Rayden (rapper)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is  Martínez and the second or maternal family name is  Álvarez.

For the Mortal Kombat character who name is sometimes misspelled as "Rayden", see Raiden (Mortal Kombat).

Rayden

Rayden in 2020

Background information
Birth name| David Martínez Álvarez
Born|  (1985-07-30) 30 July 1985 (age 39)
Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Occupations|

* Rapper
* singer

Musical artist

David Martínez Álvarez (born 30 July 1985), better known by his stage name Rayden, is a Spanish rapper.[1]

## Career

[edit]

Rayden was a member of rap groups A3Bandas and Crew Cuervos.[1]

In 2006, Rayden won the freestyle rap competition Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos.[2] He participated again in 2009, and was eliminated in the semi-finals.[3]

Rayden released his first solo studio album, Estaba escrito, in 2010. His second album, Mosaico, was published in 2012, and the third, En alma y hueso, was released in 2014.[4]

His fourth studio album, Antónimo (2017) initiated a trilogy completed by Sinónimo (2019) and Homónimo (2021).[4]

In November 2021, Rayden headlined a concert at the WiZink Center in Madrid dedicated to his twentieth anniversary as an artist.[5]

In December 2021, he was selected to participate in the first edition of Benidorm Fest, the song festival organised to determine Spain's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Calle de la llorería".[6] He finished in fourth place.

In March 2023, Rayden reported his intentions to quit music and focusing on writing.[7] In April 2023, he released the album La victoria imposible, which he announced as his last as a recording and performing artist.[8]

Following the 2023 municipal elections in Spain, Rayden cancelled the August 2024 concert in his native Alcalá de Henares set to put a closure to his musical career, due to "moral duty" in the wake of the arrival of the extreme right to areas of the municipal government.[7]

In July 2023, it was announced Rayden would have a role on Benidorm Fest 2024 as a musical advisor.[9]

## Discography

[edit]

### Albums

[edit]

Title  | Details  | Peak chart positions

|
|

SPA
[10]
Estaba escrito |

* Released: 2010[4]
* Label: BOA Music

| 66
Mosaico |

* Released: 2012[4]
* Label: BOA Music

| 11
En alma y hueso |

* Released: 2014[4]
* Label: BOA Music

| 7
Antónimo |

* Released: 2017[4]
* Label: Warner Music

| 1
Sinónimo |

* Released: 2019[4]
* Label: Warner Music

| 18
Homónimo |

* Released: 2021[4]
* Label: Warner Music

| 4
La victoria imposible |

* Released: 21 April 2023
* Label: Warner Music

| 5

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Organization  | Category  | Nominee/work  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2015  | Premios MIN  | Best Video  | "Matemática de la carne"  | Won  | [11]
Best Radio 3 Artist  | Rayden  | Won
MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Spanish Act | Rayden  | Nominated  | [12]
2017  | LOS40 Music Awards | LOS40 Trending Artist Award  | Rayden  | Nominated  | [13]
2022  | Premios Odeón | Best Urban Album  | Homónimo | Nominated  | [14]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b ""Ví como dos ancianos se cogía la mano al ver una de mis frases y me dije 'Ya he hecho el día!"". El Norte de Castilla (in European Spanish). 11 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
2. ^ "Repasamos Los Campeones de Red Bull Batalla". Red Bull (in European Spanish). 15 November 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
3. ^ "David Martínez - Rayden". Fnac (in European Spanish). Retrieved 14 December 2021.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Rayden comparte "Homónimo", su sexto disco de estudio". Billboard Argentina (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 December 2021.
5. ^ Rodrigo, Javi. "Crónica: Rayden Llena de Significado (Y Amóigos) El Concierto de Su Vida En El Wizink Center de Madrid". Los 40 (in European Spanish). Retrieved 14 December 2021.
6. ^ "Benidorm Fest: Estos son los 14 artistas y canciones de la preselección de España para Eurovisión 2022". rtve.es (in European Spanish). RTVE. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
7. ^ a b "El rapero Rayden cancela su último concierto tras la llegada del PP y Vox a Alcalá de Henares". El Periódico de España. Prensa Ibérica. 6 July 2023.
8. ^ "Rayden deja la música para dedicarse a la escritura". El Periódico de España (in European Spanish). EFE. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
9. ^ Casanova, Verónica (2023-07-26). "Todas las novedades sobre el Benidorm Fest 2024: fechas de las galas y anuncio de artistas" [All the news about Benidorm Fest 2024: dates of the galas and artists announcement]. rtve.es (in European Spanish). RTVE. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
10. ^ "Discography – Rayden (Albums)". spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
11. ^ "Rayden Gana Los Premios a 'Mejor Artista Radio 3' Y 'Mejor Videoclip' en Los Premios MIN". PinkHouse (in European Spanish). 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
12. ^ Chamizo, F.J. (16 September 2015). "Los nominados españoles para los premios EMAs 2015 de MTV". Diario AS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2021-12-16.
13. ^ Palao Murcia, Alberto (6 October 2017). "Esta Es La Razón Por La Que Rayden Nunca Acudiría A 'El Hormiguero'". Los 40 (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2021-12-16.
14. ^ "Nominados 2022". Premios Odeón (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-01.

*[Ref.]: Reference(s)