Jay Wheeler
On the romantic side for the 2010s Latin hitmaker, Puerto Rican singer Jay Wheeler uses his lush, crooning vocals to deliver melodic and catchy ballads across styles from Latin pop to reggaeton. 2020's Myke Towers-assisted "La Curiosidad" became Wheeler's most dominant hit, peaking at number five on the Billboard Latin charts and racking up over a billion streams in just two years. A prolific string of albums and EPs followed including 2022's El Amor y Yo and Emociones, and 2023's TRAPPii.
Born José Ángel López Martínez to a working-class family in Salinas, Puerto Rico, Wheeler began learning the piano at a young age before transitioning to beatmaking once he got a computer. After a breakup in his teenage years, a close friend persuaded him to post his first material online: 2015's "Ahora Estoy Mejor," a fusion of singing and rapping styles, racked up half-a-million views as it became an overnight sensation. A subsequent million-viewed cover of Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself" gave López Martínez confidence in his future career. Taking the first part of his stage name from his first initial, he crowdsourced a surname from his fans, settling on Wheeler in 2017.
The conflicted "No Me Engañas" and dismissive "Equivocada" built Wheeler's fan base ahead of the breakout track "Por Tu Culpa" (2018), which brought him to the attention -- and onto the roster -- of Dynamic Records. Live performances afforded by his new label, alongside major singles like "Te Soñé" and "Mensaje de Voz," led to his discovery by legendary reggaeton producer DJ Nelson, who offered to host and produce his debut album. Titled Platónico, his DJ Nelson-produced debut featured a slowed-down, ballad-like take on reggaeton, finding particular success with the faster-paced "Dime Que Sí" and Farruko-assisted "Otra Noche Más Remix" alongside sentimental closer "Me Enamoré."
After an Unplugged live album, which demonstrated his raw vocal talent, Wheeler moved into 2020 with a collaborative run of singles, working with the likes of Lenny Tavárez, Nio Garcia, Darell, Lary Over, Javiielo, and Noriel. Among the year's highlights were the Brytiago-assisted remix to "Sin Ti," the tropical "Quiereme Mientras Se Pueda (Remix)" (with Manuel Turizo and Miky Woodz), and an appearance on Cauty's 100-million-streamed "Lloras Remix." Wheeler's sophomore studio album, produced once again by Nelson, arrived that summer. Titled Platónicos, the project fell a little closer to Nelson's reggaeton roots and took a more collaborative approach with features including Brytiago, Nio Garcia, Miky Woodz, and Casper Magico. The album's fourth track, the Myke Towers-assisted "La Curiosidad," soon eclipsed Wheeler's hits thus far -- peaking at number five on the Billboard Latin charts, the more seductive smash hit eventually surpassed a billion streams online.
Now regarded as one of reggaeton's most promising new voices, Wheeler returned to collaboration through 2021. As well as two star-studded remixes to "La Curiosidad" (with appearances from Jhay Cortez, Arcángel, Zion & Lennox, Becky G, etc.), he issued successful collaborations with the likes of J Balvin ("Otro Fili"), Juhn ("Fragancia"), Brytiago ("Desnudarte"), and Arcángel ("Si Te Veo"), alongside the strong solo tracks "Viendo el Techo" and "Dos Tragos." In early 2022, Wheeler issued the De Mí Para Ti EP, which contained his first forays into English-language music ("Take My Life," "Can't Figure U Out"). It proved to be a productive period for the artist who released two more full-length albums, El Amor y Yo and Emociones, before the year was out. Wheeler kicked off 2023 with the heartfelt, '80s pop-leaning "SOS," then scored another hit with "Pacto (Remix)" featuring Anuel AA, Bryant Myers, Hades66, and Dei V. It anchored his next album, TRAPPii, released that October.
© John D. Buchanan & David Crone /TiVo
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Viendo el Techo
Reggae - Released by Linked Music - Dynamic Records - EMPIRE on Apr 9, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
GANGSTA LUV
World - Released by Linked Music - Dynamic Records - EMPIRE on Oct 13, 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Ataca ((Remix))
Chimbala, Lenny Tavárez, Jay Wheeler
Reggae - Released by Chimbala on Sep 10, 2020
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Conexión
Foreign Teck, Justin Quiles, Jay Wheeler
Reggaeton - Released by WK Records on Apr 29, 2021
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Ese K
Reggaeton - Released by Linked Music - Dynamic Records - EMPIRE on Jul 29, 2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Te La Dedico
World - Released by Linked Music - Dynamic Records - EMPIRE on Mar 3, 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Take My Life
Jay Wheeler, Tyla Yaweh, DJ Nelson
Pop - Released by Linked Music - Dynamic Records - EMPIRE on Aug 13, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Icee (Remix)
Latin America - Released by Business Music on Jun 16, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
SOS
World - Released by Linked Music - Dynamic Records - EMPIRE on Feb 3, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
THROWBACK
World - Released by Linked Music - Dynamic Records - EMPIRE on Sep 25, 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Pase Lo Que Pase (Remix)
Andrez Babii, Jay Wheeler, DJ Nelson
Latin America - Released by WEA Latina on Dec 20, 2021
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Romperte [feat. Brray, Juanka & Nio Garcia] (Remix)
Reggaeton - Released by Dynamic Records LLC on Dec 15, 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Otra Noche Mas
Reggaeton - Released by 2019 UMS Music & Dynamic Records | Distributed by GLAD Empire, LLC on Aug 8, 2019
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Merry Remix (feat. RMAND)
World - Released by Cinq Recordings on Oct 20, 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
No Te Quiero Ver (Remix)
Reggaeton - Released by Sora and Company1, Inc. on Jan 29, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Por Tu Culpa
World - Released by Dynamic Records Inc on Aug 10, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo