El Cartel Records

Lore & Background

El Cartel Records began as Los Cangris Inc. and later operated as El Cartel Productions before settling on the name El Cartel Records. The label's first distributed album was Barrio Fino, which became Daddy Yankee's first commercially successful release. On October 18, 2024, Concord acquired El Cartel's catalog, including both publishing and master recordings. The label ceased operations on April 23, 2025, following a lawsuit with Daddy Yankee's ex-wife, Mireddys González, and her sister Ayeicha González Castellanos. After the closure, Concord merged the El Cartel catalog with Craft Latino.

Reader's Guide

El Cartel Records holds significance as the Puerto Rican label behind Daddy Yankee's Barrio Fino, a landmark album that helped propel reggaeton into mainstream commercial success. The label's catalog, acquired by Concord in 2024, represents a key piece of Latin music history. Its closure in 2025, tied to legal disputes involving family members of Daddy Yankee, marked the end of an era. The subsequent merger of its catalog with Craft Latino ensured the preservation of its releases. The label also produced a series of mixtapes under the Imperio Nazza brand, featuring artists such as J Alvarez, Gotay, and Jowell & Randy, as well as an unreleased Daddy Yankee album titled El Disco Duro.

Did You Know?

• El Cartel Records was originally known as Los Cangris Inc. and El Cartel Productions.
• Concord acquired El Cartel's catalog on October 18, 2024, including both publishing and master recordings.
• The label shut down on April 23, 2025, amidst a lawsuit with Daddy Yankee's ex-wife and her sister.