Alexis y Fido are finally receiving their flowers 20 years after their sound captivated an entire generation of reggaeton fans. The duo formed by Alexis Ortiz and Joel Martinez, also known as “Los Reyes del Perreo,” is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their musical career. Alexis y Fido officially joined forces in 2002, but it wasn’t until 2005 that they achieved success with their debut album, The Pitbulls. All these years later, they are still putting out music, though they have their eyes on a bigger project. In an interview with Remezcla, the duo reminisces about their humble beginnings, the challenges they faced in the early 2000s, and their newest collaboration with Rauw Alejandro.
“We have a very interesting history to tell. We grew up with the genre,” Ortiz says when asked if they have ever thought about producing a documentary about their 20-year run. “It is actually Alexis y Fido’s biggest dream. We don’t know if it would be a documentary or a mini series because we have a long history. We understand our story is unique in the genre. On this path, many interesting things happened, many difficulties, many challenges, many tests, a lot of suffering and joy.”
The two are originally from Puerto Rico and grew up with a passion for music from a young age. Their music gained popularity in the early 2000s when Latine music wasn’t consumed by mainstream audiences as much as it is today. As Martinez notes, Latine artists faced major challenges back then. “Since the genre began, it was quite difficult. Sure, it was a catchy rhythm, and every person who listened said, ‘Wow, this is something different that I like,’ but the prejudices were bad,” he says.
Though their fans consider them some of the OGs of reggaeton, they acknowledge there was a generation of artists in el movimiento before them. “We are not from the roots of the genre because there was a generation before us like Ivy Queen, Daddy Yankee, and other artists. During their time, reggaeton was considered underground, and it was more difficult for them than us,” Martinez explains. “Alexis and I entered when there was already a boom. When the genre was beginning to attract attention worldwide.”
Before their music gained attention, the duo had to find other avenues to make a living. Martinez enlisted in the army while Ortiz married and moved to Pennsylvania, where he started working in a factory. “In Pennsylvania, I had a bad accident that led me to live out of my car. We have a story of perseverance that will help young people understand that things that happen to you always have a purpose,” Ortiz shares.
Overcoming the adversities, one of their massive hits, 2005’s “Eso Ehh!,” was featured on HBO’s hit series The Wire and Entourage. Nowadays, we hear Latine music on the radio but in the early 2000s, having their music played on any station in the U.S. was too big of a dream. “We would sometimes feel pressure from record labels that didn’t understand what the [reggaeton] movement was,” Martinez expresses. “The radio didn’t even want to play it because they said it wasn’t music for the public.”
Today, Latine music is the fastest-growing genre on streaming services in the U.S, setting a new record by generating $685 million in the first half of 2024. Alexis y Fido say their music has been discovered by new generations thanks to streaming services and social media.
“Social media has given us career growth. It has given us that opportunity to be up to date with what is happening musically,” Ortiz says. “A lot of these doors have continued to be open in our genre with these social networks. And thanks to that, our music continues to live, and they call us to perform at concerts and festivals.”
A lot of these doors have continued to be open in our genre with these social networks. And thanks to that, our music continues to live, and they call us to perform at concerts and festivals.
Earlier this year, the duo was set to perform during day two of the Sueños Music Festival in Chicago, IL. But due to weather complications, more than half of the performing acts were canceled – including Alexis y Fido’s.
“It feels horrible when you have the desire to put on a good show, and then something happens that is not in your hands. In Chicago, we were still there until it got dark to see if they could give us our slot, but we had to leave. We regret that we couldn’t show up, but we are crazy about returning to Chicago; it is a city that welcomed us with open arms from the beginning,” Martinez shares.
One of the key strategies that has kept Alexis y Fido on people’s playlists is collaborating with other reggaeton giants such as Wisin, Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, and others. Most recently, the duo’s old-school reggaeton sound was featured on Rauw Alejandro’s new album Cosa Nuestra in their collaboration, “Baja Pa’ Acá.” “This is what’s missing from the genre. A style of song that could remind the new generation of artists of the old sound. Remind them how reggaeton was made in those times,” Martinez says. “When Rauw Alejandro came with this proposal, we said yes right away, and we loved it very much.”
Twenty years overdue, the duo is starting to receive their flowers for their impact in el movimiento. Last October, they finally had their sold-out show at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, which was their lifelong dream. “It was a very impactful moment for us because we had already shared that stage with other Puerto Rican colleagues who invited us, like Yandel,” Martinez shares with excitement in his voice.
“Whenever we walked through the hallways backstage and saw the photos of artists who have performed there, we always said, ‘One day,’ and it finally happened.”
