Daddy Yankee Reveals Why He Retired in 2023 and What Brought Him Back in First Interview in Two Years
The reggaeton pioneer opens up about the exhaustion that led him to retire after 30 years and the balance he's found since returning to music. Daddy Yankee Reveals Why He Retired in 2023 and What Brought Him Back in First Interview in Two Years Pedro Camacho
Daddy Yankee has opened up about his decision to retire in 2023 and what eventually brought him back to music. In his first interview in two years, the Puerto Rican reggaeton pioneer told Don Francisco on Univision’s Gigantes con Don Francisco that he had reached a breaking point after three decades in the industry.
His comments come shortly after the release of LA POSTAL , his latest album, which features collaborations with Cardi B, Myke Towers, Bizarrap, and others. The project reflects his renewed musical direction following his retirement and embrace of Christianity.
“I think I felt really worn out,” he admitted. “I wanted to rest. I’d gone 30 years without stopping.” But his decision went beyond exhaustion. “I was doing a lot, but I was disconnected from my own being,” he explained. “I wanted to give myself the opportunity to reconnect with myself, find my center again, and start from scratch.”
Asked why he decided to return, Daddy Yankee offered a simple explanation: “Because I feel that, at this moment, I have a good balance in my life.” When Don Francisco suggested that connecting with an audience could become addictive, the singer pushed back. “It used to be addictive, but it isn’t anymore,” he said. Asked what performing means to him now, he replied: “Now I share it.”
Daddy Yankee’s return also comes as he’s set to be honored as the Latin Recording Academy’s 2026 Person of the Year at a special tribute gala in Las Vegas on November 11th, recognizing his contributions to Latin music and his humanitarian work. The reggaeton pioneer is also scheduled to perform at the Latin Grammy Awards the following night.
