Myke Towers
Myke Towers
Myke Towers worships a good rhyme. Over the past decade, the acclaimed rapper and singer has grown into one of Puerto Rico's top lyricists, melding streetwise storytelling and massive pop hooks into a career filled with chart-topping anthems. Towers is one of the OGs of Latin trap, breaking out in 2013 alongside rookie visionaries such as Álvaro Díaz and Fuete Billete, who channeled the irreverence and visceral songwriting of classic reggaetón with fresh flows echoing Atlanta trap. Hits like “La Curiosidad” and “Bandido” cemented Towers as one of the all-stars of música urbana, even earning him the nickname of Young King. Yet despite multiple Latin Grammy nominations and blockbuster crossovers with some of the industry's biggest names, Myke Towers still feels like his story is just beginning.
“I'm a regular kid from Puerto Rico who always dreamed of making music,” says Towers, who was born in 1994 by the name of Michael Torres. Hailing from the neighborhood of Caimito, in San Juan, the young Towers was raised in a family where music was a safe and nourishing constant. “We always listened to salsa, boleros, and Puerto Rican folk music, so I've held a deep respect for music all my life. If I wasn't a singer I don't know what I would be doing.”
At 18 years old, Myke Towers began uploading his first freestyles and experiments to SoundCloud, where word quickly spread about the new Boricua rap talent to watch. He released his first mixtape El Final del Principio in 2016; an impressively mature record of autobiographical lyrics and boom-bap beats that invoked classic rap. Three years later, his efforts led him to collaborate with Farruko on the hit single “Si Se Da,” reuniting the following year for the viral remix of “La Playa,” which also featured a verse from Maluma. These songs were a turning point in Towers' career, as he reached broader audiences and embraced a more commercial sound that launched him into the stratosphere.
“Those songs made people look at me not only as a rapper but as an artist,” he remembers. “[Working with Farruko] was like receiving an invitation to a really important party, and of course I accepted.”
In 2020 Towers released Easy Money Baby, an LP that expanded his sonic palette even further with blasts of reggaetón, dancehall, and baile funk on hits like “Diosa” and “Girl.” That same year, collaborations with Bad Bunny, Nicky Jam, Camila Cabello, Becky G and Anitta cemented him as one of the leading names in mainstream reggaetón, though his heart yearned for a return to his rap roots. Lyke Mike arrived in 2021, loaded with introspective bars and throbbing trap and drill beats. Cuts like “Mírenme Ahora” and “Pin Pin” showcased Towers at the top of his songwriting game, remaining true to his artistic vision and complex narratives without relying on catchy pop choruses.
“Collaborations are important to help you grow, but I also need to make personal music to unburden myself. The type of music you don't care if it's a hit or not,” he says. “[Lyke Mike] is a guide for rappers on the come-up, or anyone out there chasing a dream. That type of music is a part of me and when I go too long without releasing anything in that style, even my fans start asking for it.”
Having satisfied his MC's calling, Myke Towers returns to euphoric pop on his upcoming album. The first single, “Ande Con Quien Ande” with Jhay Cortez is a hard-grinding reggaetón banger designed for dance floor throwdowns. The new record also sources fresh global sounds including Afrobeats and electropop, perfected in the studio with the help of elite producers such as Tainy and Russivn.
“This is the kind of album you play from start to finish and don't skip a single song,” says Towers excitedly. “I'm in the studio every single day and I like to challenge myself and play with new rhythms. I'm at my peak and working with people bringing new colors and flavors to the table. The record is inspired by those times we feel like we're wasting our time chasing what we want. But you get one life and we have to enjoy every second of it.”
“I'm a regular kid from Puerto Rico who always dreamed of making music,” says Towers, who was born in 1994 by the name of Michael Torres. Hailing from the neighborhood of Caimito, in San Juan, the young Towers was raised in a family where music was a safe and nourishing constant. “We always listened to salsa, boleros, and Puerto Rican folk music, so I've held a deep respect for music all my life. If I wasn't a singer I don't know what I would be doing.”
At 18 years old, Myke Towers began uploading his first freestyles and experiments to SoundCloud, where word quickly spread about the new Boricua rap talent to watch. He released his first mixtape El Final del Principio in 2016; an impressively mature record of autobiographical lyrics and boom-bap beats that invoked classic rap. Three years later, his efforts led him to collaborate with Farruko on the hit single “Si Se Da,” reuniting the following year for the viral remix of “La Playa,” which also featured a verse from Maluma. These songs were a turning point in Towers' career, as he reached broader audiences and embraced a more commercial sound that launched him into the stratosphere.
“Those songs made people look at me not only as a rapper but as an artist,” he remembers. “[Working with Farruko] was like receiving an invitation to a really important party, and of course I accepted.”
In 2020 Towers released Easy Money Baby, an LP that expanded his sonic palette even further with blasts of reggaetón, dancehall, and baile funk on hits like “Diosa” and “Girl.” That same year, collaborations with Bad Bunny, Nicky Jam, Camila Cabello, Becky G and Anitta cemented him as one of the leading names in mainstream reggaetón, though his heart yearned for a return to his rap roots. Lyke Mike arrived in 2021, loaded with introspective bars and throbbing trap and drill beats. Cuts like “Mírenme Ahora” and “Pin Pin” showcased Towers at the top of his songwriting game, remaining true to his artistic vision and complex narratives without relying on catchy pop choruses.
“Collaborations are important to help you grow, but I also need to make personal music to unburden myself. The type of music you don't care if it's a hit or not,” he says. “[Lyke Mike] is a guide for rappers on the come-up, or anyone out there chasing a dream. That type of music is a part of me and when I go too long without releasing anything in that style, even my fans start asking for it.”
Having satisfied his MC's calling, Myke Towers returns to euphoric pop on his upcoming album. The first single, “Ande Con Quien Ande” with Jhay Cortez is a hard-grinding reggaetón banger designed for dance floor throwdowns. The new record also sources fresh global sounds including Afrobeats and electropop, perfected in the studio with the help of elite producers such as Tainy and Russivn.
“This is the kind of album you play from start to finish and don't skip a single song,” says Towers excitedly. “I'm in the studio every single day and I like to challenge myself and play with new rhythms. I'm at my peak and working with people bringing new colors and flavors to the table. The record is inspired by those times we feel like we're wasting our time chasing what we want. But you get one life and we have to enjoy every second of it.”
