Artist
Vico C
Luis Armando Lozada Cruz, born in Brooklyn and raised in San Juan, pioneered Spanish-language hip-hop in the late 80s and early 90s. His work laid the groundwork for reggaeton's lyrical style and flow patterns. As mixtapes flew back and forth from NYC and Puerto Rico, led by Vico C, a Spanish-language hip-hop revolution was taking place. Before Daddy Yankee, before the dembow took over, there was Vico C—the first to prove that Spanish rap could hold its own, that Puerto Rican MCs had something to say. His influence runs through everything that came after, the foundation upon which the underground was built.