Where Is He From?
Pedro El Rapero, 13 years old, traveled to Miami for Latin Music Week from his hometown of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, where he currently lives with his family. Pedro’s father accompanied him on the trip.
5 Things to Know About Pedro El Rapero, the 13-Year-Old Who Rocked J Balvin’s World at Latin Music Week
Written by djfrosty on October 21, 2024
J Balvin‘s Superstar Q&A at the Billboard Latin Music Week took a turn when a little hand in the audience went up, eager to get the Colombian hitmaker’s attention. Curious to see who it was, J Balvin called on the audience member and staff quickly handed him a microphone so that he could ask his question.
The little boy with braces, who wore large, quirky glasses, was concise: “How can I collaborate with you?”
“That’s easy,” J Balvin responded, surprised at the kid’s directness, “Just show me what you got and we’ll see.” And that’s exactly what he did. Pedro El Rapero, a 13-year-old rapper from Venezuela, quickly jumped onstage and sat right next to the “Cosa de Locos” singer as if they were old pals. Pedro El Rapero was on a mission, and J Balvin was intrigued by the boy’s confidence.
Although his hands were shaky, Pedro El Rapero took out his cell phone and started playing one of his favorite songs. He swiftly took the microphone from Balvin’s hands and began rapping, putting on a show that was worthy of going viral. J Balvin stood up and danced. Once Pedro El Rapero finished spitting some verses, Balvin bowed.
“It’s a good thing [that] this guy wasn’t during my, time because he would’ve taken my career away in a second,” Balvin confessed. “I admire you a lot, because it takes guts to not be afraid to say, ‘Hey, I want to jump onstage with you. Congrats, bro.”
Following that special moment onstage, Balvin and Pedro El Rapero spoke backstage after the Q&A on Wednesday (Oct. 16) and exchanged information. Pedro even shook hands with Nir Seroussi, executive vice president at Interscope.
Below, get to know more about the fearless Pedro El Rapero.
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Rise to Fame
Pedro el Rapero first had a breakout moment at the Poliedro de Caracas during El Alfa’s concert two years ago, which propelled his career and scored him performances in Venezuela, Argentina and Guatemala. Now, he’s looking to expand his influence outside of Latin America with upcoming performances in Miami, details about his shows in that city are forthcoming.
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Family Support
During his time with Balvin backstage, Pedro El Rapero’s father spoke on the importance of supporting his career. “Are you his dad?” Balvin asked. “Congratulations,” he told Pedro’s father, who proudly watched as his son interacted with the Colombian star. “Thank you for everything,” the dad told Balvin. “We are working hard to support him and contribute good things to this new generation. A month ago he had a concert in Guatemala and gathered 10,000 young people. People like him because his lyrics are good, and the music is good, too.”
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Social Media Influence
With more than 250,000 followers on Instagram, Pedro El Rapero’s influence on social media is noteworthy. The 13-year-old has photos with megastars like El Alfa and has tons of clips of him doing interviews in Latin America. His new friend, J Balvin, now follows him too and even sent him a video, which Pedro El Rapero posted on his socials.
“Sending you a big hug,” Balvin starts his video message. “It was a pleasure meeting you at the panel during Billboard Latin Music Week. You are a very talented person, you are fearless and that is very admirable. Keep fighting for your dreams.”
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Latest Music Release
Pedro El Rapero released his first single in 2022 and has since uploaded a handful of songs to his Spotify official account. He’s yet to drop a debut album, but in 2023 he released a five-track EP titled Alegría, or joy in English. His latest single, titled “Hasta El Final,” was released on Oct. 10 and is an upbeat, romantic track “dedicated to those who express their feelings through music and special gestures for that person they like,” according to a press release. “You’re going to love it, and you can dedicate it to the girl you like,” Pedro El Rapero wrote about the song on social media.