Arcángel

Biography

Austin Agustín Santos (born December 23, 1985), better known by his stage name Arcángel, is an American rapper and singer. He is often described as one of the most influential artists in the Latin urban genre, as well in Latin music overall, and one of the pioneers of Latin trap music. Around 2002, he became interested in becoming a performer of reggaeton. He met fellow singer De la Ghetto while living in Puerto Rico, where they eventually formed a popular then-underground reggaeton duo, Arcángel & De la Ghetto.
While releasing music with De la Ghetto during the mid-2000s, he released songs that eventually became popular in both the United States and Puerto Rico, including "Aparentemente", "Agresivo", "Sorpresa", and "Mi Fanática". The duo went on to pursue solo careers following their separation in 2007; Arcángel also started a record label of his own. Since the start of his solo career in 2008, he has released hit singles such as "Pa' Que la Pases Bien", "Por Amar a Ciegas", "Hace Mucho Tiempo", "Me Prefieres a Mí×Me prefieres a mí22 May 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Me prefieres a mí3:15", "Me Acostumbré", "Tú No Vive' Así", "Sigues Con Él×Sigues con él13 December 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sigues con él3:47", "La Jumpa", and "ALV". Arcángel's second major-label album, Sentimiento, Elegancia & Maldad×Sentimiento, elegancia & maldad19 November 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Dios te bendiga2:442Hace mucho tiempo2:533Contigo quiero amores3:544Sola4:025Iré a buscarte4:116Gucci Boys Club3:247Cuando tú no estás3:188Como tiene que ser4:069Pakas de 1004:3010SEM4:3611Diferente3:0612Ayer escuché una voz3:0313Me, Myself and My Money3:0114Que le den3:4115Le llego donde sea3:4016Lentamente3:1417Tiene un piquete3:0418Por la plata baila el mono3:56 (2013), peaked at number one on the US Top Latin Albums chart, with his later solo studio albums—Ares (2018), Historias de un Capricornio×Historias de un capricornio20 December 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Mi testimonio4:452Al volante3:203Rehén2:554Ponte bonita3:135Infeliz3:416Video llamada3:357Doble cara3:058Hábitos3:019Lléname de luz3:0210No salgo de casa2:5711Sigues con él3:4612Capricornio3:4813Memoria rota3:2514Te esperaré3:1615Invicto4:01 (2019), and Los Favoritos 2×Los favoritos 216 October 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Payaso3:092Amantes & amigos3:033Satisfacción3:044Sigas moviendo2:565Normal3:506Un año tarde3:177Aparentemente 24:498Emilio y Gloria4:299No se enamora3:2410El bueno & El malo4:5911Matarse solita4:0112Pilonea3:0913Frío3:3514Todos la conocen4:0715Se porta mal3:3516Tussi3:0917El favorito2:3018Sigues con él (remix)3:10 (2020)—appearing on the chart's top five.

Early life

Austin Agustín Santos Rosas was born on December 23, 1985, in New York City to Dominican parents. He and his family moved to Puerto Rico when he was 3 months old, and eventually they began moving back and forth between New York City and Puerto Rico, starting when he was 12. His mother, Carmen Rosa, was a former member of the all-women merengue group, Las Chicas del Can, who were popular from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. Santos grew up listening to various types of music and has been a fan of rock music, particularly Draco Rosa, a Puerto Rican pop rock artist and a former member of Menudo. Santos was not always a fan of reggaeton; he claims that it is not his favorite type of music, but it is easy to sing to. During the early 2000s, Santos grew fond of the new kind of music.

