| C-Kan | |
| Birth Name: | José Luis Maldonado Ramos |
| Alias: | El Perro de la C |
| Birth Date: | 1987 7, df=y |
| Origin: | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Instrument: | Vocals |
| Years Active: | 2008–present |
| Label: | Mastered Trax Latino [es] |
José Luis Maldonado Ramos (b. Guadalajara, Jalisco, 26 July 1987),[1] better known by his stage name C-Kan, is a Mexican singer, songwriter and rapper signed to Mastred Trax since 2012. He became popular in 2012 through his success on social networks, with his demo "Voy Por El Sueño De Muchos" (2012) "Classification C, Vol. 1" (2014).[2] "Vivo La Vida Cantando" is the title of the first single from his second album, entitled Clasificación C. In 2015, C-Kan released his third album entitled "Clasificacion C, Vol. 2". HMexiCKanos was released on 20 November 2016 in physical format in Mexico and digital format (on iTunes). C-Kan has over 5 million subscribers on its YouTube channel and over 100 million views. He worked with artists such as MC Davo, Dharius, Santa Fe Klan, Gera Mx, B-Real, Don Dinero, Don Cheto, Lil Rob, T Lopez, Chingo Bling, Baby Bash, SPM, King Lil G, 50 Cent, MC Magic, Pipo Ti, Al2 El Aldeano, Kinto Sol, Fermín IV and Sick Jacken.
C-Kan began rapping when he was a teenager, rhyming about life in the streets, gangs, drugs and violence. His first group mixtape, 'Get Money', released in 2006. That same year his first individual mixtape arrived: ‘Déjenme Afinar los Gallos’.
In 2007, he released his second mixtape, called "Siluetas del Rap", and a few months after, he released "Déjame Afilar Los Gallos". Following this h was signed by Mastered Trax Latino. Along with fellow rappers, Bodka37 and Masibo, C-Kan formed a group called Radikales, releasing their first single "La Rebelión de un Sueño" by the end of 2007.
For the following years, he focused on new singles and improving his onstage performance. He attracted attention through his music videos posted on YouTube, as well as appearances on Mexican news programs where he spoke about the social issues in his lyrics.[3]
C-Kan signed to Mastered Trax Latino in 2012, and released his first album: Voy por el sueño de muchos. Two years later he released his second album as part of Mastered Trax, titled Clasificación C, followed by Clasificación C, Vol. 2 (2015).[4]
In 2015, C-Kan and Julion Alvarez were the only two Mexican artists promoted through Tidal after the music-service launched its platform in Mexico.[5] Popular songs from Clasificación C, Vol. 2 were performed via livestream on 29 October 2015[6] at Auditorio Benito Juárez.[7]
C-Kan made his debut as a soundtrack composer in 2016 for Pantelion Films newest movie, Compadres.[8] On 1 July 2016, he released the album, Antes de Todo.
He was among the more than 60 performers at Budweiser's two-day "Made in America" festival in 2016.
On 26 May 2017 he released a collaboration album with Pipo Ti [es] called Días de sol [es].[9]
C-Kan appeared alongside Tanque, Menuda Coincidencia, Beast Jin, Serko Fu, Tino El Penguin, Aczino [es], and Mike Díaz in Kyzza Terrazas' documentary Somos lengua, covering the growth of rap and hip-hop in Mexico. The documentary premiered at the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York 22 September 2017.[10]
In 2020, C-Kan signed with 33 & West for exclusive representation in the U.S. and Canada.[11]
He released the album Mi Cancion in 2021.
C-Kan performed in Houston with Santa Fe Klan on 16 March 2022.[12] He also toured with MC Davo and Dharius from 30 August 2022 to 14 October 2022.[13]
On 30 September 2023, the song Por Mi México (Remix), a collaboration between Lefty Sm and Santa Fe Klan, and featuring Dharius, C-Kan, MCDavo, and Neto Peña, peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.[14] It had debuted at number 7 in Latin Digital song sales.[15] The music video reached number 14 on YouTube Music's Top Videos in Mexico for the week of 8—14 March 2024.[16]
For the week of 15 March — 21 March 2024, C-Kan was at number 64 on the YouTube Music Mexico Most popular Streaming Artists Chart.[17]
Maldonado states his musical influences are reggaeton & rap. Maldonado stated that his biggest influences are rappers like Control Machete, Cypress Hill, Dyablo, Magisterio, Caballeros del Plan G, Gamberroz, Big Boy and Vico C.
Maldonado's music has been known as "reggaetonero" and "romantic rapper". Most of his songs are often used autotune.
C-Kan was born and raised in the city of Guadalajara. At the age of 12 his father died, and he began making a life on the streets of Guadalajara. Alongside crime and violence, rap was also part of his life, and at 16, Ramos Maldonado discovered his talent for it.[18] He is also father of a child.
