About Me
Latin Hip Hop artist Daniel “Chavito†Cortes was a star from the start—his Puerto Rican-born parents ignited his passionate love affair with music when they bought him his first (toy) microphone and guitar. Growing up Puerto Rican in Brooklyn, the heart of modern Hip Hop, gave Chavito’s style a unique flavor. In just a few years he was performing for crowds at neighborhood parties, struggling to discover a place for himself in a musical tapestry that didn’t seem particularly open to Latinos. But then, during a visit to Puerto Rico, his brother, Jason, introduced him to the music of highly successful Latin rappers, or raperos. He played their cassettes over and over, appreciating the sounds of Vico C, Ruben DJ, and Wiso G. He combined this new influence with American favorites, like Notorious B.I.G. and Big Pun, and then returned to the States with fresh enthusiasm.Chavito’s versatility allows him to work all ends of the urban spectrum, from Hip Hop to Reggaeton to Dancehall, spinning party tales, street-life dramas, and daily struggles into songs while keeping a firm grasp on his Spanish roots. He has opened shows for a variety of artists like Daddy Yankee, Nicky Jam, Alex Y Fido, Tego, Pitbull, Zion Y Lennox, and Akon. He has performed at such New York City hotspots as the Hammerstein Ballroom, Club Spirit, and Club Exit, steadily adding fans to a base also supported by Telemundo and Sprint Radio. His fresh new sound has even attracted the support of nonmusical entities, like Red Bull. Chavito strives constantly to represent the Latinos of Brooklyn with style and pride, the way Brooklyn greats Jay Z and Notorious B.I.G. wrote and rapped about the African American community. His combination of Latin music and Hip Hop continues to break barriers—never has an artist been able to flow equally well over American Hip Hop and Jamaican Dancehall beats and still grab the attention of Spanish- and non-Spanish speaking listeners every day. He is the musical ideal for a bilingual generation.In 2005, Chavito was joined by SPMG Entertainment on his journey to stardom. Together, they released Da’ Crossover: Volume 1 featuring DJ Lou, a mixtape that highlights Chavito’s linguistic dexterity and lyrical prowess. While Mom-n-Pop sales of Da’ Crossover: Volume 1 sailed beyond the usual mixtape numbers, radio began to embrace Chavito’s first efforts. DJ Tony Touch played his music first on Power 105 (WPWR) followed by Hot 97’s (WQHT) DJ Camilo. Fans from all over New York City tied up the request lines. Between these two popular stations, and with equal attention from La Kalle (WCAA) and other non-NYC stations, Chavito has enjoyed a long stretch of radio support. Shortly thereafter, Chavito recorded with Latin pop sensation Thalia a Reggaeton remix of her second single, “Un Alma Sentenciada.†And, in November 2005, SPMG Entertainment released Da’ Crossover: Volume 2, of which, in their January/February ‘06 issue, Scratch magazine said, “For anyone that’s hardcore into Reggaeton, this mixtape is a must.†Chavito has also appeared on Primera Edicion (Telemundo’s morning show) and in The New York Post, The Source Latino (which featured him as their first “Unsigned Hype†artist), Connections Magazine, and Next Level DVD, as well as many online venues.Most recently, Chavito signed a ring tone deal with Zingy Inc., the world's premier mobile content provider. He is one of the few to join their urban client roster along with 50 cent, Ludacris, and Kanye West. To complete his album, Chavito has teamed up with renowned platinum Hip Hop producers Cool and Dre, who pursued the project after hearing his innovative flow on a recorded freestyle. He is also recording with credited producers Young Lord (Diddy, Lloyd Banks) and Nelly (Daddy Yankee). While he is recording original work, Chavito is still regularly featured on mixtapes and continues to perform for new audiences.
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www.myspace.com/chavitosfanclub
