Arkano Explained

Alias:Arkano
Birth Date:1994 3, df=y
Birth Place:Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain
Birth Name:Guillermo Rodríguez Godínez
Occupation:Rapper
Genre:Freestyle rap
Instrument:Voice

Guillermo Rodríguez Godínez (Alicante, March 23, 1994) is a Spanish freestyle musician and rapper, better known as Arkano. He became the 2015 Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos International Champion. He has collaborated with artists such as Alejandro Sanz, Rosana, Love of Lesbian and Café Quijano.

Biography

Born in the building alicantino of La Colmena, in the neighborhood of San Blas,[1] he began to take his first steps in rap in this city. At just seven years old, he discovered the world of hip hop thanks to his sister, listening to groups like ZNP, Violadores del Verso, and artists like Nach and El Chojin. The first "battle" —a face-off between rappers— where he made himself known took place in July 2008; from that moment on, he began to participate in other competitions.[2]

Since 2009, he's known in the Spanish national scene because he won the national title of Red Bull Batalla de Gallos at just fifteen years old, facing "roosters" like Skone, Jonko, and Mowlihawk. By the end of the year, he was also the runner-up in Hipnotik. He also participated in the Red Bull International Final held in his country, where he was eliminated in the quarterfinals against Rayden.

In 2015, he regained the national champion title of battle of roosters in his city, Alicante, after defeating Cixer, Elekipo, Blon, and Ante. In the same year, he achieved his greatest milestone to date, being crowned as the world champion of Red Bull Batallas de los Gallos in Chile.[3] One of the most controversial moments took place in his confrontation against Dtoke, in the quarterfinals. While Dtoke was rapping, Arkano kissed him.[4] After advancing to the next round, in the semifinals, he had a great confrontation against one of the best MCs in history, Aczino, whom he managed to defeat after two replicas, to finally crown himself champion against the Chilean MC Tom Crowley. In 2016, in Peru, he was controversially eliminated in the semifinals of this competition against Skone, who eventually became the champion, and he managed to qualify for the following year's edition by achieving third place. He also broke the 'curse' that when an MC won the international final, if they presented themselves the following year, they would lose in the first round.[5]

In October 2016, he broke a Guinness World Record after improvising for 24 hours 34 minutes 27 seconds, with pauses of only three seconds to eat and drink, in the Puerta del Sol in Madrid.[6]

In 2017, he participated in the international final, being invited to it after achieving third place in the international final of 2016. In the international final, held in Mexico on December 3, 2017, he again qualified for the next edition by achieving third place, after losing in a very close match with Aczino in the semifinals and winning in the consolation final against the Dominican Yenky One. He also performed during the 22nd Forqué Awards.

In his role as an author, he published a book in 2016 —Asalto al vacío: cómo he llegado hasta aquí—, and finally, in 2017, his first studio album, Bioluminiscencia, was released. In 2017, he completed his degree in Computer Engineering.[7]

Arkano has a relatively frequent presence in the media in Spain, having become a reference in rap and specifically in freestyle.[8]

He participated in the FMS (Freestyle Master Series) in which last season 2017-2018 he managed to stay in the league to not be relegated, in which Invert and Mr.Ego were relegated during the first day, finishing ninth and tenth respectively.

In 2018, he again competed in the Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos, this time in Argentina, where, after defeating local Dozer in the round of 16, he was defeated by his compatriot Bnet in the quarterfinals. This marked his farewell, after 5 internationals, from the main competition of the roosters.

His retirement from battles was in his final battle against Chuty, in the ninth round of FMS España that took place in Valencia on February 16, 2019. Although he has not lost contact with battles, participating as a judge in many freestyle competitions, such as the National Final of the Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos of 2019.

In 2019, his song "Otro intento más" became the first rap to be the official theme of the Vuelta a España.

In November 2019, he participated, playing himself as one of the "kidnapped" in El gran secuestro[9] [10] for Playz.