He has stated that the violence he talks about in his music is a reflection of real life that is a direct result of "poverty and the lack of education".[5]
C-Kan is also known for supporting the free use of marijuana in México. In an interview for the Costa Rican newspaper La Nación, he admitted using it, and claimed that public opinion will change as he believes misinformation is responsible for the current attitude toward the use of marijuana.
C-Kan has stated that he believes the government of Mexico is manipulating the public through the news media, praising social media as a vehicle for allowing people to obtain information the government would prefer they not have. He specifically cites the incidents of the Iguala mass kidnapping, and the incident in which the Federal Police killed protestors in Apatzingán. He has also expressed concern with the distribution of wealth in Mexico.[19]
In 2016, C-Kan publicly stated that he would not enter the United States as long as Donald Trump remained President in direct response to the disparaging comments Trump made regarding Mexicans.[20]
| List of concerts, show data, city, country, place, opening acts. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | City | country | place | Opening act | ||
| North America[21] | ||||||
| 19 de diciembre de 2015 | Valle de Chalco | México | Gimnasio Municipal Luis Donaldo Colosio. | — | ||
| 24 de enero de 2016 | Córdoba | — | — | |||
| 07 de febrero de 2016 | San Luis Potosí | — | — | |||
| 14 de febrero de 2016 | Guadalajara | — | — | |||
| 20 de febrero de 2016 | Torreón | Blvd. Revolución y Vasconcelos | — | |||
| 21 de febrero de 2016 | Monterrey | Escena Monterrey | — | |||
| 27 de febrero de 2016 | Ciudad de México | Calzada, La Viga | — | |||
| 10 de abril de 2016 | Los Reyes | El Paraiso del Abuelo | — | |||
| 03 de diciembre de 2016 | Hermosillo | Auditorio CEUNO | — | |||
| 04 de diciembre de 2016 | Monterrey | Escena Monterrey | — | |||
| 08 de julio de 2017 | Cuautitlán Izcalli | — | — | |||
| 30 July 2017 | Guadalajara | "Salón Bugambilias" | — | |||
| 09 de septiembre de 2017 | Puebla, Puebla | "Salón de Convenciones Serdán" | ||||
| List of concerts, show data, city, country, place, notes. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | City | Country | place | Note(s) | ||
| 09 de octubre de 2013 | Guadalajara | México | First urban fest, first rapper in the Fiestas de Octubre. | |||
| 21 de octubre de 2014 | Guadalajara | — | — | |||
| 29 de octubre de 2015 | Guadalajara | — | third city in Guadalajara. | |||
| 31 October 2015 | Ciudad de México | Pepsi Center | second urban of 2015, 2 times bigger, first in CDMX. | |||
| List of concerts, show data, city, country, venue, notes. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | City | Country | Venue | Note(s) | ||
| 11 March 2022 | San Antonio, TX | United States of America | Aztec Theatre | |||
| 12 March 2022 | McAllen, TX | McAllen Performing Arts Center | ||||
| 15 March 2022 | Dallas, TX | House of Blues | ||||
| 16 March 2022 | Houston, TX | House of Blues | with Santa Fe Klan[23] | |||
| 17 March 2022 | El Paso, TX | Plaza Theatre | ||||
| 19 March 2022 | Tucson, AZ | Encore | [24] | |||
| 22 March 2022 | Santa Ana, CA | The Observatory | ||||
| 23 March 2022 | Los Angeles, CA | The Belasco | ||||
| 25 March 2022 | San Diego, CA | House of Blues | ||||
| 26 March 2022 | Fresno, CA | Strummer's | with Arce MX[25] | |||
| 27 March 2022 | Las Vegas, NV | House of Blues | ||||
| 3 April 2022 | Portland, OR | Bossanova Ballroom | with Young Micah, Lil Espy, Dopamine, Cuddie Whompus[26] | |||
| List of concerts, show data, city, country, venue, notes. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | City | Country | Venue | Note(s) | ||
| 30 August 2022 | San Jose, CA | United States of America | The Ritz | |||
| 31 August 2022 | Sacramento, CA | Ace of Spades | ||||
| 2 September 2022 | Portland, OR | Roseland Theater | ||||
| 3 September 2022 | Seattle, WA | Neptune | ||||
