Latin Fresh

Roberto Carlos de los Rios Reyes, known to fans as Latin Fresh, spent his childhood in Panama surrounded by music that captivated him early on. Although a career in the industry had not been his goal, he joined a production course aimed at rap and hip-hop fans during his studies in Guayaquil in 1993. The experience not only sparked new motivation but also delivered his initial chance to lay down tracks at a professional standard. National hits arrived by 1995 with “Tranquilo” and “Ella Se Arrebata,” elevating the young MC under the Latin Fresh name to rising prominence. Those successes secured a gold record for Sony Music and led to his debut international tour in 1997, where he played before more than 500,000 fans across Central and South America. That same year he took his first turn behind the boards on the compilation La Union: Rap, Reggae & Flow, spotlighting Panama’s leading rap acts; the project’s strong reception confirmed his dual strengths as both performer and producer. The 1999 album El Panameno completed his three-record obligation to Sony. A fresh agreement with Univision brought Los Dementes in 2001 and Latin Fresh in 2002, both of which noticeably broadened his audience and visibility. His fourth solo outing, the 2004 set La Cuarta Carta, included appearances by El Roockie, Kafu Banton and additional guests, firmly establishing him among reggae-rap’s foremost figures. A new chapter opened with the fifth solo album Plan Calle, issued through Universal’s Machete Music, a pioneering imprint within the expanding urban Latino sector and Latin Fresh’s first label based in the United States.