Colombian reggaetón star Ryan Castro has added a new title to his resume: professional sports team owner. Through his company AWOO Team, Castro has acquired a significant equity stake in Paisas Basketball Club, a professional team based in his hometown of Medellín. This historic move makes him the first Colombian music artist to invest in a basketball team.

Castro, who rose to fame from the slums of Medellín, emphasized his passion for empowering youth: “Kids in the barrios have the same dreams as us, the artists.” He also highlighted his love for basketball, frequently attending NBA games in the U.S., and saw this as a chance to grow the sport in Colombia while supporting local talent.

The Paisas, named after a term for people from Medellín, are gaining prominence as they debut in the Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA) and compete in Colombia’s Betplay professional league under coach Daniel Seoane. Castro’s involvement will amplify the team’s reach, leveraging his platform of millions of social media followers to inspire and support young athletes.

Castro is no stranger to sports, having released “El Ritmo Que Nos Une,” the official anthem for Colombia’s national soccer team during Copa América. He plans to announce his partnership at a press conference in Medellín on January 14, coinciding with the release of his new single, “Ni x el Putxs,” featuring Colombian trap star Kris R.

Beyond music, Castro continues to expand his entrepreneurial ventures, partnering with WK Records and distributing his work through Sony Latin via AWOO Corp.