Johnny O

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.