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