On November 30, 2019, he participated as a judge in the international edition of the Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos 2019. Arkano is a collaborator on the radio program La Ventana on the Cadena SER.[11]

Personal life

Arkano is openly bisexual, indicating his sexual orientation for the first time in October 2021 during his participation in MasterChef Celebrity.[12]

Competition Statistics

Freestyle battles
YearCompetitionPlaceRivalRanked
2009Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Regional España, Alicantevs. Tase3rd place
Hipnotik MC Battle España, Barcelonavs. GiorgioRunner-up
Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Nacional España, Madridvs. MowlihawkChampion
Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Internacional España, Madridvs. RaydenQuarter-finals
2014Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Regional España, Madridvs. CixerChampion
Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Nacional España, Cádizvs. DaniQuarter-finals
Hipnotik MC Battle España, Barcelonavs. ElekipoSemifinalist
Arenal Sound España, Barcelonavs. ErrecéChampion
2015Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Regional España, Mallorcavs. BarónChampion
Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Nacional España, Alicantevs. AnteChampion
Supremacía MC Internacional Perú, Limavs. KáiserSemifinalist
MEID IN SPAIN (General Rap Granada) España, Granadavs. SkoneChampion
Cannamed España, Valenciavs. ErrecéChampion
Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Internacional Chile, Santiago de Chilevs. Tom CrowleyChampion
2016God Level Fest Chile, Santiago de Chilevs. KáiserQuarter-finals
Radio EPS España, Alicantevs. ChutyExhibition
Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Internacional Perú, Limavs. Jony Beltrán3rd place
2017BDM España Regional España, Murciavs. PiezasExhibition
Ego Fest Argentina, Buenos Airesvs. WosExhibition
Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Internacional México, Ciudad de Méxicovs. Yenky One3rd place
2018Freestyle Master Series Nacional Españavs. Blon7th place
Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Internacional Argentina, Buenos Airesvs. BnetQuarter-finals
2019Freestyle Master Series Nacional Españavs. Chuty6th place
RÉPLICA España, Madridvs. InvertExhibition
2022Red Bull Batalla México, Ciudad de Méxicovs. AczinoExhibition
2023Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Regional España, Barcelonavs. ZoyertQuarter-finals
Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos (Última Plaza) España, Madridvs. Le33Semifinalist
Written battles
2015Vandal Fest Perú, Limavs. Flecha-
COLISEVM Battle México, Ciudad de Méxicovs. Aczino

Discography

With Jonko

With Melendi y Alejandro Sanz

With La La Love You y Suu

Solo

Television

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. https://www.diarioinformacion.com/alicante/2018/07/04/autentico-orgullo--sanblasino-/2039465.html?espv=1 "Guillermo Rodríguez Godínez, Arkano: It's a true pride and he's stronger than vinegar, I'm very sanblasino, I love my neighborhood"
  2. Web site: September 12, 2018. Arkano - Biography, history and musical legacy. BuenaMusica.com.
  3. News: September 12, 2018. December 14, 2015. Redacción. El Comercio. Battle of the Roosters: Spanish Arkano won the grand final.
  4. News: September 12, 2018. September 15, 2016. Juan. Ortelli. Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos. Chile 2015: The kiss of death.
  5. Web site: April 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170403112159/http://batalladegallos.net/2017/01/31/skone-vs-arkano-semifinal-final-internacional-2016-red-bull-batalla-de-los-gallos/. April 10, 2017. Skone surpasses Arkano.
  6. News: September 12, 2018. Agencia EFE. November 13, 2016. Spanish. El País. Arkano breaks the world record after rapping for more than 24 hours straight.
  7. News: November 23, 2018. November 23, 2018. Laura. Coca. los40. 40 curiosities you didn't know about Arkano.
  8. News: September 12, 2018. October 28, 2016. Jenifer. Santarén. 20minutos. Arkano: "Rap is a very macho and homophobic genre".
  9. Web site:
    1. ElGranSecuestro, or how to revolutionize TV
    . November 24, 2019. November 24, 2019. José de Isasa's Blog. English.
  10. Web site: A cult kidnapping, broadcast live by RTVE. November 24, 2019. La Información. Spanish.
  11. Web site: Who is the rapper Sara Socas?. May 30, 2020. El Plural. Spanish.
  12. Web site: Arkano the naughty: "Some things have happened in bathrooms with boys". October 29, 2021. June 30, 2022. Shangay .