Jean Carlos Santiago Perez, better known as Guaynaa, was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, on September 16, 1992.
The nickname «Guaynaa» is derived from a Puerto Rican expression that denotes a wealthy or high-class person; someone who belongs to the upper class, dress expensively and with glamour, or as defined by the singer, «to be the child of a doctor or lawyer». He embraced this nickname due to his personality and unique style.
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In 2017, after the tragic devastation of Hurricane Maria, he dropped his first track called ‘Maria,’ and it blew up on all social media platforms. In the song he expressed his frustration and anger at the situation.
But that was just Guaynaa’s beginning. His next hit, ‘Rebota,’ took the world by storm and it became a massive success. Nowadays, the music video has more than 542 million views on YouTube.
He even released a remix featuring Sech, Becky G, Farruko, and Nicky Jam, reaching the Top 10 of the Billboard chart. In 2020, he received his first Latin Grammy nomination in the «Best Reggaetón Performance» category for his song ‘Chicharrón,’ in collaboration with Cauty.
In 2021, he released ‘Se Te Nota’ in collaboration with Lele Pons, a former viner star turned artist, and now his wife. The music video has over 449 million views on YouTube.
He also collaborated with Sebastian Yatra for ‘Chica Ideal.’ In his single and video titled «Monterrey,» he pays tribute to Monterrey, Mexico, and he has also teamed up with Los Ángeles Azules for ‘Cumbia a la gente’.
In an interview with Billboard, Guaynaa passionately discussed his love for music, revealing that his music is not limited to reggaeton or urban genres. Surprisingly, his favorite genre is salsa. He even shared his dream collaboration, expressing his desire to work with the legendary Marc Anthony.
Marc Anthony, but it must be salsa. I love salsa, and someday I would like to showcase my talents in that genre. My ultimate wish is to record a classic song with him.»
He also said that when he creates music, he thinks about music trends that fit within his own style.
During the interview, Guaynaa discussed his latest single ‘Pa’ Que Afinken,’ where he revealed the meaning of «afincar» in Puerto Rico. He also opened up about his journey as a more independent artist and shared insights into his life as a married man, explaining how he manages to balance his personal life with fame and work.
Don’t miss the full interview and make sure to watch Guaynaa as one of the hosts for the MTV MIAW awards, which will be celebrated in Mexico City this August, 6.
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