Quick Facts
Biography
Pedro Gerardo Torruelas (born 2 November 1964), better known as DJ Playero, was a key figure in the dissemination of reggaeton during its formative period in the 1990s in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Beginning in the early 1990s, he produced a series of mixtapes that synthesized hip-hop and reggae rhythms with Spanish-language freestyling. These tapes circulated around the barrios of San Juan and were highly influential upon the generation that would go on to define reggaeton in the coming decade. For instance, Daddy Yankee got his start with DJ Playero, debuting on the Mixtape Playero 34, which was recorded in a small studio in one of Puerto Rico's caseríos and was originally released in 1992. DJ Playero was an aspiring producer at the time, with credits including work on the seminal compilation Dancehall Reggaespañol (1991, Columbia Records), in addition to production work with 3-2 Get Funky (3-2 Get Funky, 1993; Return of the Funky Ones, 1994), Ranking Stone (Different Styles, 1995), Wiso G (Estoy Aqui, 1996), and Wendellman (Wendellman, 1996). During the late 1990s, as the proto-reggaeton style began to grow popular thanks to 'The Noise', a club-based collective that issued a long-running series of CDs, DJ Playero began reissuing his old mixtapes from the early to mid-'90s. He also recorded new ones, issuing them via BM Records as well. Playero en DVD: Su Trayectoria (2003) was the culmination of this activity, aiming to cement his legacy as one of the key reggaeton pioneers.
Discography
Mixtapes
- Playero 33 (1990)
- Playero 34 (1991)
- Playero 35 (1992)
- Playero 36 (1992)
Studio Albums
- Playero 37
- Underground (1992)
- Cassette's Cut (47 min. version) (1992)
- The Original (2CD) (87 min. version) (Reissue) (1999)
- 20th. Anniversary Edition (Digital Release) (Reissue) (2012)
- Playero 38 (1993)
- Special Edition (2CD) (Reissue) (2000)
- DJ Playero Presents: Reggae 4 U (1995)
- Playero 39: Respect (1995)
- DJ Playero Presenta: Montana Collection Vol. 1 (1995)
- Playero 40: New Era (1996)
- Playero 41: Past Present & Future
- Part 1 (1998)
- Part 2 (1999)
- Playero 42: El Especialista, Episodio 1 (2002)
- The Majestic 1 (2002)
- Kilates 1: Rompiendo el Silencio (2002)
- The Majestic 2: Segundo Imperio (2004)
- Kilates 2: Segundo Impacto - El Silencio Que Duele (2003)
- Playero 43 (TBA) (1993)
Collaboration Albums
- M.C. Non Stop Reggae Vol. 1 (with D.J. Manuel) (1994)
- M.C. Non Stop Reggae Vol. 2 (with D.J. Manuel and D.J. Barón López) (1996)
- Wendellman (with Wendellman and DJ Karlo) (1996)
- Boricua Guerrero - The E.P. (with Nico Canada) (1997)
- Boricua Guerrero - First Combat (with Nico Canada) (1997)
- Mission 1: Rap
- Mission 2: Reggae
- DJ Playero - The Legend (1997)
- Los Más Buscados (with Nico Canada, D.J. Joe and D.J. Blass) (2001)
- DJ Playero Presenta: Berto Guayama - Deja Vú (2001)
Compilations
- Playero DJ Presenta: Éxitos 95 (1995)
- M.C. Stop Reggae (1995)
- Playero Presenta: Éxitos 97 (1998)
- DJ Playero: The Collection (2CD) (2002)
- Playero DJ - The Best Of (2002)
- Boricua Guerrero - Greatest Hits (2002)
- Playero DJ - Old School Reggaeton (2009)
- DJ Playero: Greatest Hits - Limited Edition (2009)
Instrumental Albums
- Playero Pistas - Play The Beat (2001)
Remix Albums
- Playero DJ – Greatest Hits – Street Mix (1995)
- Playero DJ – Greatest Hits – Street Mix Vol. 2 (1996)
- Playero DJ – Greatest Hits – Street Mix Vol. 3 (1999)
Live Albums
- DJ Playero Live (1996)
- DJ Playero - Naranjito Live (1997)
- DJ Playero - The Legend - Live (1998)
Bootlegs
- Playero DJ - Live from New York Discoteque (Show) (Digital Release) (1993)
- Playero Rap & Reggae 96 (for the Radial Show "Rap & Reggae 96" on i96) (Digital Release) (1995)
- Playero - Birthday Live In Cupey (Digital Release) (1996)
Promo Albums
- DJ Playero - Radio Version (1997)
- Daddy Yankee; DJ Playero (18 December 2015). "History of Daddy Yankee and his debut on Playero #34 - Underground Reggae - The Mixtape (1992) «posted by Daddy Yankee on his Instagram Account» (ESP)". Instagram. Daddy Yankee. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ZDPUnderground.com; Daddy Yankee; DJ Playero and José Luis Valdéz Brador (he brings the complete mixtape) (11 December 2015). "Daddy Yankee on Playero #34 - Underground Reggae - The Mixtape (1992) «posted by ZDPUnderground.com on their Facebook Fan Page» (ESP)". Facebook. ZDPUnderground.com; José Luis Valdéz Brador. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ZDPUnderground.com and José Luis Valdéz Brador (he brings the complete mixtape) (11 December 2015). "Playero #34 - Underground Reggae - The Mixtape (1992) «posted by ZDPUnderground.com on their Web Page» (ESP)". ZDPUnderground.com. ZDPUnderground.com; José Luis Valdéz Brador. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- Daddy Yankee and DJ Playero (17 December 2015). "Daddy Yankee on Playero #36 - Underground Reggae - The Mixtape (1992) «posted by Daddy Yankee on his Instagram Account» (ESP)". Instagram. Daddy Yankee. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ZDPUnderground (1 July 1992). "Playero #37 - Underground (1992) (Cassette's Cut) «posted by ZDPUnderground.com (available for Free Download)» (ESP)". ZDPUnderground.com. ZDPUnderground. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ZDP Underground. "Discography of DJ Playero". ZDP Underground. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ZDP Underground. "Discography of DJ Playero". ZDP Underground. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
Filmography
- Playero En DVD – Su Trayectoria (DVDA) (2003)
- ZDP Underground. "Discography of DJ Playero". ZDP Underground. Retrieved 11 December 2015.