[3][4] During the rest of the 1990s, he continued working on underground reggaeton records and released his first album as producer El Cartel de Yankee in 1997.

It is cited as the record that made him notorious outside his natal Puerto Rico, being his music introduced in New York City and Miami.

[3][4] Without any major label backing him, El Cangri.com managed to peak at number 43 on the US Top Latin Albums chart.

[8][9] The success of its lead single "Gasolina" led to the creation of a new radio format in the United States named Latin Rhythm Airplay.

[11] His fourth studio album El Cartel: The Big Boss (2007) became his first top ten entry in the United States by peaking at number nine and earned a triple platinum (Latin) certification by the RIAA.

His sixth studio album Prestige was released in September 2012 and includes the US Latin number one singles "Lovumba" and "Limbo".