At the age of 27, Duki stands as the undisputed leader of Argentina's burgeoning rap and trap wave, championing a philosophy of aspiration and collaboration that deeply resonates with his young fanbase.
On December 3 and 4, this dedicated generation flocked to witness Duki's performance at Buenos Aires' iconic River Stadium. Astonishingly, he managed to sell over 140,000 tickets across both nights, a historic feat that marked him as the first urban artist to sell out Argentina's largest stadium not once, but twice.
The significance of this moment was not lost on Duki, also known as Mauro Ezequiel Lombardo, or the numerous guest artists, all emerging Argentine talents, who joined him on stage. Among them were his girlfriend, pop star Emilia Mernes, Nicki Nicole, Khea, and global DJ Bizarrap-all proteges of Duki. They consistently hailed him as the leader of Argentina's urban movement.
However, Duki's impact is more than just numbers and sold out shows. Beyond his music, his life philosophy, and motivational demeanor have captured the attention of a generation that previously lacked a voice or a role model, akin to the rise of reggaetón in Puerto Rico. But what sets Duki apart is his multi-generational and multi-genre approach. His shows not only attract his core audience of 15 to 25-year-olds but also families, children, and individuals of all ages.
Rapper YSY A, a part of Duki's former trap trio Modo Diablo, expressed the sentiment best during a poignant moment on Saturday night. "Thank you for being the biggest representative in the country for these kids who have dreams, who want to live bigger, and you're their greatest point of reference," said YSY A. "You're the biggest representative for dreamers, and the first in our generation to fill the biggest stadium in Argentina."
Duki's journey began with rap battles in the streets when belief in the genre was scarce. As highlighted in his numerous spoken interludes during the show, he encouraged fans to believe in themselves and work hard to achieve their dreams. Early in his career, he caught the attention of Fede Lauria, founder and owner of Dale Play, a prominent Argentine concert promoter. Lauria saw enough potential in Duki and the artists around him to launch Dale Play Records in 2020, serving as an incubator for rising talent. Today, the label's roster boasts global stars like Bizarrap and Nicki Nicole.
Surprisingly musical for an urban performance, Duki's show features roughly half of the set backed by a live rock band, providing a captivating contrast to his rap verses. The set design is visually stunning and otherworldly, with instrumental interludes composed by Oscar winner Gustavo Santaolalla. All vocals, including instances of three-part harmony, are performed live, nodding to Argentina's rich tradition of rock and elevated music.
Next on Duki's schedule is a performance at Madrid's Bernabéu stadium this summer, boasting a seating capacity of 65,000. This marks a historic moment as the first instance of an Argentine urban artist selling out this renowned venue.
