Guaynaa

Guaynaa is a reggaetonero, rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor from Puerto Rico. He is best known for the 2019 smash single, viral video, and social media phenomenon "Rebota," a conscious, innovative throwback to the Afro-Latino roots of 1990s reggaeton, complete with hard, spiky, dembow beats and perreo dancing. He has released a prolific number of singles and collaborations including 2020's "Bom Bom" and 2022's "Nos Volvimos Locos" with Gloria Trevi. He issued La República, his studio album debut, in 2021 and 2023's "Abajito" with spouse Lele Pons. As an actor he appeared in Insecure (2015), Father of the Bride and Savage Rhythms (both 2022). Guaynaa is not a revivalist, he sees reggaeton's history and lineage as fertile ground for innovation in urban Latin Music and much Latin pop. In 2023, he and Pons collaborated again on the full-length La República. 2025 saw the release of Cumbia y Amor.The artist was born Jean Carlos Santiago Pérez in Caguas, Puerto Rico. Though he had been singing and rapping for most of his life, the music bug bit hard after he graduated high school and attended college. He began posting covers and originals on his Twitter and YouTube accounts, including 2015's "La Pista Esta Fea" b/w "Mothafoca" under the moniker Janko El Guayna. He went back to writing and studio work to hone his craft. He made his acting debut in the Marianne Tardieu film Insecure in 2016.In July of 2018, he released the video single "Pirateando," which racked up a respected two million views. In the fall, as a response to Hurricane Maria, he dropped the inspiring "Huracán María Freestyle" after the tragic storm devastated the island. It became a staple on the nation's radio stations and circulated widely across the Caribbean, resulting in his signing to Sony. Deeply influenced by the writing of Calle 13's Residente and the business acumen and performance style of Daddy Yankee, Guaynaa went back to work, and by December had dropped the video for "Rebota," which clocked nearly 200 million views during its first three months. It peaked at number 37 on the Hot Latin Songs chart in April 2019 and registered an additional 300 million views. The remix single, featuring Becky G, Farruko, Nicky Jam, and Sech, was certified four-times platinum by the RIAA. The track was a constant at PR radio, spreading his reputation to the rest of the United States and Latin America. Later that month he enlisted Samuel Del Valle and Joselito Hernandez to assist him on the holiday single "Navidad en Puertorri." In January 2020, he issued the #RebotaChallenge, a video and social media trend that began to spread as far away as Europe and Asia. Guaynaa became a fixture at streaming and radio. In February he dropped the single "La Stripper" and guested with Karly & Yoe on "Parties de Escuelas." He collaborated with Ñejo on the hit "Mi Leona" that dropped in March, and guested on "Machuqueo" for Paulino Rey, along with Brray and Chris Wandell. In April, he was invited to join Bad Bunny on-stage for a thunderous version of "Rebota." Soon after, KRZ and Guaynaa collaborated on the single "Bugalú." During the pandemic, Guaynaa managed to release no less than 11 singles including guest spots. Among his best work that year was his appearance on "Bom Bom," with Kafu Banton and Bad Gyal; "Se Te Nota" with Pons, and "Aguachaito" (feat. Quimco Ultra Mega). As the pandemic began to ease, he released "Monterrey" (feat. Pain Digital), "Demente" with Chung Ha, and "Somos," a duet with Cabra that was used in the soundtrack to El Cuartito. In all, Guaynaa participated in or released 18 singles -- nine charted.The artist's time was taken up by appearing in two films during 2022: Father of the Bride and Savage Rhythm, but he managed to assist as a featured guest on three charting singles: El Doggy's "Play-N-Skillz," "Pal Perreo" with Emiliana and FMK, and "Golear" with BLVD.In March 2023, Guaynaa and Pons, who had been dating since 2020, married. They celebrated by releasing the charting collaboration single "Abajito" and the Top 40 duo album Capitulationes. He issued the lullaby "Que Lindo" and enlisted Beele for "Toxic Love." "El Caudal" was released with the participation of Monsieur Periné. Guaynaa released or participated in the creation of 20 singles in 2024. Among them were the charting "Vaquera," and "Amor y Odio" and "Rumba" with Musik Junkies and Alex Favela. 2025 dawned with "Carmelito" in February, followed by "Ritmo de Negro" (feat. Afro Brothers) in March. That month saw the married couple announce the birth of their first child and the release of Guaynaa's third long-player, the 14-track Cumbia y Amor. Its guest list included appearances from Tropikal Forever, Bronco, Ximena Sarinana, Duelo, and Rafaga. In April, Guaynaa joined Edwin Luna y Trakalosa Monterrey on the driving urban cumbia jam "Blue Label."
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