Jhayco

Biography

Jesús Manuel Nieves Cortés (born April 9, 1993), known professionally as Jhayco (; formerly Jhay Cortez), is a Puerto Rican rapper and singer. After releasing multiple EPs, his debut studio album, Famouz×Famouz24 May 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Subiendo de nivel3:592No me conoce (remix)5:073Easy3:574Cuando bebe4:115En la mía3:526Sabe3:317Costear3:578Imaginaste3:189Apaga las luces3:3510¿Cuánto e$?3:0511Tocarte3:5912Somos iguales3:5413No me conoce3:59, was released in 2019.

Early life

Cortés was born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. Later, he moved to Camden, New Jersey, where he learned English.
Cortés began songwriting at the age of 15, gaining the interest of producer Eddie Dee. Cortés wrote music with Lele el Arma Secreta and Eliel, who introduced Cortés to the duo Zion & Lennox. Cortés composed three songs that featured on Zion & Lennox's 2011 album Los Verdaderos: "Como curar," "Detective de tu amor," and "Soltera" (under the pseudonym Jay el Superdotado).
Cortés wrote five singles for Tito El Bambino, including "Llama al Sol," featured on his 2011 album Invencible, which won a Latin Grammy for Best Tropical Album.

Career

In 2013, Cortés began as a singer for the Latin pop group Stereo 4, composed of four Puerto Rican singers: Jafet Cortes, Eduardo Esteras, Rubén Chinea, and Jesús M. Nieves. Cortés later launched his career as a soloist. He collaborated with Stereo 4 for the last time in 2016 with the song "Te quiero ver."
On August 22, 2017, Cortés was the first artist signed under House of Haze, a partnership established between Universal Music Latino and producer Fino como el Haze. He released his first single, "Donde no se vea," under this label, collaborating with Jory Boy and Pusho.
On March 16, 2018, Cortés performed at SXSW's Sounds from Puerto Rico showcase.
Cortés helped in the composition of the songs "Criminal" by Natti Natasha with Ozuna and "Mi Religión" by Yandel. On May 16, 2018, he released the EP Eyez on Me×Eyez on Me18 May 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1All Eyes on Me3:332Popular3:353Perder el tiempo3:364Deseos3:395Están pa' mí3:536Y no le conviene3:477Se supone3:568Donde no se vea4:009Se supone (remix)5:52 under the Universal Music Latino record label. At the end of 2018, he released his single "Costear" with Almighty, which led to the release of two remixes.
On February 22, 2019, Cortés released the single "No Me Conoce×No me conoce22 February 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1No me conoce4:00," which reached the top of several Latin American music charts. It was certified triple platinum by PROMUSICAE of Spain; the song also featured a remix with J Balvin and Bad Bunny and was certified 20× platinum by the RIAA. In that same year, he also released the song "Deseame suerte" with the collaboration of Karol G. On May 24, 2019, he released his first studio album, Famouz×Famouz24 May 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Subiendo de nivel3:592No me conoce (remix)5:073Easy3:574Cuando bebe4:115En la mía3:526Sabe3:317Costear3:578Imaginaste3:189Apaga las luces3:3510¿Cuánto e$?3:0511Tocarte3:5912Somos iguales3:5413No me conoce3:59, under the Universal Music Latino label. It was ranked 164 on the US Billboard 200 chart and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA.
In 2020, Cortés published a special edition of his first studio album with unreleased songs under the name Famouz Reloaded and released a new single, "Dime a Ve×Dime a ve3 July 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Dime a ve3:33," which would be part of his second album, Timelezz×Timelezz3 September 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Dilema2:012Tokyo3:223Esta dejá4:024Ley seca4:235Los rompediskoteca3:036En mi cuarto3:167Mi vicio3:418Dale como es3:079Nos matamos4:3010Ropa interior4:1111Los bandoleros4:3412Me extraña3:5513Dile (Homenaje)3:4914Christian Dior2:2715Los bo3:5916Kobe en LA 2.06:3217Eternamente3:30. He was also the winner of five ASCAP awards as a composer and two Tú Música Urbano Awards in the categories of Composer of the Year and New Generation Album by Famouz. He received nominations for the Billboard Awards for Latin music, Premios Juventud, Lo Nuestro Awards, and the Latin Grammys. On October 30, he released the song "Dakiti" in collaboration with Bad Bunny, which reached number one on the Billboard Global 200 charts; it also reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 9. At the end of that year, he collaborated on the Blue Grand Prix remix of "La Curiosidad" by Jay Wheeler and Myke Towers. He also appeared on Yandel's album Quien Contra Mí 2 in the collaboration of the song "Ponme al día."
At the beginning of 2021, Cortés participated in a production of Los Legendarios with the song "Fiel" with Wisin, which reached number 9 globally on the Spotify music platform. On March 14, he appeared with Bad Bunny performing "Dakiti" at the Grammy Awards ceremony. He also received another iHeartRadio Music Awards nomination in the Latin Pop/Reggaeton Song of the Year category for "Dakiti." He then appeared on the remix of 911 by Panamanian singer Sech.
On September 3, he released his album "Timelezz", featuring collaborations with Anuel AA, Skrillex, Myke Towers, Kendo Kaponi, Arcángel and Buscabulla. The album hit #2 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. Later that year, he was a part of Anuel AA's Súbelo, with Myke Towers.
In 2022, he released "En La De Ella" with Feid and Sech.
In 2023, he released "Holanda×Holanda28 July 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Holanda3:52". He was also a part of Tainy's album Data, on the song "FANTASMA | AVC".
In 2024, he released his album, "Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X)×Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X)6 September 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 29 tracks · 3 discsDisc 11Vida Rockstar3:262Grecia3:433Porsche Carrera4:144Natural3:175En la Bentley5:506Passoa5:097El final2:398584:479100 gramos3:3910Habibi2:4611XX4:2512Holanda3:5213Quimik3:39140 millas2:32Disc 21Le Clique4:432No entiendo4:043Viene BASQUIAT...3:504Murci4:4952C2:436Ferragamo2:327Mokai2:258Joe2:489Graxxx & QSJM3:34Disc 313D2:572Mami chula3:363Ex-Special3:494Torii3:365KTM6:066Cuerpecito3:15". The 29-track album features collaborations with Quevedo, Yandel, DJ Khaled, Omar Courtz, Yovngchimi, and many others. He also formed part of the remix of Si No Es Contigo by Cris MJ, along with Kali Uchis.

Personal life

Cortez was in a relationship with pornographic film actress and webcam model Mia Khalifa.

Controversies

In 2020, Cortez had a public spat with fellow rapper Bryant Myers on Twitter. The two rappers published diss tracks.
In December 2021, Cortez threw jabs at fellow artist Rauw Alejandro, comparing his dance moves to that of a cockroach on Ankhal's Si Pepe remix. Rauw would respond with the diss track "Hunter", saying Cortez's verse on the 911 (Remix) was written by Mora. Cortez then released "Enterrauw", a seven minute diss track.
On August 12, 2025, Cortez was arrested in Miami after deputies allegedly found cocaine and cannabis in his car during a traffic stop. He was later bonded out of jail.