El Roockie

Widely recognized for his touching lyrical prowess, Iván Vladimir Banista, better known by his stage name El Roockie or The Roockie, is a reggae artist from Panama. Born in Panama City's El Chorrillo district on August 7, 1977, he made his recording debut in 1996 on DJ Pablito's "Reggae Overload" and later appeared in several compilations that quickly gained him recognition in the local scene. His studio debut, Revelation Lyrics, saw the light in 1999 and was a massive success, setting the stage for El Roockie to become one of the most beloved and well-known figures in Spanish-speaking reggae. Over the following years, he continued working tirelessly, releasing music at a prolific pace while collaborating with other artists such as Nando Boom and El General, making an appearance in the latter's 2003 Grammy-nominated single "Sigue Bailando." That same year, El Roockie issued his fourth album En Tus Manos, which featured hits like "Por Si Tú la Ves" and "Barrio de Chacales." In 2006, he pivoted to reggaeton, signing with the Machete Music urban label. Semblante Urbano, one of the most anticipated releases in the history of the genre, finally came out in 2008 and featured production by American duo Luny Tunes. The album was critically acclaimed for blending reggaeton, dancehall, hip-hop, and reggae with El Roockie's evocative lyricism. A reissue titled Semblante Urbano: La Otra Cara de la Calle hit the shelves in 2009. Despite not putting out any albums in the years that followed, El Roockie released many singles in collaboration with other urban artists, including De La Ghetto (2014's "Te Quiero Ver"), Ñengo Flow (2016's "Déjate Llevar"), and Kafu Banton (2019's "Ahora Mismo").