Rafy Mercenario

Last updated
Rafy Mercenario
OriginPuerto Rico
Genres Reggaeton
Instrument(s) Drum Machine, synthesizer, sequencer, Fl Studio, electric guitar, electric keyboard
Years active2001–present
Labels Flow Music, Universal Music Latino

Rafy Mercenario is a Puerto Rican reggaeton producer. He has produced hits for several artists including R.K.M & Ken-Y, [1] Daddy Yankee, [2] Don Omar and Ivy Queen. [3]

Contents

He has released compilation albums, including a collaboration with fellow producer DJ Nelson, The Kings of the Remix (2006), which debuted at number fourteen on the Billboard Latin Rhythm Albums chart. [4] [5]

Musical career

Rafy Mercenario has a long history in the genre, but it was in 2003 when he decided to join Oscar Lebron, better known as DJ Kalin, and they proposed to make a new group within the reggaeton genre, which they named the "Marroneo Crew." [6]

In 2005, Mercenario produced the four new studio tracks on Puerto Rican singer Ivy Queen's fifth studio/compilation release Flashback . At this time, he had become "the most highly requested producer in reggaetón". [7] The tracks included the lead single "Cuentale" and the second single "Libertad", which peaked at number three and thirteen, respectively on the Billboard Latin Songs chart. [8]

Rafy also co-produced and co-produced the album El Abayarde with Tego Calderón, [9] incorporating rhythms such as salsa and reggaeton with Tego's own style of hip-hop. [10] "Pa Que Retozen", a single from this album co-produced with DJ Joe, was listed in position 34 by Rolling Stone as one of the most important Latin pop songs from 1950 to the present. [11]

In 2008, Rafy Mercenario was in charge of producing the remix "Somos de Calle", the official theme of the Daddy Yankee film, "Talento de Barrio".

With the concept “Reggaeton Old School”, he was part of the cast of the Latin American tour along with Alberto Stylee, Guelo Star, Don Chezina, Maicol Super Star, MC Ceja, Polaco, Lito, Ranking Stone, among others, will also feature some of the DJs who made the advancement of the underground genre possible such as DJ Nelson, DJ Playero, DJ Negro, DJ Blass, Nico Canada, DJ Davey and DJ Adam. [12]

Discography

Adapted from Allmusic: [13]

Compilation albums

Production discography

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<i>Diva</i> (Ivy Queen album) 2003 studio album by Ivy Queen

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<i>Real</i> (Ivy Queen album) 2004 studio album by Ivy Queen

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<i>The Best of Ivy Queen</i> 2005 greatest hits album by Ivy Queen

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuéntale</span> 2005 single by Ivy Queen

"Cuéntale" (English: Tell Her) is a song by Puerto Rican recording artist Ivy Queen, from her fifth studio album Flashback (2005). It was composed by Queen, produced by Rafi Mercenario and released as the lead single off the album via radio airplay in September 2005. It marked Ivy Queen's first single in almost a year since "Angel Caido" being released in 2004. It is a reggaeton track that features influences from reggae. In June 2005, Ivy Queen partnered with co-founder of Perfect Image Records, José Guadalupe to form Filtro Musik. The song was included on the soundtrack of EA Sports' 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany video game. Ivy Queen performed the song at the 2005 Premios Juventud award ceremony where she was nominated for Favorite Urban Artist. The song was a success in the United States and Puerto Rico reaching the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot Latin Songs, Latin Rhythm Airplay, and #1 on the Latin Tropical Airplay while becoming Ivy Queen's first and only single on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libertad (song)</span> 2006 single by Ivy Queen

"Libertad" (English: Freedom) is a song by Puerto Rican recording artist Ivy Queen, from her fifth studio album, Flashback (2005). It was composed by Queen, produced by Rafi Mercenario, and released as the second out of three singles from the album via Airplay in 2005. It was later released as promotional single in 2006. It is one of four new tracks from the album produced by Mercenario, the most requested producer in reggaetón at the time. A promotional single was released in 2006 featuring two separate remixes, the instrumental of those remixes and the a cappella.

