Arcángel, whose real name is Austin Agustín Santos, was born on December 23, 1985, in New York City to Dominican parents. Known for his contributions to the reggaeton genre, he started his journey as a performer in 2002 while living in Puerto Rico.
He later formed a significant part of the popular underground reggaeton duo, Arcángel & De la Ghetto, alongside his partner De la Ghetto. Together, they created hit songs that gained popularity among reggaeton enthusiasts in the United States and Puerto Rico, including tracks like “Agresivo,” “Sorpresa,” and “Mi Fanática” during the mid-2000s.
Arcángel’s debut studio album, “El Fenómeno,” was released in late 2008. This album featured a mix of both 2007 and 2008 productions, including the DJ Nelson-produced “Chica Virtual.” Notable tracks from this album, such as “Pa’ Que la Pases Bien” and “Por Amar a Ciegas,” achieved significant airplay on American Latin Urban radio stations.
Early Life and Influences
Born in New York City, Arcángel moved to Puerto Rico at the age of 12, leading to a unique blend of cultural experiences. His mother, Carmen Rosa, had previously been a member of the well-known all-women merengue group, Las Chicas del Can, which gained popularity during the 1980s and early 1990s. Arcángel’s musical interests spanned various genres, with a particular fondness for rock music, and he was a fan of artists like Draco Rosa, a Puerto Rican pop rock artist and former Menudo member. While reggaeton was not initially his favorite genre, he found it easy to sing along to and eventually developed an affinity for it in the early 2000s, inspired by artists like Tego Calderón and Tempo.
Music Career
Arcángel’s music career took off when he returned to Puerto Rico in 2002 and decided to delve into the reggaeton scene. He joined forces with De la Ghetto to form the underground reggaeton act, Arcángel & De la Ghetto. The duo was signed to Baby Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group and a label associated with reggaeton artist Zion. They also collaborated with Machete Music in 2004, contributing to reggaeton compilation albums. Their breakthrough came in 2006 with the hit song “Ven Pégate,” featured on Héctor el Father’s reggaeton compilation album, “Sangre Nueva.” Additionally, they were part of the Luny Tunes-hosted compilation, “Mas Flow: Los Benjamins,” in 2006.
Despite their success as a musical duo, Arcángel & De la Ghetto did not release a studio album due to a conflict with Baby Records, which did not release any of their material. Arcángel filed a lawsuit against Baby Records in 2007 and, in December 2006, announced his decision to pursue a solo career and establish his own record label.
