To American pop listeners only familiar with the 2004 reggaeton crossover hit “Gasolina,” Daddy Yankee might seem like a one-hit wonder. But they should know better. The 35-year-old rapper’s brash voice has been a consistent presence in Latin-music clubs and on Spanish-language radio since then—and he’s no stranger to shilling for Pepsi, headphones, and watches, either. Yankee has stayed relevant with the aid of producers who lay his catchy choruses over super fast beats and trance jams. But Yankee hasn’t abandoned Caribbean and Latin American syncopation. On his forthcoming Prestige album, the joyous “Lovumba,” with its fútbol-chant vibe, recently rocketed to the top of the Latin Songs chart, and, at the time of this writing, his “Pasarela” is No. 7. On the recent “Ven Conmigo,” Yankee even hops on the bachata bandwagon alongside crooner Prince Royce, whose autotuned sweetness tempers Yankee’s high-velocity flow.
Daddy Yankee performs with DJ Pootie, DJ Joe, and DJ Kelinda at 8 p.m. at Ibiza, 1222 1st St. NE. $50 in advance. ibizadc.com. (888) IBIZADC.