José Manuel Carvajal Zaldívar (6 September 1987 – 10 October 2024), better known by his stage name El Taiger, was a Cuban reggaeton artist.[1]

El Taiger
Birth nameJosé Manuel Carvajal Zaldívar
Born(1987-10-06)6 October 1987
Cuba
Died10 October 2024(2024-10-10) (aged 37)
Genresreggaeton
Occupationreggaeton artist

Musical career

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El Taiger was one of the most popular Cubaton artists.[2] He began his artistic career in the band Los 4, later joining another, the group Los Desiguales, before consolidating himself as a solo singer, becoming one of the most influential voices in Cuban urban music scene. There he introduced his personal brand "the Fashaton", where he fused his musical style with an innovative clothing proposal. This new trend and his growing popularity lead him to adopt a stage name, first as 'El Más Tigre', then 'El Tigraso' and finally 'El Taiger'.[3]

Some of his most popular songs are La Historia and Marca Mandarina. Among his songs are El Ignorante, El Papelito, El Punto , El Sano and Habla Matador, where he used Cuban-rooted urban sound.[2] In latter song he performed together with Puerto Rican singers Bad Bunny, Cosculluela, Bryant Myers, and Colombian artists J Balvin.[4]

He released his first album, Taiger, in 2016.[5] It was released on the label Rottboyz.[2]

El Taiger was featured on the track La Habana, which was included in Fate of the Furious soundtrack.[2]

The artist released his last studio album, 10 Éxitos Duros, in July.[6]

Personal Life

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He worked together with his cousin, Jorge Junior, in the Cuban music group Los 4.[7]

On 25 September 2020 he posted online that his mother has died at the age of 53. Some of his friends and accompanists stated that this tragedy started a decline in the singer's emotional state.[8]

He was a devout Catholic, and had gotten an image of the virgin Mary tattooed on his head. He also regularly visited his grandmother and his daughter back in Cuba.[9]

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On 28 March 2023, he was arrested for possession of narcotics/controlled substances, more specifically cocaine and methamphetamines. He was later released on a $10,000 bail ($5,000 for each charge).[10]

On 27 November 2023, El Taiger was arrested after an altercation with a security guard outside a Macy's store on the accusation that he has shoplifted a Miami Heat jersey.[11]

In June 2024, El Taiger was arrested because he was driving with a suspended license. A month later, in July 2024, El Taiger was arrested again on suspicion of robbery, assault, and cocaine possession.[12][13][14]

Death

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El Taiger was found shot in the head inside his car in Miami, Florida, on 3 October 2024.[15] He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he died on 10 October at the age of 37.[16][17]

After his death, his fans gathered outside of the hospital and delivered a tribute, playing his music and honking horns of cars.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ McEntyre, Nicholas (October 11, 2024). "Cuban Reggaeton singer El Taiger dead at 37 - one week after being found shot in the head in Miami".
  2. ^ a b c d Cuban Artist El Taiger Dead at 37 After Gunshot to the Head
  3. ^ Carmen María Pérez (10 October 2024). "José Manuel Carvajal: biografía del reguetonero conocido como El Taiger". Periodico Cubano (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  4. ^ Pecherska, Izabela (10 October 2024). ""La Historia" y otros éxitos musicales que llevaron a lo más alto a El Taiger" (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  5. ^ El Taiger Brings Cuban Flavor to ‘Fate of the Furious’ Soundtrack
  6. ^ Popular reggaeton singer El Taiger in ‘very critical condition’ after being shot in head
  7. ^ El Taiger Will Be Cremated: His Cousin Traveled from Cuba and Will Take His Ashes to Rest with His Mother
  8. ^ "¿De qué murió la madre de El Taiger?". Periodico Cubano (in Spanish). 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  9. ^ "El Taiger regresa otra vez a Cuba y sorprende a su abuela" (in Spanish). Cuba Llama. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  10. ^ "El Taiger detenido por posesión de drogas en Miami" (in Spanish). CiberCuba. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Reguetonero cubano El Taiger cuenta detalles de su más reciente arresto en Miami" (in Spanish). CiberCuba. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  12. ^ Aguilar, Hannah (28 July 2024). "El Taiger Arrested for Assault and Cocaine Possession". Cuba Headlines. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Reguetonero cubano El Taiger vuelve a prisión acusado de robo a mano armada y agresión" (in Spanish). Telemundo 51. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  14. ^ Gonzalez, Maykel (2 August 2024). "Un reguetonero de Cuba muy popular entre los cubanos de Miami cae preso ¿Qué hizo" (in Spanish). El Nuevo Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Muere 'El Taiger' en Miami: la familia del artista cubano pide recordarlo con alegría". www.univision.com. 2024-10-10.
  16. ^ Cone, Allen (October 11, 2024). "El Taiger, Cuban reggaeton star, dies week after shooting in Miami". cbsnews.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  17. ^ a b El Taiger cause of death
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