The urban music world has been shaken by a federal lawsuit filed by Daddy Yankee’s legal team, accusing longtime collaborator and producer Raphy Pina of participating in a multimillion-dollar scheme to divert royalties and alter authorship credits. The complaint, spanning over 100 pages, seeks $3 million in damages and a jury trial under the RICO Act, alleging that the scheme operated from 2004 to February 2025.

According to the lawsuit, multiple individuals and entities — including Pina, attorney Edwin Prado Galarza, Andrés Coll Fernández, and various corporations — allegedly routed royalties through U.S. states and international channels to reduce payouts to rightful authors.

Pina Responds Publicly

After days of silence, Raphy Pina issued a lengthy Instagram statement, stressing that quiet should not be mistaken for fear.

“Daddy Yankee, the legend, will always have our respect… But Ramón Ayala is another story,” he wrote, hinting at a private history between the two far different from the public image.

Pina emphasized that documents and years of collaboration support his version of events and criticized what he views as “spiritual discourses” being used to justify harmful actions. He also defended his family, stating that someone who walks with God “does not destroy, does not invent, does not slander.”

He suggested that misunderstandings involving Daddy Yankee’s ex-wife Mireddys González may have worsened due to third parties, and expressed willingness for direct, honest dialogue.

A Fallout Years in the Making

Accompanied by photos of studio sessions and ASCAP recognitions, Pina’s post marks a dramatic turn in one of reggaeton’s most legendary partnerships — one that shaped both Daddy Yankee’s global rise and Pina’s own career.

As the lawsuit advances, the industry watches closely. What was once one of the strongest alliances in urbano music has now entered its most turbulent chapter.