Jhayco

Jesús Manuel Nieves Cortés, known professionally as Jhayco, was born on April 9, 1993, in Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico. He spent a significant part of his childhood in Camden, New Jersey, where he acquired English language skills. At the age of 12, Jhayco returned to Puerto Rico and was influenced by the rising urban music scene, particularly reggaeton. His entry into the music industry began early, with songwriting at 15. Two years later, at 17, his work as a composer and producer on Tito El Bambino’s album “Invencible” earned him his first Latin Grammy in 2011 for Best Contemporary Tropical Album. This early success established his career behind the scenes, leading to collaborations with major artists. In 2018, he received his second Latin Grammy when J Balvin’s album “Vibras,” on which Jhayco composed four songs, won Best Urban Album. He also earned a Song of the Year award from ASCAP for co-writing “I Like It,” featuring Cardi B and J Balvin.

Jhayco signed with Universal Music Latino, marking his transition to a headlining artist. He released his debut EP, “Eyez on Me,” in 2018. The following year, his single “No Me Conoce” achieved significant commercial success, leading to a remix featuring J Balvin and Bad Bunny. This remix became one of the most-streamed videos globally and reached the Top 100 on Billboard’s Hot 100, as well as the Top 25 most-listened-to songs globally on Spotify. His debut studio album, “Famouz,” released in 2019, was entirely self-written and executive-produced, peaking at number five on the Top Latin Albums chart and reaching 164 on the US Billboard 200. The album was certified triple platinum by the RIAA. In 2020, he released “Famouz Reloaded,” a special edition with additional tracks, and received multiple ASCAP awards for his songwriting contributions, including for “Amanece,” “Hola,” “Loco Contigo,” “No Me Conoce (Remix),” and “Reggaeton.” He also garnered Latin Billboard and Premios Juventud nominations.

A significant milestone in Jhayco’s solo career came with the release of “Dakiti,” a collaboration with Bad Bunny in 2020. This track topped the Billboard Global 200 charts and reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. His sophomore album, “Timelezz,” released in September 2021, reached number two on the Top Latin Albums chart and included features from Skrillex, Anuel AA, Myke Towers, Kendo Kaponi, Arcángel, and Buscabulla. The album contained notable singles like “Christian Dior” and “En Mi Cuarto” with Skrillex. In March 2022, he officially changed his stage name from Jhay Cortez to Jhayco, signaling a new chapter in his career. His third studio album, “Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X),” released in September 2024, topped the Spanish Albums chart and reached number three on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, featuring diverse collaborations with artists such as Quevedo, Yandel, DJ Khaled, Eladio Carrión, Omar Courtz, Kapo, Bryant Myers, and Peso Pluma.