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Luis Armando Lozada Cruz (born September 8, 1971), better known as Vico C, is a Puerto Rican rapper. Regarded as the founding father of reggaeton, Vico C has played an influential role in the development of Latin American hip-hop and urban music.
As one of the founders of hip-hop in Spanish, Vico C was able to show that it was possible for one to be able to rap entirely and compellingly in Spanish using just occasional English phrases or slang terms. He can be seen in the rap movement as far back as its "underground" days ghostwriting and producing music for other young performers in the Puerto Rican rap scene.
Vico C grew up in the Puerta de Tierra barrio in San Juan. He got enrolled in acting classes by the age of nine and began his professional rapping career in 1985. At first, he used to go to bodegas (grocery stores) or pharmacies, buy home recording tapes, record himself singing his songs and then sell the tapes to friends or family. Vico C was discovered by DJ Negro in 1985 whom immediately saw the great potential of hip-hop in Spanish and chose to record Vico's earliest demos. Upon the positive reaction from the barrio, DJ Negro brought Vico to the most successful hip-hop promoter in Puerto Rico, Jorge Oquendo (also known as 'El Sexy Boy'). Jorge Oquendo formed the record label 'Prime Records' with Vico C as the lead artist of the label. Prime Records eventually received a distribution deal via Sony BMG Latin. Prime Records is one of the most successful and influential record labels in the history of Spanish rap and reggaeton known for being the home to legendary acts such as DJ Negro, Vico C, El General, Lisa M, Falo, Brewley MC and more.Archived at Ghostarchive and the
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In May 2019, he suffered seizures resulting from an allergic reaction to medication and was hospitalized but recovered.
Vico C, in 1992 released his singles "Saborealo" and "María" which became hits. In 1994, he established his own record company VC Records, released albums for Taino and Lissy Estrella. Also helping promote such Spanish rap singers as Francheska, and Lisa M who were originally his back up dancers. In 1990, Vico C was involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident. His injuries led to his abuse of heroin, cocaine, and alcohol.
Soon after, he became an evangelical Christian and went into a voluntary semi-retirement. In 1998, he resurfaced, with the "rambunctious", Christian rap CD Aquel Que Había Muerto. The new CD went gold and in 1999, he returned to the touring scene with his concert Antes y después. Soon after, he released a sequel to Aquel Que Había Muerto. With that, he earned the Latino Rap of the year award by Billboard.
In 2003, Vico C released an album titled En Honor a la Verdad. While it was not a major hit it still sold well and one of the album's singles "El Bueno, El Malo y El Feo", referring to Eddie Dee, himself and Tego Calderón respectively. The single was widely heard. The single was a great combination of the best "Conscience" subgenre of rap artists.
Vico C's recent albums include Desahogo, in early 2005. The album was a success and born June 3, 2006, he came back with another concert, El Encuentro.
Vico C also known as "el filósofo del rap" has worked alongside artists including Big Boy, Eddie Dee, Héctor & Tito, Tego Calderón en los "12 discipulos". He has also worked with producers Baby Ranks, Tony Touch and Luny Tunes.
He has sung alongside Salsa music singer Gilberto Santa Rosa and cumbia group Kumbia Kings on their album titled Duetos.
Vico C tries to maintain a Christian theme throughout his music. His brother Jay Lozada is a salsa musician.
In 2020, music by Vico C was part of the annual Banco Popular Christmas songs compilation album.
In 2023, he signed a deal with Nain Music, a subsidiary of the Rimas Entertainment record label, for an unreleased album by Vico C to be released in May 2023. In March, Vico C presents his new single "Pregúntale a Tu Papá por Mí". Vico C also won for the best comeback in Premios Tu Musica Urbano.
The film Vico C, la vida del filósofo was available for streaming on the Netflix platform in Latin America. The biographical movie, which was released in theaters in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the United States in 2017, gained popularity and was one of the most-watched films on the streaming platform "Pantaya".
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