Commonly referred to as the king of freestyle,
Johnny O is one of the genre’s most seminal artists. Born as Juan Ortiz, Johnny
O began his career in 1988 when he signed to Mic Mac records and released his
first track, ‘Fantasy Girl,’ which instantly blew up and launched Johnny into a
life of superstardom. Still one of the most famous and widely played freestyle
songs to this day, ‘Fantasy Girl’ sold 100,000 copies in the first month and
went platinum shortly after.
Johnny continued to release successful singles
like ‘Memories’ and ‘Runaway Love,’ both of which earned spots on the Billboard
charts. 1990 saw the release of a duet with Cynthia that would shake the world
of freestyle. With two of the genre’s highest selling artists collaborating on
the same track, it’s no wonder why ‘Dream Boy/Dream Girl’ is often thought of
as the hottest song in freestyle history. The mega-hit peaked at number 53 on
the Billboard Hot 100 chart and solidified Johnny’s reputation as a freestyle
sensation. He followed up his international success with a tour, pleasing fans
with his powerful voice and energetic performances. Touring also made it clear
that Johnny thrives on stage, leading him to find success as an actor in the
following years. Most recently, Johnny included gospel elements, love songs,
and painful emotional ballads in his sixth studio album, Remedy, affirming his
versatility and longevity an artist.