2004–2007: Career beginnings with De la Ghetto

After returning to Puerto Rico in 2002, Santos had decided to follow in the footsteps of the upbringing of reggaeton music. He went on to form part of an underground reggaeton act with De la Ghetto, Arcángel & De la Ghetto. The duo was signed to reggaeton artist Zion's record label, Baby Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. The duo were also involved with Machete Music in 2004 during the time that they were recording for reggaeton compilation albums. Arcángel & De la Ghetto rose to fame in 2006 on the reggaeton compilation album hosted by Héctor el Father, Sangre Nueva, with their hit song, "Ven Pégate". They were also featured on the Luny Tunes-hosted compilation Mas Flow: Los Benjamins in 2006.
Though an active musical duo, Arcángel & De la Ghetto have never released a studio album since the formation of the duo. Any production they had been involved with only resulted in tracks and recordings being included on compilation albums or leaked onto the Internet. This was due to a conflict with Baby Records, because the company was not releasing any material by Arcángel & De la Ghetto onto an album of their own. Arcángel claimed to have even spent $150,000 on producing the album K-Libre (2006), which resulted in the label not releasing it to market. The tracks produced were said to have been leaked onto the Internet instead. Arcángel then filed a lawsuit with Baby Records in 2007 for $1,000,000 and eventually left the record company in December 2006, when he announced that he was embarking on a solo career and founding a label of his own.

2008–2013: Solo career, El Fenómeno, and Sentimiento, Elegancia & Maldad

After the separation of the duo in early 2007, Arcángel began his solo career, working with various reggaeton producers and performers on compilation albums. Most notable of them was a compilation album produced in 2007, Flow la Discoteka 2, which was produced by songwriter and record producer DJ Nelson. The album was an upbringing of different artists trying to rise to fame, one of those including Arcángel, who made a track titled "Chica Virtual", which went on to be one of his most recognizable songs, as well as being a popular airplay single on American Latin Urban radio stations, charting at number 9 on the Billboard Latin Rhythm Airplay chart. It also charted at number 22 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.
In July 2008, Arcángel told Billboard that he was working on his debut album La Maravilla×La maravilla2008 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Intro2Me he enamorado de ti3Te falta4Química sustancia5Historia de amor6Vamos en un viaje (Sí, sí)7Pa' que la pases bien8No pueden con el chamaquito9Campeando10Sé que vas a querer11Tengo tantas ganas12Métele13Ponte pa' mí, which was set to be a Latin urban album and was set to release in September or October 2008. The album was eventually cancelled due to tracks of the album being leaked onto the internet that same year. One of the internet leaks, a song titled "Pa' Que la Pases Bien", went on to be a popular airplay track on American Latin Urban radio stations across the United States. The unreleased album being leaked onto the internet resulted in making Arcángel more popular among reggaeton fans in the United States, as well as Puerto Rico.
Arcángel founded Flow Factory Inc. in 2006, and his mother became his manager afterward. He claimed that it was easier having his mother be his manager so that he would not have to pay 20 percent of money received from record sales to his record label and manager. He went on to release his debut album, El Fenómeno×El fenómeno9 December 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Ahí eh3:312Por amar a ciegas3:543Él no se va a enterar3:014Pienso en ti3:135Demente bailando2:586Agresivo 34:417Ta' bueno el ambiente3:368I Got Flow3:559Fuiste tú quien perdió2:5710Yo te enseño3:3111Nada malo2:5412Aprovecha el tiempo3:4213Enamorado de ti3:5414Química sustancia4:3815Pa' que la pases bien3:3416Sí3:4517Ganas de ti2:5418Mi primera canción4:2819Chica virtual4:2420Ahí eh (Predi club version)4:0221Por amar a ciegas (hip-hop version)3:56, in late 2008. The album included songs that were produced in the last quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, including the DJ Nelson produced "Chica Virtual". Half of the album was tracks that he originally produced for an album that was to be released in the first quarter of 2008. The other half of the album also included newly produced tracks, ones including "Por Amar a Ciegas", which went on to become a successful airplay single on Latin urban radio stations across the United States.
In mid-January 2009, Arcángel announced plans for a European tour sometime during 2009, in promotion of his debut album, El Fenómeno, and to receive more exposure across the world from reggaeton fans. To comment on the tour, he claimed that in order for it to be successful, good equipment would be highly important, and by going on the tour, he would be able to learn more about a continental tour experience. Arcángel confirmed that he would be touring in several countries, including Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, England, the Netherlands and Denmark. His mixtape The Problem Child×The Problem Child2010 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Volví de nuevo2Vamos pa'l carro3Caliente4Como tú me tocas5Regálame una noche6Quiero decirte7Ella quiere popo8Subiendo de nivel9Víctima10Wow bellaquita11Tratado de paz12Imagínate13En la intimidad14Piel canela15Lo mismo siento yo16Se va17Chupopsito18El sol y la playa19Tráigame a tu amiga (remix) was released in April 2010, with his following mixtape Optimus A.R.C.A.×Optimus A.R.C.A.31 October 2010 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Monarca de los mares4:142Mundo de colores3:233Lo mío es cantar3:464Todo tiene final3:535Si tú no estás3:476Pendiente a lo suyo3:497Tengo dinero4:228Como yo te hago el amor3:509Manifiéstate bailando2:5810Mi voz, mi estilo y mi flow3:2711Panamiur3:1612Dime la verdad4:4613Outro1:57 released in October 2010.
In February 2012, Arcángel signed with Pina Records, which is based in San Juan, Puerto Rico and operates offices in Colombia and Venezuela. Through the label, Arcángel released "Hace Mucho Tiempo", the lead single from his 2013 album Sentimiento, Elegancia & Maldad×Sentimiento, elegancia & maldad19 November 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Dios te bendiga2:442Hace mucho tiempo2:533Contigo quiero amores3:544Sola4:025Iré a buscarte4:116Gucci Boys Club3:247Cuando tú no estás3:188Como tiene que ser4:069Pakas de 1004:3010SEM4:3611Diferente3:0612Ayer escuché una voz3:0313Me, Myself and My Money3:0114Que le den3:4115Le llego donde sea3:4016Lentamente3:1417Tiene un piquete3:0418Por la plata baila el mono3:56, which both performed successfully. The album debuted at number one on the US Top Latin Albums chart, making it his first number-one, and first top-10, studio album.

