How Grammy-nominated reggaetón producer Tainy found his own rhythm
Puerto Rican-Dominican producer Marco “Tainy” Masís, 33, has been alive for as long as people have been making reggaetón. And he’s not just grown up with the beloved Caribbean genre — which has romanced listeners well beyond the Spanish-speaking world — but, using elements of pop, alternative rock and EDM, the award-winning mix master has indelibly shaped it into an intrepid pop sound.
From his early works under the tutelage of legendary duo Luny Tunes to “Un Verano Sin Ti,” the Grammy-winning record he helped produce in 2022 with longtime collaborator Bad Bunny, Tainy’s fingerprints are all over reggaetón’s storied history, which is why he made the decision to spearhead his own debut album, “Data,” released on June 29.
“Seeing our genre not just evolving but exploding was motivating,” says Tainy, revealing his frosty purple haircut on a video call from his home studio in Miami. “But from the beginning, I was driven to change the way things were done.”
By stringing together one-of-a-kind boutique beats inspired by his travels — from his birthplace in Puerto Rico to the mountains of Japan — Tainy devised his very own global dream
