Daddy Yankee’s New Song is Merengue – ‘Sonríele’
After announcing his retirement, Daddy Yankee told the world he was done with music. His farewell tour, “La Meta,” ended in late 2023 with a packed Coliseo in San Juan, where he shocked fans by devoting his life to Jesus Christ.
But on July 10, 2025, the artist is back, and he’s not picking up where he left off.
His new single, Sonríele, is not about fame, beats, or chart domination. In fact, it isn’t even about reggaetón. It’s a powerful merengue with a message. And that message is simple: smile, give thanks, and keep going.
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Daddy Yankee’s comeback is rooted in gratitude and a new trend in the industry
According to a press release from HYBE Latin America, Sonríele marks a new era for Daddy Yankee, one that feels more grounded and personal. The song, released under the label that also manages BTS and Seventeen, urges fans to hold onto their joy even when life gets tough.
“This isn’t about a comeback. It’s about connection,” says Daddy Yankee in the statement. “Life’s not perfect, but we have to smile through it. This song was born from what we live with every day. It’s my way of telling people not to give up, to appreciate the little things, and never let anyone take their joy away.”
The artist also returned to one of the most meaningful places in his life to shoot the music video: Bushwick, New York. That’s where he lived more than 25 years ago, long before becoming the global King of Reggaeton. Reconnecting with the streets that shaped him was emotional, according to the release.
He did so while also returning to the roots of Latin music: Merengue, a genre from the Dominican Republic that has given us icons like Juan Luis Guerra and Wilfrido Vargas. This way, Daddy Yankee joins artists like Bad Bunny and Raw Alejandro in bringing back the classics.
