El General
Encyclopedia
El General is a Panamanian Reggae
artist considered by some to be one of the Fathers of Reggaeton
. During the early 1990s, he initiated the Spanish spoken dancehall that would later become reggaeton. Early examples of this were the international and somewhat mainstream songs, “Te Ves Buena” and “Tu Pum Pum.” Both songs, performed in Spanish rap, were very successful in North America. After getting his foot in the door of the commercial market, many other Spanish rappers became famous in the mainstream as well, such as Vico C
and DJ Negro. He has a unique, easy to listen to style of dance music
and has produced many well known songs all over Latin America
. His musical works have become popular in Latin America over the last few years. This style is called Reggae en Español
which would later form Reggaeton
, because he makes reggae music with Spanish lyrics.
, his home. After getting a scholarship, the young artist moved to the U.S. to study business administration, soon becoming a professional accountant
. He started his career when he was 19 years old, and during 17 years, his albums achieved gold status 32 times and platinum 17 times, and several other awards. El General's type of music from Panama was something much different from the reggae of Jamaica. The popular music in Panama was called petroleo.
Songs like "Muevelo" (1991), "Tu Pum Pum" (1988), "Rica y Apretadita", and "Te Ves Buena" are among his greatest hits. In 1992, El General received the an MTV award for best Latin video with the great success of "Muevelo".
His breakout performance came in 1994, when he was featured on the song Robi-Rob's Boriqua Anthem Part 2 from C+C Music Factory
's the "Anything Goes
" album.
because of the cancellation of his diplomatic passport
. However, he alleged he would dedicate more time to his career as a producer and entrepreneur
.
hosting a program of his own called Sal, Azúcar, Miel y Canela (Salt, Sugar, Honey and Cinnamon) at Radio Kids.
In 2007, he became a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses
, to which his grandmother also is a member. Now he spends his time teaching others about the Bible.
Reggae en Español
Reggae en Español is reggae and dancehall music recorded in the Spanish language by artists of Latin American origin. It originated in the mid-1970s in Panama and 1980s in Puerto Rico, but today reggae en Español is well dominated by Puerto Rican reggae bands...
artist considered by some to be one of the Fathers of Reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
. During the early 1990s, he initiated the Spanish spoken dancehall that would later become reggaeton. Early examples of this were the international and somewhat mainstream songs, “Te Ves Buena” and “Tu Pum Pum.” Both songs, performed in Spanish rap, were very successful in North America. After getting his foot in the door of the commercial market, many other Spanish rappers became famous in the mainstream as well, such as Vico C
Vico C
Vico C is an Puerto Rican rapper and rap artist. He is considered one of the founding fathers of rap and has played an influential role in the development of Latin American hip hop....
and DJ Negro. He has a unique, easy to listen to style of dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
and has produced many well known songs all over Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. His musical works have become popular in Latin America over the last few years. This style is called Reggae en Español
Reggae en Español
Reggae en Español is reggae and dancehall music recorded in the Spanish language by artists of Latin American origin. It originated in the mid-1970s in Panama and 1980s in Puerto Rico, but today reggae en Español is well dominated by Puerto Rican reggae bands...
which would later form Reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
, because he makes reggae music with Spanish lyrics.
Early history
El General began singing and composing songs at the age of 12 in Rio AbajoRio Abajo
Rio Abajo is a West Indian neighborhood in Panama City, capital of the Republic of Panama. The unique culture of this area of Panama stems mainly from the Creole-speaking Caribbean people who relocated to the area from Anglophone islands in the Antilles more than a century ago, namely Jamaica and...
, his home. After getting a scholarship, the young artist moved to the U.S. to study business administration, soon becoming a professional accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
. He started his career when he was 19 years old, and during 17 years, his albums achieved gold status 32 times and platinum 17 times, and several other awards. El General's type of music from Panama was something much different from the reggae of Jamaica. The popular music in Panama was called petroleo.
Songs like "Muevelo" (1991), "Tu Pum Pum" (1988), "Rica y Apretadita", and "Te Ves Buena" are among his greatest hits. In 1992, El General received the an MTV award for best Latin video with the great success of "Muevelo".
His breakout performance came in 1994, when he was featured on the song Robi-Rob's Boriqua Anthem Part 2 from C+C Music Factory
C+C Music Factory
C+C Music Factory is a dance-pop and hip hop group formed in 1989 by David Cole and Robert Clivillés which stopped recording 1996, following Cole's death...
's the "Anything Goes
Anything Goes! (C+C Music Factory album)
Anything Goes! is the second album by the U.S. dance group C+C Music Factory. It had one single, "Do You Wanna Get Funky", that reached #1 on the Dance/Club Play carts, #40 on the Hot 100, and #11 on the R&B Singles chart...
" album.
Later career
In 2004, he announced his retirement from the music industry after an incident with the government of PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
because of the cancellation of his diplomatic passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
. However, he alleged he would dedicate more time to his career as a producer and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
.
Retirement
He is currently dedicated to his foundation Niños Pobres Sin Fronteras (Poor Children Without Borders) in Panama CityPanama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
hosting a program of his own called Sal, Azúcar, Miel y Canela (Salt, Sugar, Honey and Cinnamon) at Radio Kids.
In 2007, he became a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
, to which his grandmother also is a member. Now he spends his time teaching others about the Bible.
Discography
- La Ficha Clave (2004)
- "To' Rap-Eao" (2003)
- El General The Hits (2003)
- Move it Up (2003)
- "General De Fiesta" (2002)
- IS BACK (2001)
- Back to the Original (2001)
- Serie 2000: El General (2000)
- Colección Original: El General (1998)
- Grandes Exitoss (1998)
- Rapa Pan Pan (1997)
- Clubb 555 (1995)
- Es Mundial (1995)
- El Poder de El General (1992)
- Muevelo Con El General(1991)
- Estas Buena (1990)
- No Me Va a Matar (1990)