2015–2019: Ares and Historias de un Capricornio

In 2015, Arcángel and fellow producer DJ Luian released their collaborative album Los Favoritos×Los favoritos11 December 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Los favoritos5:372Pensándote3:583Soltera4:47450 sombras de Austin3:155Imagínate3:376Decídete3:257Más piquete que yo4:128Sólo tú3:239Nadie3:1110Pura sensualidad3:3311La loca3:0412Pa'l muro3:5213El favorito de tu gata3:1014Chikiribón3:5915Vacilar y joder3:3816Mami, qué tú tienes4:2317Tu cuerpo me hace bien3:4318Soy dueño3:33, which features Nicky Jam, fellow Puerto Rican artist Farruko, and Colombian singer Maluma. The album was successful, debuting atop the US Latin Rhythm Albums chart and at number two on the US Top Latin Albums chart. In 2016, he signed with Hear This Music and released "La Ocasión" along with Ozuna, De la Ghetto, and Anuel AA, which was a big hit. In 2017, he collaborated with Ozuna and J Balvin on the Chris Jedi-produced track "Ahora Dice", and also collaborated with Snow Tha Product on "Nuestra Canción Pt. 2".
In 2018, he released his third studio album, Ares, which was composed mostly of Latin trap, something much different from his past albums, which were mostly reggaeton. The album featured Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny and Colombian artist J Balvin.
In 2019, he collaborated with Myke Towers, Farruko, Sech and Zion on the remix for "Si Se Da". That same year, he ended his contract with Pina Records and signed with Rimas Entertainment, where he released singles to promote his fourth studio album, Historias de un Capricornio×Historias de un capricornio20 December 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Mi testimonio4:452Al volante3:203Rehén2:554Ponte bonita3:135Infeliz3:416Video llamada3:357Doble cara3:058Hábitos3:019Lléname de luz3:0210No salgo de casa2:5711Sigues con él3:4612Capricornio3:4813Memoria rota3:2514Te esperaré3:1615Invicto4:01, which included collaborations with Ozuna, Bad Bunny, Myke Towers, among others. He released "Te Esperaré" on August 16, 2019, as the album's lead single; "Memoria Rota" with Towers was released on October 25, 2019, as its second single. The album's fourth single, "Sigues Con Él×Sigues con él13 December 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sigues con él3:47" featuring Sech, marked a major breakthrough for Arcángel, as it peaked at number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking his first appearance on the chart.

