Divino

Grassroots reggaeton idol Divino cut his teeth amongst the genre’s forefathers in the streets of Ponce starting in 1994, laying the foundation for a two-decade-long climb to stardom. Having moved to Puerto Rico’s reggaeton capitol city from the Bronx, Divino wasted no time before jumping into the island’s bustling music scene. Already a skilled writer and performer, Divino found inspiration in Ponce’s booming reggaeton scene. The young artist amassed a strong hometown following, selling his home-made recordings on street corners. It was not long before his hard work paid off in the form of an invitation. Divino made his professional recording debut in 1994, appearing on the compilation disc Non-Stop Reggae Vol. I with the tune “A Donde Voy.” Divino’s musical career was moved to the back burner, as he watched his younger brother K2 Young rise to local fame alongside DJ Playero and Baby Ranks. Following his brother’s tragic death in 1999 Divino was inspired to relight the flame, offering his music his full attention. Baby Ranks, who’d shared a close relationship with his brother, invited Divino to collaborate on a number of tracks. As word spread about Divino’s vocal and musical skill, requests for collaboration poured in. He appeared on tracks with genre superstars like Daddy Yankee, Wisin y Yandel and more. His track “Quiero Saber,” which appeared on the 2002 release MVP sold an impressive 100,000 in it’s first year. MVP Records, an small start-up at the time, offered Divino a deal which he readily accepted. His debut solo record Todo a su Tiempo was released in 2003, featuring the hit single “Se Activaron Los Anormales.” The record appeared on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums charts the following year at number 63. In time it achieved gold status, earning Divino a nomination for “Best New Artist” at the 2004 Billboard Awards. A string of hit singles followed in the years to come, including “Llégale” and “Pobre Corazon” to name a few, all of which found their way onto Tropical and Urban airplay charts. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez