Guaynaa

Puerto Rican performer Guaynaa blends the roles of reggaetonero, rapper, singer, and songwriter, earning his greatest fame with the 2019 breakout single and viral video “Rebota.” The track serves as a thoughtful yet forward-looking nod to the Afro-Latino foundations of 1990s reggaeton, driven by sharp, aggressive dembow rhythms and perreo choreography. His creation also sparked the #RebotaChallenge, a social-media sensation that prompted countless fans to share their own perreo interpretations, among them Karol G. Born Jean Carlos Santiago Pérez, Guaynaa refuses to treat reggaeton as a mere revival; instead he regards its lineage as rich soil for fresh growth across urban Latin music and broader Latin pop.

Although his stage name suggests otherwise, the artist entered the world in Caguas, Puerto Rico, rather than Guaynabo. Singing and rapping had occupied much of his youth, yet the drive intensified only after high school when he entered college. Early recordings and covers began appearing on his Twitter feed and YouTube channel, among them the 2015 debut pairing “La Pista Esta Fea” b/w “Mothafoca” issued under the alias Janko El Guayna. He then returned to songwriting and studio refinement to sharpen his skills. July 2018 brought the video single “Pirateando,” which accumulated two million views. In the months following Hurricane Maria, he released the motivational “Huracán María Freestyle,” a response to the disaster that crippled the island; the track settled into regular rotation on national radio and traveled widely through the Caribbean, prompting his signing with Sony.

Residente’s writing from Calle 13 and Daddy Yankee’s commercial insight together with his commanding stage presence left deep marks on Guaynaa. He resumed work immediately, unveiling the “Rebota” video by December; within its first three months the clip approached 200 million views. The song stayed in heavy rotation on Puerto Rican stations, extending his reach across the United States and Latin America. Later that same month he recruited Samuel Del Valle and Joselito Hernandez for the holiday release “Navidad en Puertorri.” January introduced the #RebotaChallenge video and trend, which soon reached audiences in Europe and Asia. Radio and television both embraced him as a regular presence. February saw the arrival of the single “La Stripper” and a guest turn alongside Karly & Yoe on “Parties de Escuelas.” March brought the collaboration “Mi Leona” with Ñejo and a feature on Paulino Rey’s “Machuqueo” alongside Brray and Chris Wandell. April placed him onstage with Bad Bunny for an explosive rendition of “Rebota.” Shortly afterward he joined KRZ for the single “Bugalú.”