Luis Raul Marrero | |
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Background information | |
Born |
San Juan, Puerto Rico |
January 23, 1974
Genres | Reggaeton, Latin rap, Christian |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, Songwriter |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1998 - present |
Labels | Funkytown Music |
Associated acts |
Vico C Manny Montes Marcos Witt |
Website | funkypr |
Luis Raul Marrero (born January 23, 1974), also known by his stage name Funky, is a rapper and songwriter from Puerto Rico. With six solo albums and multiple jobs as a producer, Marrero is internationally recognized as a hip hop and reggaeton Cristiano artist. He has collaborated with Christian music musicians, including Marcos Witt, Jesus Adrian Romero, and KJ 52. Marrero has been nominated for two Latin Grammy awards.
Marrero was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 23, 1974. His parents separated when he was young. When he was 4, his mother, Miriam Cosme, met Carlos Rios, whom Marrero considers a father. During his time as a child, Marrero spent some years in Costa Rica, developing strong Christian friendships that followed him in adulthood.
He began to explore music at age 15 under the influence of Puerto Rican Vico C, with whom he would later work on one of his six albums. He became a husband and father at age 16.
In 1997, he met Vico C, with whom he established a friendship and a business. They collaborated on an album, marking an important stride in Marrero's musical career.
In 1998, after several marital crises with his wife and family, Marrero became a Christian.
Marrero founded his own label, Funkytown Music, in 1999, the same year he produced Triple Seven's "Diferente".
In 2001, he collaborated as a producer on Manny Montes's album "Realidades", and Marrero also sang in one of the songs. That same year he had his first success as a singer and producer in the Christian music genre: "Funkytown". Media outlets in Puerto Rico, as well as the international media, liked it, and it became a favorite among young listeners. With less than a year in the Christian music world, Marrero received a nomination to the Grammy Latino in 2003.
After releasing the 2002 album Especie En Peligro, Marrero consolidated the position as a musical influence of the Christian youth. With this album, he acquired several nominations and awards: Premios ARPA (México, 2003 and 2004), Premios LA Conquista (California, 2004), Premio Integridad.com (2004) and Premios La Gente, (California, 2004), among others.