Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee left his successful career to devote his life to Jesus Christ.
During his farewell tour on Dec. 3, Daddy Yankee gave a speech to the crowd announcing his retirement.
“This is the most important day of my life and I want to share it because it’s not the same living a life with success than a life with purpose,” the “Gasolina” singer said in Spanish, according to Billboard.
Daddy Yankee admitted his faith in Christ filled the “void” he felt in his life “for many years” that “no one could fill” despite his success.
According to Guinness World Records, he was the first Latin artist to skyrocket to number one on Spotify as of July 9, 2017. The music video for his 2017 hit song “Despacito” is the “most viewed music video online.”
He continued:
“I tried finding a purpose, on many occasions it seemed as if I was happy but something was missing for me to feel complete. I have to confess that those days are over and someone was able to fill that void that I felt for a lot of time. I realized that for everyone I was someone but I was no one without him.”
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Citing the Bible verse Matthew 16:26, he reminisced on his achievements.
“Throughout the years I was able to travel the world, win many awards, applaud and praise but I realized something that’s in the Bible: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Additionally, Daddy Yankee, whose career spans 30 years, revealed he would be going by his real name Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez moving forward.
“A chapter has ended but a new one will begin,” he said of his newfound faith. “All the tools that I have in my power, like music, social media, platforms, a microphone, everything that God has given me is now for his kingdom.”
He also encouraged his fans to follow in his footsteps by following Jesus Christ.
“Thank you, Puerto Rico, and I hope you walk with me in this new beginning and I hope you remember something very important: Don’t follow any person. I am human,” the Latin Grammy Award winner said.
“To all the people who follow me, follow Jesus Christ, he’s the way, the truth, and the life,” he added.