2020–2021: Los Favoritos 2 and 2.5

In April 2020, Arcángel and Sech released a remix version of "Sigues Con Él×Sigues con él13 December 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sigues con él3:47" with Romeo Santos. Later, the rapper released a few more singles to promote his fifth studio album Los Favoritos 2×Los favoritos 216 October 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Payaso3:092Amantes & amigos3:033Satisfacción3:044Sigas moviendo2:565Normal3:506Un año tarde3:177Aparentemente 24:498Emilio y Gloria4:299No se enamora3:2410El bueno & El malo4:5911Matarse solita4:0112Pilonea3:0913Frío3:3514Todos la conocen4:0715Se porta mal3:3516Tussi3:0917El favorito2:3018Sigues con él (remix)3:10, which is a sequel to his 2015 album with DJ Luian, Los Favoritos×Los favoritos11 December 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Los favoritos5:372Pensándote3:583Soltera4:47450 sombras de Austin3:155Imagínate3:376Decídete3:257Más piquete que yo4:128Sólo tú3:239Nadie3:1110Pura sensualidad3:3311La loca3:0412Pa'l muro3:5213El favorito de tu gata3:1014Chikiribón3:5915Vacilar y joder3:3816Mami, qué tú tienes4:2317Tu cuerpo me hace bien3:4318Soy dueño3:33; the singles "Tussi×Tussi18 September 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Tussi3:09" and "Amantes y Amigos×Amantes y amigos2 October 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Amantes y amigos3:02" were released in September and October 2020. The album, which was originally planned to be released in 2017, contains a sequel to "Aparentemente" with Yaga & Mackie and De la Ghetto titled "Aparentemente 2," as well as collaborations with Cosculluela, Ozuna, Wisin & Yandel, Romeo Santos, among others.
In April 2021, Arcángel and Colombian rapper Farina released their collaborative EP FloWres×FloWres24 April 2021 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1La boca2:492Pégate3:283Comas y ceros3:214Húmeda3:125Qué bien3:176Montoya2:27, which was supported by their single "La Boca×La boca17 February 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1La boca2:49". In September of the same year, he released his sixth studio album, Los Favoritos 2.5×Los favoritos 2.517 September 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Flow violento2:552Si te veo4:163Con sus B3:394Hijuepu3:525Insegura4:086Mía3:447Na’ de eso4:368Todo caro3:469Enfermo3:5110No quiere novio4:0811Capos y bichotes3:0112Es complicado3:1513No hay perdón3:4514Nintendo3:5715Batman en Can Am3:05, which was supported by the single "Insegura×Insegura16 July 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Insegura4:09" and contains collaborations with Zion & Lennox, Nicky Jam, Tempo, among others. In November 2021, Arcángel's younger brother, Justin Santos, died in a car accident while visiting Puerto Rico.

2022–present: Sr. Santos and Sentimiento, Elegancia y Más Maldad

In November 2022, a year after the death of Justin Santos, Arcángel released the single "JS4E" and announced his seventh studio album, Sr. Santos×SR. SANTOS1 December 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1JS4E3:572PortoBello3:463La jumpa4:154La roca2:555Bottas3:286Subimos de precio2:227Dígitos3:168No te vayas1:409La ruta3:0410Spicy Crab3:1711Papá Noel3:3412Kilimanjaro3:3813Sprinter3:0914De negro2:5915Entonces3:0916Fendace2:5617Sin Scotti4:5718MMB's1:27, to be a tribute to his brother. A week later, he released the album's second single, "La Jumpa" with Bad Bunny, which became another hit single for Arcángel, peaking at number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Sr. Santos was released on December 1, 2022, containing collaborations with Myke Towers, Young Miko, Eladio Carrión, Bizarrap, among others. The album peaked at number three on the US Top Latin Albums chart, achieving his sixth top 10 on the chart.
In March 2023, Arcángel joined Bizarrap to release his 54th "Music Sessions", which was originally teased on social media before release. After the release of several singles, the singer announced his eighth studio album, Sentimiento, Elegancia y Más Maldad×Sentimiento, elegancia y más maldad17 November 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Glory1:052El palo3:353Me gusta tu flow2:584Plutón2:265ALV3:446Antonio Banderas3:037Rosita2:408Los Roques2:529Psicópata2:4810FP2:5111Qué tengo que hacer2:5312Condado2:3113Yoshi3:2214Bali2:4815La chamba2:5416Rápido2:3517No tiene nombre esta canción2:5518Arca 10mil3:0119Los tiempos cambian3:26, which is a sequel to his second album, Sentimiento, Elegancia & Maldad×Sentimiento, elegancia & maldad19 November 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Dios te bendiga2:442Hace mucho tiempo2:533Contigo quiero amores3:544Sola4:025Iré a buscarte4:116Gucci Boys Club3:247Cuando tú no estás3:188Como tiene que ser4:069Pakas de 1004:3010SEM4:3611Diferente3:0612Ayer escuché una voz3:0313Me, Myself and My Money3:0114Que le den3:4115Le llego donde sea3:4016Lentamente3:1417Tiene un piquete3:0418Por la plata baila el mono3:56. Following the announcement, Arcángel released the album's lead single, "La Chamba" with Peso Pluma, which was announced with a trailer featuring American actor Danny Trejo, released on October 30, 2023. The album was released on November 17, 2023, with most of the album's production done by Dímelo Flow. On this album, "ALV" with Grupo Frontera became a hit in other countries.

