When 2024 began, Yexel Diez did not imagine what would come for his career as a reggaeton singer. Involved in that world since high school, in seventh grade he composed his first song. However, several years after accumulating disappointments, he thought about changing course in order to stay afloat in that world.
His decision was to start his own studio and start producing for the boys from his homeland, Isla de la Juventud. That’s what he was going to dedicate himself to until just a few months ago he experienced success in a way he never thought of.
Fame came to this twenty-year-old thanks to Make-up, song that he recorded in Ecuador in collaboration with local artist Renn. Since its release, the single has exceeded 66.8 million views on Spotify and, at least in March, it was placed at the top of charts in up to 20 countries, all thanks to the media and infrastructure push that the transnational Warner gave them. Music Latina, to which they sold the rights to the song for 100 thousand dollars, as revealed by the artist himself in April of this year.
“I had that song recorded for a long time. I even showed it to Baby Lores once when he interacted with a post of mine on Instagram. He even gave me his number, but that didn’t progress. Some time later, when the topic went viral, I wrote to him again but he hasn’t seen my message,” he commented.
Later, a remix of that came hitin which Puerto Rican singers Myke Towers and Nio García participated, and already has more than 1.68 million views on Spotify.
As if that were not enough, some time later Yexel and Renn created another version of their featuring, to which they added the voice of Anuel AA using artificial intelligence. His fans really liked the idea, but also the Puerto Rican artist, who contacted them.
“It is incredible to have left the Island and to be seeing everything that is going to be done. In addition to Anuel, we are planning collaborations with Puerto Ricans Alex Rose and J Álvarez, as well as the American Dalex.
“At first, with all this that was happening, I was scared because I was alone. Suddenly I went from recording songs for local kids for 600 Cuban pesos, or having a song with 200 views and five likes, to generating millions of interactions per day and receiving more than 17 thousand dollars as part of the contract with Warner.
“Now, luckily, I also have the support of Caléntalo Media, which has offered me a manager, distribution for my music and a way to carry out many things that were in the air,” he said, referring to the massive level jump that took place in his career and life over the past few months.
However, Diez is barely known by the Cuban public. “Do you know what’s happening? That Make-up I made it with a corduroy in Ecuador. That’s why many people tell me ‘Ecuador up’ because they think I’m from there.”
“In that sense I have a lot to thank El Taiger, who looked for me, came to my house and took a photo with me to upload it to his networks so that people knew who I am and where I come from. “He invited me to go on stage at a presentation and it turns out that people barely let me sing because they know the song so well that they did it for me,” he said in an interview.
In addition to its main hithas others like stay (feat. Lil Depp), Terminal phase (feat. Denver and K.BeaTtZz) and Repeatthe first issue he released, back in 2020.
In its profile within the main music streaming platform, Yexel has more than 6.2 million monthly listeners, while on Tik Tok and Instagram it has totals that exceed 69 thousand and 40 thousand followers, respectively.
The pinero has talked about the difficulties of making music from his native territory. “Even traveling to Havana is difficult. And if moving is difficult for one, imagine it for music. There is incredible talent on La Isla, and the good thing about it is that there is only one nightclub and they stick there at least. But getting out of there is the hard part.”
In the midst of this boom, Yexel has said that he also notices the happiness and pride of his parents. “My mother talks to me on her cell phone and she wants me to tell her everything that is happening to me. My dad, who lives in the United States, walks down the street and when he hears the song he calls me to tell me about it.
This young man, who enjoys “reparto” but prefers to do reggaeton, has ever thought about specifically mixing trap with the sucu-sucu of his countryman Mongo Rives, although he recognizes the risk of daring with something so complicated. On the other hand, he has confessed that, at the moment, his biggest dream is to make a song with his compatriot Yomil or with the Puerto Rican Jay Wheeler.
Yexel has declared that the next step in his nascent career will be to go live in Miami, a place where he will be able to make the definitive “leap.” “Recording and collaborating with people from Cuba is not the same as from that place, where the most important people in the genre coincide right now.”
“I get inspiration from life, from the stories of my friends, but mainly from my girlfriend, who has been with me for four years, since I was down. She is my muse and it was her I wrote to Make-uprevealed.
