About Me
Producer, Songwriter, Composer, Musician, Singer, DJ, Jorge Nicolas Rodriguez,started in music at a young age when his nanny’s son used to teach him songs on the keyboard that he still plays. After this, Nico studied the Piano at the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico until artists like Afica Baambata, Human League, and Herbie Hancock made of him an electronic music passionate. During his teen years, Nico performed as a dancer and also formed groups like Microhouse and Behind the Building, where he started programming music and shared the stage with groups like Information Society. His first recorded collaboration was 2 Reggae tracks that he produced to one of the firsts Puertorrican rapers, named Ruben DJ.Reggaeton Era
When urban street music started in Puerto Rico, the music was mainly beats taken from imported records, which limited the music to the “underground†scene. This is when DJ Playero, after the success of Playero 37, teamed up with Nico Canada to produce the very first original Reggaeton album, selecting different sounds that would give birth to this new urban genre, and would take this record to be the first to be sold in stores. This collaboration started up this team of producers that gave birth to numerous music productions that led the way of Reggaeton music. After working with Playero to produce Daddy Yankee’s first record album titled “No Mercyâ€, Nico continued to produce also the first album of White Lion Records, titled “White Lionâ€. In this record, Nico had the opportunity to program all the music by himself without the use of any samples or any previously recorded beats, making this record the first original musical piece within this new genre of urban music.
Given the fact of his success as a musician and producer, Nico started producing his own material, which along with a colorful and joyful image brought the producer to the main stage as he started also singing and performing. In no time, Nico Canada took charge of the stage as he did everything from programming the music, scouting new talents, performing vocally, also dancing, and being in charge of the music videos. A large group of talented young artists came out with Nico Canada’s music productions, from them the well-known Mansion Crew with Nico, Aberto Stylee, Rey Pirin, Maicol & Manuel, and Nano, to gather some, one of the boldest and funniest groups within this genre.
During this time, Canada was also in charge of producing the first two productions to merge artists from Puerto Rico with main acts from US, named Guatauba and Boricua Guerrero. This first was produced along with New York’s own DJ Tony Touch and recorded in the legendary D&D Studio with artists like KRS-ONE, MAD LION, DADDY YANKEE, MEXICANO, ALBERTO STYLEE, DON CHEZINA, and REY PIRIN just to name a few. After this came the biggest musical production of the genre, called BORICUA GUERRERO, produced by NICO CANADA and DJ PLAYERO and with the participation of artists like NAS, FAT JOE, BIG PUNISHER, BUSTA RHYMES, THE LOST BOYS, Q-TIP, from A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, who shared the microphone with DADDY YANKEE, ALBERTO STYLEE, MEXICANO, REY PIRIN, YAVIAH, DON CHEZINA, MICHAEL & MANUEL, PANTYMAN & HORNYMAN. After this, Nico Canada continued his work to produce for some of Reggaeton’s remembered records like Gargolas, Reencarnacion, and much more.
During his musical career Nico released 3 record albums named after him, produced tons of music records under other titles and has made countless collaborations within popular music in general, and numerous anonymus collaborations to the ongoing merging group of producers and reggaeton artists. His ability to teach, scout talents, and motivate others has led this artist to be called “Masterâ€, “Teacherâ€, and “Doctorâ€, by his fans, colleagues, and friends. After the unfortunate terrorist attact to the US nation in September 2001, Nicolas decided to join the US Army as an Active Duty Soldier, putting aside his personal and professional goals along with his own record deal, for the purpose of serving the US country in the fight against terrorism.
“All this time that I have spent in the US Army has been an ongoing personal, spiritual, and professional growth. I have been away from, not only my family and friends, but from the stage and the fans that have always supported me. Not being able to perform my passion, my music, and share it with the world, is a motivation that keeps me going everyday knowing that I have done it for a major purpose. I am grateful with God that have given me the opportunity along with my family to support my country and do my part. I believe there is a purpose for everything, and after all the work, time, persistence, and Faith, I truly redefined my music. This is only the start of A WHOLE NEW MUSICAL CULTURE. I give you REGGAETRONICA.â€
