Daddy Yankee, the Latin music star who shocked fans by retiring in 2022, has returned with a renewed Christian faith and a mission to create “music with a purpose.”

The artist, born Raymond Ayala, revealed he had struggled creatively amid personal turmoil, including a highly publicized divorce.

The 49-year-old said it was “part of the process to arrive at a total dependency on God.”

He described a period of complete creative silence, saying, “For the first time in my life, the muse shut down,” something he said had never happened to him before.

After concluding what was meant to be his final tour in December 2023, Daddy Yankee surprised 15,000 fans in his hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico, by announcing, “I am not ashamed to tell the whole world that Jesus lives in me, and I live for Him.”

He described this as the start of a new chapter in his life, saying, “A story ends, and a new story begins.”

Daddy Yankee says he now aims to use his platform to “revolutionize” pop culture through music inspired by his faith. Billboard magazine reported that he has begun sharing the gospel and appearing in churches across Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries.

The Grammy-winning artist said his new purpose is to “transform lives.”