Born Luis Armando Lozada in New York, Vico C was one of the first successful Spanish-language rappers, a pioneer who's extremely respected by today's Latin urban artists. His late-'80s recordings featured merengue and dancehall rhythms and a reggae-influenced lyrical flow. In the mid '90s, following a car accident, he took a break from recording, then returned in 1998 with Aquel Que Habia Muerto, which addressed his battles with drugs and his newfound faith. In 2009 he dropped Babilla, which was loaded with hard hip-hop beats, reggaetón tracks, and thought-provoking lyrics.