Reggaeton flavor comes to the Valley

Joey Cepeda is getting the ultimate birthday gift: to see reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee in concert.

If the stars align, he will also get to meet him.

Daddy Yankee is playing Dodge Arena on Sept. 20, the same day as Cepeda’s 27th birthday.

“Hanging out with him afterward - would be the best birthday present ever,” Cepeda said.

The McAllen resident has been a fan of the Puerto Rican artist since 2002, when he heard the singles from El Cangri.com, Daddy Yankee’s second release.

Daddy Yankee emerged as one of the leading voices of reggaeton with that album. He’s been topping the charts since with songs like “Gasolina,” “Lo que paso, paso and “Machucando.”

His newest album, El Cartel - The Big Boss, contains the catchy beats that have made him famous. The album delves into more serious issues like U.S. immigration policy, and the alleged feud between Yankee and reggaeton star Don Omar.

But it also features more arrogance than his previous albums. “Daddy Yankee no es un cantante, Daddy Yankee es un movimiento. - (Daddy Yankee isn’t a singer. Daddy Yankee is a movement.)

“The king is back” is the chorus.

But maybe Daddy Yankee, born Raymond Ayala, is entitled to a little arrogance. He’s found his way out of the housing project, Villa Kennedy, of his youth. He’s survived being shot. And he’s made a virtually unknown genre of music - reggaeton - into something people bop along to on the treadmill and shake it up on the dance floor.

“Listen to his music all the time,” Cepeda said. “I listen to it when I work out. I like that he’s yelling and talking and expressing himself and being proud of his culture. I like his rhythm.”

Cepeda also has a DVD of a recent Yankee concert. He hopes that the concert at Dodge will be as exciting as the one on the DVD.

“I want to see the girls wearing the New York Yankee uniforms,” he said. “I think he’s going to do something to make himself be remembered expecting that.”

Cepeda also wants to hear his favorite song - “Dale Hasta Abajo” - played live.

Multiple attempts to schedule in interview with Daddy Yankee were not successful by deadline.

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Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425. For this and other local stories, visit www.themonitor.com.

What: Daddy Yankee

Where: Dodge Arena

When: Saturday, Sept. 20

Cost: $55, $75, $95, $125

Info: 668-7740, www.daddyyankee.com