Colombian vocalist and composer Ryan Castro works within Latin pop, hip-hop, and reggaeton. Breakthrough arrived via the 2017 single “Morena” and the 2020 track “Medellín.” During 2022 he issued both the full-length Reggaetonea and the Los Piratas EP. A steady stream of singles and joint releases continued, among them the 2023 chart success “Quema” alongside Peso Pluma and SOG; that cut anchored his subsequent album, the 2024 release El Cantante del Ghetto, which reached the Top 20.
Born in Medellín’s Pedregal neighborhood in 1994, Castro developed an early interest in singing and hip-hop. As a teenager he began performing live, later relocating to Curaçao to perform at hotels, clubs, and restaurants. While there, tracks he posted online quickly gained traction, drawing the notice of singer Kevin Roldan, who placed him on his label. The 2017 single “Morena” expanded his audience, and further songs such as “Miami,” “Woman,” and “Secreto” followed. Additional collaborations included “Nunca Imagine” with Maycol Riddim plus the 2019 cuts “Campeón” and “Cositas.”
In 2020 he notched further successes with Roldan on “Dime,” featuring DBwoy, and on “Pensándote, Jamaica” with Massianello; that same year the Roldan and Reykon collaboration “Medellín” became another hit. Subsequent releases encompassed 2020’s “Lejanía,” 2021’s “Hay Amores,” and the Michael Jordan-inspired “Jordan.” August 2021 brought “Wasa Wasa,” followed by “Monastery” with Feid and “Chupable” with El Alfa and Chiky Bom Bom “La Pantera.” He closed the year touring alongside Karol G.
January 2022 saw the seven-track Reggaetonea arrive, featuring appearances from Farina, Ovi, Blessd, and others; its lead single was “Mujeriego.” Later that year the Los Piratas EP surfaced, highlighted by “Marbella.” Output remained abundant into 2023, yielding tracks such as “Ghetto Star” with COQE and the hit “Quema” with Peso Pluma and SOG; he and SOG also issued the joint EP El Pichón. Throughout 2024, preparatory singles including “Modelito” with Onyl and “Pueblo de Medallo” with Arcángel joined “Quema” on the May full-length El Cantante del Ghetto, which entered Billboard’s Heatseekers chart at No. 20. Early 2025 opened with the Kris R collaboration “NI X EL PUTXS.”