Eddie Alexander Ávila Ortiz, originally known by his stage name Eddie Dee, is a Puerto Rican rapper, lyricist and dancer. He began his career in 1990 and launched his debut studio album three years later. He became one of the more popular Urban artists from Puerto Rico after appearing on DJ Adam's Mad Jam vol. 2 in 1997. It featured the hit single "Señor Official". His following releases El Terrorista de la Lírica (2000) and Biografía (2001), too enjoyed underground success. The 2004 album 12 Discípulos is regarded as "the greatest reggaetón various artist album of all time". The album features songs by some of the most successful reggaetón artist, including the intro of the album, where they all come together as one to show that "unity is needed for the genre reggaetón to survive and evolve". It was a collaboration between eleven other artist including Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderón, Ivy Queen, and Vico C among others, who were among the most requested at the time. The track, known as "Los 12 Discípulos" or "Quítate Tu Pa' Ponerme Yo" reached number eight on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart, and was nominated for a 2005 Billboard Latin Music Award for "Tropical Airplay Track of the Year, New Artist". The album itself reached number one on the Billboard Tropical Albums chart for three nonconsecutive weeks. Though retired since 2015, Eddie Dee is generally regarded within the worldwide Reggaeton and Spanish Hip Hop Communities as one of its most important and influential figures alongside the likes of Daddy Yankee, Vico C, Tego Calderón and Ivy Queen. Tagwut is actually an album by DJ Black, not Eddie Dee but he appears in it performing one of his hits 'Directamente Del Ghetto'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dile (Ivy Queen song)</span> 2004 single by Ivy Queen

"Dile" (English: Tell Her) is a song by Puerto Rican reggaetón recording artist Ivy Queen, from her fourth studio album, Real (2004). It was composed by Queen along with Eliel Osorio and Alvaro Arroyo, produced by DJ Nelson and Noriega and released as the lead single from the album on via Airplay in November 2004. It ended 2005 within the top 40 Tropical Songs in Billboard magazine. The musical style as well as the lyrical content is very similar to the song released by Don Omar by the same name, the same year.

<i>Los Cazadores: Primera Busqueda</i> 2005 compilation album by Various Artists

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<i>12 Discípulos</i> 2004 studio album by Eddie Dee

12 Discípulos is the debut compilation album, and fifth overall, by Puerto Rican reggaeton rapper Eddie Dee. It was released on January 29, 2004, and independently distributed by Diamond Music. 12 Discípulos features eleven other reggaeton musicians, who were among the most requested in the genre at the time. These include Daddy Yankee, along with Ivy Queen, Tego Calderón, Voltio, Vico C, Zion & Lennox, Nicky Jam, Johnny Prez, Gallego, and Wiso G.

References

  1. ↑ EnPelotas.com. "Sensation, Mercenario y más DJs llevan fiesta a los hogares". www.enpelotas.com (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  2. ↑ "El Rey del reggaetón Daddy Yankee conquista Toronto y Montreal". Hispano City (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  3. ↑ "Dj Rafi Mercenario: ¿Quién es y por qué es tan conocido en el mundo urbano?". Moda (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  4. ↑ "Latin Rhythm Albums: September 02, 2006". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 2 September 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "September 9, 2016 − Latin Billboard: Latin Rhythm". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 9 September 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  6. ↑ RedacciónRPP (2009-05-06). "Rafy Mercenario el DJ de reggaeton # 1 del mundo viene a Lima | RPP Noticias". rpp.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  7. ↑ "Ivy Queen Biography - ARTISTdirect Music". ARTISTdirect . Rogue Digital, LLC. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  8. ↑ "Ivy Queen - Chart History: Latin Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  9. ↑ Mendoza, Shelley (2022-12-22). "Tego Calderón: 100% Real. Reveals the Musical Influnces that Shaped His Style". LatinTRENDS. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  10. ↑ "Una Introducción a la Música Urbana en 50 Canciones". Pitchfork. 2020-03-09. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  11. ↑ Estevez, Suzy Exposito,Andrew Casillas,Isabela Raygoza,John Ochoa,Marjua; Exposito, Suzy; Casillas, Andrew; Raygoza, Isabela; Ochoa, John; Estevez, Marjua (2018-07-09). "50 Greatest Latin Pop Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-10-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "Anuncian gira "Reggaeton Old School" por Latinoamérica". Wow La Revista. 2018-01-10. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  13. ↑ "Rafy Mercenario: Credits: Allmusic". Allmusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 23 May 2016.
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