Anuel AA

Emmanuel Gazmey Santiago  (born November 26, 1992), known professionally as  Anuel AA , is a Puerto Rican rapper and singer. His music often contains samples and interpolations of songs that were popular during his youth. He is seen as a controversial figure in the Latin music scene for his legal troubles and feuds with fellow Puerto Rican rappers  Cosculluela  and  Ivy Queen  and with fellow American rapper  6ix9ine . Raised in  Carolina, Puerto Rico , he started recording music at age fourteen and began posting it online four years later in 2010, before eventually signing to the Latin division of fellow American rapper  Rick Ross 's  Maybach Music Group . His 2016  mixtape   Real Hasta la Muerte  was well-received, but his success was put on hold the same year by a 30-month prison sentence for illegal firearm possession in Puerto Rico. He recorded the entirety of his debut album while incarcerated, during which time his genre of music surged in popularity. Anuel AA released his debut album, also titled  Real Hasta la Muerte , on July 17, 2018, the day he was released from prison. The album was a critical and commercial success. In the coming six months, he appeared on the  Billboard   Hot Latin Songs , solidifying his position as one of the top Latino artists. In August 2019, he released the song " China ", a collaboration with  Daddy Yankee ,  Karol G ,  Ozuna , and  J Balvin , which was a global success. He has since released the hit song " Me Gusta " with  Shakira , and his second album,  Emmanuel , which was released on May 29, 2020. In November 2020, Anuel AA made a statement on  Instagram  and released a new song suggesting his imminent retirement from the music industry, citing family and relationship issues. He was back to music with his collaborative album  Los Dioses  with  Ozuna . His third studio album  Las Leyendas Nunca Mueren  was released on 26 November 2021, including 16 tracks. In December 2021, Anuel became the first Latin artist to collaborate with UFC to promote a sports conceptual album, which features his admiration for influential cultural figures, including sports icons. "Real Hasta La Muerte” was the presenting sponsor of UFC Fight Replay for pivotal moments of UFC 269's main card. The company's activation with UFC included Anuel AA's visuals, logo, and artistic concept for his third album,  Las Leyendas Nunca Mueren .