Ñengo Flow brings authenticity and grit to a style of music most often associated with aspiration and glamour. Though many Latin trap artists reference ‘90s gangsta rap, he is one of the few that actually embodies the existential realities of the genre, drawing from his own experiences growing up in Puerto Rico. Born in Rio Piedras, San Juan in 1981 and raised in Bayamón, Edwin Laureano Rosa Vázquez Ortiz got his first taste of the spotlight at 14 years old, performing in front of neighbours and friends in his hometown. Propelled by their overwhelming support, he soon developed a lyrical style that echoed the voice of the streets and the marginalised communities he grew up with, combined with a penchant for club-friendly rhythms that dabbled in reggae, hip-hop and the sounds of the island. This is reflected in his Univision-backed debut Flow Callejero (2005), as well as the classic Real G 4 Life mixtape series, efforts which earned him the nickname “The Real G of Urban Music”. Ñengo Flow has since gone on to collaborate with urbano behemoths like Ozuna on 2017’s “Mamasita Mala” as well as Anuel AA on “Sur y Norte” and Bad Bunny on two memorable cuts on the latter’s critically lauded sophomore release YHLQMDLG in 2020.