This popular Cuban Reggaeton singer was shot in Miami. Who is El Taiger?
News outlets that cover Cuba and social media have been filled with wishes for a speedy recovery for Cuban reggaeton singer José Manuel Carbajal Zaldívar, better known in the music world as El Taiger.
Carbajal is in critical condition after being shot in the head in Miami. Early Thursday morning, police responded to reports of a man reportedly shot inside a black Mercedes SUV on Northwest 17th Street near Tenth Avenue.
The causes are still unclear, but many Cubans have joined in prayer for the reggaeton singer’s health. Even iconic Miami artists like Willy Chirino have expressed their sadness following the incident.
“Praying for El Taiger’s recovery,” Chirino posted on social media. “Last Saturday he went to the Flamingo to see my show. Afterwards he went to the dressing room where we chatted briefly and we took this photo, he put it on his Instagram account and wrote such beautiful things about me that moved me,” the popular singer posted with an image of the two of them together .
“Today I am with you, José, and I pray to God to see you on stage again... I hope that one day we can sing together in a free Cuba,” concluded Chirino.
Who is El Taiger?
For Cuban reggaeton fans, El Taiger needs no introduction, as he has been performing in Cuba and other countries for several years.
On Instagram, Carbajal, 41, has more than one million followers. Before living in Miami, El Taiger had gained popularity on the island for several musical hits while being a member of groups such as Los 4 and Los Desiguales. During his time singing in Los 4, he was known as “El Príncipe.”
Since then, his career has been on the rise and he is currently considered one of the most important urban artists in Cuba. One of his popular hits is “Marca Mandarina,” featuring Bebeshito, which got more than 17 million views on YouTube in only two months.
In addition, El Taiger is the cousin of another famous Cuban reggaeton artist, Jorge Hernández Carvajal. Known as Jorge Junior and director of Los 4, a few months ago Hernández posted on social media his “disappointment” with the friends he made in the U.S.
In 2017, Carbajal was featured with top urban artists Bryant Myers, J Balvin, Bad Bunny and Cosculluela on the song “Coronamos Remix 2”.
El Taiger’s health status
A report by Univision journalist Daniel Benitez describes El Taiger’s condition as “extremely critical.”
“This is a big blow for me and all his friends,” Alexander Delgado of the duo Gente de Zona told Univision, calling the unfortunate event “a disgrace.”
Authorities have not yet released further details and the investigation into the cause is ongoing. El Taiger was transported by paramedics to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
In statements to Univision, the reggaeton singer’s representative, Carlos Alfaro, said that El Taiger was being kept on “artificial respiration.”
This story was originally published October 4, 2024 at 2:22 PM with the headline "This popular Cuban Reggaeton singer was shot in Miami. Who is El Taiger?."
