Don Omar in New York City

Don Omar is an early Puerto Rican reggaeton singer, and actor famous for the “Fast & Furious” franchise. Now he’s an elder statesman of reggaeton and Puerto Rican culture.

He is one of the artists who came up when reggaeton was finding its way, and then helped take the music global. When he started the Puerto Rican government was still trying to shut down reggaeton mixtapes. Can you image that? Remember? We remember.

Omar stepped back from music after his success in “Fast & Furious,” but he keeps coming back. If you’re Puerto Rican, listening to Don Omar will make you miss Borikén.

Don Omar in New York City

Don Omar in 2006 (Michael Bush/Dreamstime)

Prudential Center

Don Omar “Back to Reggaeton Tour” brings Puerto Rican reggaeton to Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey; on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 8pm. From $67. prucenter.com 🇵🇷

UBS Arena

Don Omar “Back to Reggaeton Tour” brings Puerto Rican reggaeton to UBS Arena in Elmont, Long Island; on Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 8pm. From $84. 🇵🇷

New York Venues

Don Omar

Don Omar’s latest “Sandunga” with Wisin and Yandel

William Omar Ladrón Rivera was born in Villa Palmeras, Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, on February 10, 1978.

Villa Palmeras is an artistic neighborhood like The Bronx. It’s a foundry of great artists. The Cepeda family of Santurce, the first family of Puerto Rican bomba, is from there. Rafael Cortijo and Ismael Rivera, who put bomba in la salsa, are from there. Tommy Olivencia’s band was the salsa university before Gran Combo took the title. [We used to live across the street from all that.]

Omar was making reggaeton before Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” went global in 2004. He grew up listening to Vico C who brought reggaeton to Puerto Rico from Brooklyn.

“Don” is a sign of respect. It’s like “Mr.” but is used for the boss of the place. Both Don Omar and Daddy Yankee are called “The King of Reggaeton.” They had big rivalry, but finally put it behind them in 2023. We love and respect both artists, but the Don is the Don.

Albums

“Forever King” (2003)
“The Last Album” (2019)
“The Last Don 2” (2015)
“MTO2: New Generation” (2012) won the Latin Grammy for “Best Urban Music Album.” The song “Hasta Que Salga el Sol” (Until Sunrise) won the Latin Grammy for “Best Urban Song.”
“Meet the Orphans” (2010)
“iDon” (2009) is a reference to the iPhone introduced in 2007.
“King of Kings” (2006) took reggaeton to new levels of chart acceptance. It won the Billboard Award for “Reggaeton Album of the Year.” “Salió el Sol” (The Sun Came Out) won the Latin Grammy for “Best Promotional Video.”
“The Last Don” (2003) had his breakout hit “Dale Don Dale” featuring Glory.