Controversy

Since 2007, Arcángel has released a series of tiraderas (diss tracks) under the title "Feliz Navidad×Feliz Navidad25 December 2024 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Feliz Navidad 15:282Feliz Navidad 26:063Feliz Navidad 35:084Feliz Navidad 45:505Feliz Navidad 55:376Feliz Navidad 64:527Feliz Navidad 76:398Feliz Navidad 810:559Feliz Navidad 90:40", with most of them being produced by DJ Luian. Farruko, Wisin, Tito El Bambino, among others, have been mentioned by Arcángel in at least one of his diss tracks. In December 2023, Arcángel released "Feliz Navidad 8×Feliz Navidad 812 December 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Feliz Navidad 810:55", which is a diss track against Anuel AA, Rochy RD and Ozuna. The release of the track started a feud between the singer and Anuel; the reason for its release was Anuel ending his business relationship with his longtime manager, Frabián Eli, who is Arcángel's brother-in-law. Anuel responded with the release of "Glock, Glock, Glock", where he mentions that without Bad Bunny, Arcángel could not make a hit single. Named after the substance of the same name, Arcángel responded with "El Narcan." Its lyrics claim that Anuel has substance abuse issues. Anuel responded again with a second diss track "Arcángel Es Chota", a song where he mentions Karol G and Cosculluela, as well as Arcángel's arrest in 2019 for domestic battery. Responding to the singer again through an Instagram post, Anuel claims that nobody noticed that he released his album, Sentimiento, Elegancia y Más Maldad×Sentimiento, elegancia y más maldad17 November 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Glory1:052El palo3:353Me gusta tu flow2:584Plutón2:265ALV3:446Antonio Banderas3:037Rosita2:408Los Roques2:529Psicópata2:4810FP2:5111Qué tengo que hacer2:5312Condado2:3113Yoshi3:2214Bali2:4815La chamba2:5416Rápido2:3517No tiene nombre esta canción2:5518Arca 10mil3:0119Los tiempos cambian3:26, adding that "[he's] waiting for Bad Bunny to collaborate with him to revive his career." Arcángel released a third diss track titled "3 a 0×3 A 027 December 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track13 A 07:27", where he mentions Anuel's ex-partner Yailin La Más Viral and defends Karol G and Feid.

Family

Arcángel has two children. The first was born while in a relationship with Alejandra Pascual, while the second was born during Arcángel's relationship with Janexsy Figueroa. He is also stepfather to the son of Figueroa and Nicky Jam. Justin Santos, who was Arcángel's brother, died at the age of 21 on November 21, 2021, in a car accident on the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge in Puerto Rico.

Legal issues

In July 2010, Arcángel was arrested in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding. In February 2012, he was arrested again for something similar, despite refusing to take a field sobriety test. In 2019, Arcángel got into legal trouble for domestic battery and was set to appear in court in June 2020.

Studio albums

El Fenómeno (2008)
Sentimiento, Elegancia & Maldad (2013)
Ares (2018)
Historias de un Capricornio (2019)
Los Favoritos 2 (2020)
Los Favoritos 2.5 (2021)
Sr. Santos (2022)
Sentimiento, Elegancia y Más Maldad (2023)
Papi Arca (2024)
Sr. Santos II Sueños de Grandeza (2025)
La 8va Maravilla (2026)