Who Is Arcángel? From New York to Latin Trap
If you've ever heard a crowd shout along to "La Jumpa", you already know the voice. But who is Arcángel, and where does the name come from? Here's a quick guide for new fans and old ones, from the Arcangel Merch team.
Where was Arcángel born?
Arcángel was born Austin Agustín Santos on 23 December 1985 in New York City, to Dominican parents. The family moved to Puerto Rico when he was three months old, and from the age of 12 he moved back and forth between New York and the island.
What does the name mean?
Arcángel is Spanish for "archangel". It's why angels, wings and saints turn up again and again on our designs. Fans also know him as Arca and La Maravilla.
How did he start?
Around 2002 he set his sights on reggaeton. In 2006 he and De La Ghetto rose to fame as the duo Arcángel & De La Ghetto, before both went solo in 2007. The two reunited years later on "Entonces", a track on Sr. Santos.
What does he sound like?
Reggaeton, Latin trap, hip-hop and R&B. He's described as one of the pioneers of Latin trap, and his album Ares (2018) was made up mostly of it.
The albums to start with
- Sentimiento, Elegancia & Maldad (2013)
- Ares (2018)
- Historias de un Capricornio (2019)
- Sr. Santos (2022), a tribute to his brother Justin, with "La Jumpa" featuring Bad Bunny
- Sentimiento, Elegancia y Más Maldad (2023), with "La Chamba" featuring Peso Pluma
Wear the archangel
Every piece at Arcangel Merch is printed to order, on tees, hoodies, sweatshirts and kids' sizes. Whether you've followed him since the De La Ghetto days or found him through his Bizarrap session, there's a design for you.