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MADRID.— Mauro Ezequiel Lombardo, or simply Duki, is about to mark a milestone in national history. June 8th will become the first Argentine soloist to perform at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, with sold-out seats. This Friday, the artist gave a press conference at Real Madrid’s home to media from Spain, Mexico and Argentina – among which was THE NATION– and He was surprised by his own mother, who was sitting next to the press.
“I would like to know if you, at this point in your career, realize what sets you apart and why you came here,” Sandra asked her son, wrapped in tears of emotion, as if she were just another journalist. Shocked, the ragpicker responded: “You made me cry, Sandra” and then She clarified “for those who don’t know her” that the “journalist” was her mother. In addition, Duki introduced her father that she was also present at the conference and that, along with her brothers, she is part of the artist’s work team.
I think we’ve talked about it with you before… For people who don’t know, the lady who asked the question is Sandra, my mother, the person who gave me life with my father, who is sitting next to him, Guille.” At that moment the room exploded with applause and Duki continued speaking through tears: “I don’t know if I’m famous or not, but I swear to you that I am the freest person in the world and it is thanks to my people, my audience, who always treat me that way and feel involved in what happens to me, because I It has been with me since I started. I really feel like I would be nothing and I’m here for them.”, admitted the singer between tears of emotion.
The announcement that he would do a show at the Bernabeu, which has capacity for about 80,000 people, was made at the beginning of July 2023. “To all my people in Spain who from day one treated me like at home. A dream come true, unimaginable by ‘my 17-year-old self’ who was beginning to rap in search of his mission in this life. I don’t have words to describe how I feel. ‘Someone wake me up…’”.
A few months later, in a press conference he gave before the two shows he gave in River, the singer made reference to the great challenge that the Real Madrid stadium implied. “I was afraid of how they would receive me in Spain, because of my prejudice.” about how they were going to receive an Argentine rapper. They have a very developed industry and a culture that goes back years. But they always welcomed me well, we connected a lot, very strongly,” he expressed at that time. In addition to Duki, the Bernabéu recently received Taylor Swift.
At only 27 years old, Duki has managed to make a name for himself in the history of world music: he went through the battles of freestyle in different Buenos Aires squareswhich served as a platform for him to dedicate himself to music, and he faced the rare phenomenon of having to learn and professionalize in record time to keep up with the demand to see him live.
In it 2021 became the most listened to Argentine artist of the year globally on Spotify, with sold-out concerts in Latin America and Europe, and collaborations that garnered millions of views in just hours. In 2022, the trapper dazzled the local public with four sold-out shows in Vélez and in 2023 with two sold-out Monumentales.
“When I think that I am 27 years old and I already have two Rivers, then the truth is that that generates a lot of anguish in me. It makes me a little sick. (…) I’m a little scared of going through so many stages and not having a next step.. And I think that’s the problem of why the older ones go crazy. There comes a time when you do everything you want, you accomplish everything you want. That’s why I try to have a fairly calm and ordinary life. Because if there comes a time when you have whatever you want, there is no room for frustration, There is no reason to be happy, to get up, because you already have everything. So, I think part of the anguish I have is rooted in that,” he expressed a few months ago.
“I don’t have the temper to say: last year I made four Vélez, that’s why now I get on River and nothing happens. I think every moment is special. For me ‘The fifth step’ [en referencia al encuentro de batallas de freestyle rap que se desarrollaba en Parque Rivadavia] It was this River. Last year this River was the Vélez. I always take it that way. It is always the mission to fulfill, the objective to achieve”he added before the mega concerts he gave in December, grateful for every opportunity that music gives him and with his feet on the ground to continue cultivating successes.
