 17, 2017). "Latin Trap: Ozuna, Bad Bunny, De La Ghetto, Farruko & Messiah Narrate a Brief History". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ a b "Así fue la infancia De La Ghetto". People (in Spanish). November 12, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "De La Ghetto habla de su infancia y relaciones familiares". www.heabbi.com (in Spanish). February 8, 2018. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Celebra Arcángel 15 años de carrera con Los Favoritos 2". La Verdad (in Spanish). October 17, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Ella Es La Sensacion Del Bloque – via YouTube.
- ^ Birchmeier, Jason (2008). "De la Ghetto > Biography". Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
- ^ "De la Ghetto > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
- ^ Rosa Escribano Carrasquillo (March 18, 2020). "De La Ghetto habla de su aislamiento en familia". Primera Hora. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "De la Ghetto Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ a b "De la Ghetto Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Search – De la Ghetto (Songs)". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "De la Ghetto Chart History (Billboard Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Mi Movimiento by De La Ghetto". Genius. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- ^ "Mala (Remix) – Single by Pitbull". Mr. 305 Inc. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "New Song: Cheat Codes & Jason Derulo – 'Morning' (featuring De La Ghetto & Galantis)". That Grape. June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
External links
edit- De la Ghetto discography at Discogs
- De La Ghetto discography at MusicBrainz