After announcing retirement, reggaeton icon Daddy Yankee has embarked on the La Última Vuelta World Tour. The U.S. leg’s second stop (July 27) was the first of five shows in Los Angeles, CA, at the Kia Forum. He performed his hits from his latest album, LEGENDADDY, as well as the classics that have positioned him as a pillar of el movimiento and Latine music as a whole.
Celebrating his momentous 32-year-career, he sang a total of 32 songs, ranging from full songs to medleys of “las viejitas” to favorite collaborations with some of the biggest names in the game. Some of the songs performed included new tracks off LEGENDADDY like “Campeón” and “Bombón,” as well as famed collabs like “Mayor Que Yo,” “La Santa,” and “Yo Voy.” The pre-“Gasolina” oldies included snippets of “Aquí Está Tu Caldo” and “Cogela Que Va Sin Jockey.” And, of course, staples like “Machucando,” “Lo Que Pasó Pasó” and “La Despedida” also made it into the setlist. With every collaboration performed, the screens displayed a “hologram” video of the featuring artists. The audience watched clips from Wisin y Yandel, Luis Fonsi, Myke Towers, Rauw Alejandro, Ozuna, Lil’ Jon, and Zion y Lennox — but, notably, not Bad Bunny.
Nostalgia was a big component throughout the show. At most moments of the night, the show was more of a duet, with the audience singing even louder than the big boss himself. At other times, it seemed like one big party — a sentiment that Daddy Yankee received, for he said he felt like he was at a caserío back in Puerto Rico. Older songs like “Ella Me Levantó” and “Rompe” drew the best reactions from the crowd, as well as his more mainstream pieces like “Limbo” and “Con Calma.”
Also impossible not to notice was how Daddy Yankee looked like he was having the time of his life. He took multiple times to address the crowd, thanking them for their continuous support “desde el principio” and reminiscing about certain songs and key moments in his career, like the release of the global hit “Despacito.” He also freestyled on multiple songs, specifically localizing his verses to Los Angeles, shouting out people from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. He also took every opportunity to acknowledge the multiple flags he saw in the audience, especially the Puerto Rican one.
Moreover, though counting on a dance crew of 16, DY did not shy away from getting in on the action and doing a bit of simple choreography himself. “Agua” collaborator Rauw Alejandro has talked extensively about the stigma he faced for being an artist in el movimiento who danced, which has since changed somewhat thanks to him. But seeing an OG get in on the action looking comfortable and like he was enjoying it was definitely a highlight of the night.
After two hours of an epic non-stop dancing party soundtracked by the hottest reggaeton songs since the early aughts, the show came to a close with the track that started it all and changed the course of Latine music history forever, “Gasolina.” Because even after almost 20 years since its release, I’m sorry, it never gets old.
At the end of the day, Daddy Yankee es Daddy Yankee, and he’ll continue to be so well after he concludes his farewell tour. La Última Vuelta World Tour took us on a trip down memory lane, but it’s also a huge flex on having a career filled with hit after hit after hit, a sonic legacy that will live on for generations. DY is saying goodbye to the stage while he’s on top. And after giving us so much — music, memories, and good times — if that’s what he really wants, he’s earned it.