| 5 September 2022 | Boise, ID | Knitting Factory | (not a LiveNation venue) | |||
| 6 September 2022 | Salt Lake City, UT | The Depot | ||||
| 8 September 2022 | Denver, CO | Summit | ||||
| 9 September 2022 | Omaha, NE | The Admiral | (not a LiveNation venue) | |||
| 10 September 2022 | Minneapolis, MN | Varsity Theater | ||||
| 11 September 2022 | Chicago, IL | House of Blues | ||||
| 12 September 2022 | Milwaukee, WI | The Rave | (not a LiveNation venue) | |||
| 13 September 2022 | Grand Rapids, MI | Intersection | ||||
| 14 September 2022 | Indianapolis, IN | Deluxe at Old National Centre | ||||
| 15 September 2022 | Buffalo, NY | Iron Works | (not a LiveNation venue) | |||
| 16 September 2022 | Boston, MA | The Paradise Rock Club | ||||
| 17 September 2022 | New York, NY | Irving Plaza | ||||
| 18 September 2022 | Philadelphia, PA | Theatre of Living Arts | ||||
| 21 September 2022 | Washington, DC | Union Stage | ||||
| 22 September 2022 | Raleigh, NC | The Ritz | ||||
| 23 September 2022 | Atlanta, GA | Buckhead Theatre | ||||
| 24 September 2022 | Lake Buena Vista, FL | House of Blues | ||||
| 25 September 2022 | Miami, FL | La Scala de Miami | (not a LiveNation venue) | |||
| 26 September 2022 | Jacksonville, FL | Underbelly | ||||
| 27 September 2022 | Birmingham, AL | MegaSol | ||||
| 28 September 2022 | Memphis, TN | Blue Moon Event Center | ||||
| 29 September 2022 | New Orleans, LA | Parish at House of Blues | ||||
| 30 September 2022 | Laredo, TX | Club C | (not a LiveNation venue) | |||
| 1 October 2022 | Mission, TX | La Catedral | ||||
| 2 October 2022 | San Antonio, TX | The Aztec Theater | ||||
| 3 October 2022 | Houston, TX | Warehouse Live | (not a LiveNation venue) | |||
| 5 October 2022 | Dallas, TX | The Echo Lounge and Music Hall | ||||
| 6 October 2022 | El Paso, TX | Lowbrow Palace | ||||
| 9 October 2022 | San Diego, CA | House of Blues | ||||
| 11 October 2022 | Phoenix, AZ | Crescent Ballroom | ||||
| 12 October 2022 | Santa Ana, CA | Observatory OC | ||||
| 13 October 2022 | Las Vegas, NV | House of Blues | ||||
| 14 October 2022 | Los Angeles, CA | Belasco | ||||
| Títle | Details | Positions | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|
 USA |  MEX | ||
| Voy Por El Sueño de Muchos' |
| — | iTunes 1 |
| Clasificación C, Vol. 1 |
| Billboard Top Latin Albums, 42[29] Latin Rhythm Albums, 3[30] | — |
| Clasificación C, Vol. 2 |
| Billboard Top Latin Albums, 28[32] Latin Rhythm Albums, 5[33] | — |
| Antes de Todo | Billboard Latin Rhythm Albums, 6[36] | — | |
| MexiCKanos |
| Billboard Top Latin Albums, 24[38] Latin Rhythm Albums, 3[39] | — |
| Días de Sol with Pipo Ti |
| — | — |
| Greatest Hits |
| — | — |
| Baúl |
| — | — |
| Mi Canción |
| — | — |
| Baúl 2 |
| — | — |
| 70 as lead artist, 49 collaborations, 10 simple. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release date | Song | featuring. | Álbum | Recording(s) | ||
| 23 de julio de 2010 | La Cosa Esta Dura | Lil Jock, Kala, Soldis | — | División Mayúscula | ||
| 15 de junio de 2011 | Me Enrede En La Calle | Agva | — | — | ||
| 19 de mayo de 2012 | No Puedo Vivir Sin Verte | — | Voy por el sueño de muchos | Mastered Trax Latino | ||
| 21 de octubre de 2012 | Me Pongo Joker | — | — | Lunapsis Films | ||
| 28 de octubre de 2012 | Rafagas | Kapel Da Most, Zimple | Voy Por El Sueño de Muchos | Mastered Trax Latino | ||
| 04 de noviembre de 2012 | Mexicanos Al Grito de Guerra | Quetzal | ||||
| 07 de noviembre de 2012 | Ten La Tuya | — | ||||
| 11 de diciembre de 2012 | ¿Dónde Estan? | — | ||||
| 21 de diciembre de 2012 | M.E.X.I.C.O. | — | ||||
| 30 January 2013 | Mi Música Es Un Arma | Zimple, MC Davo | ||||
| 07 de febrero de 2013 | Somos de Barrio | Togwy | ||||
| 26 de febrero de 2013 | Esta Vida Me Encanta | Zimple, Don Aero | ||||
| 28 de febrero de 2013 | Te Lloré | — | ||||
| 13 de marzo de 2013 | No Puedo Vivir Sin Verte | — | ||||
| 04 de abril de 2013 | Embotellado | Don Kalavera | ||||
| 20 de abril de 2013 | Vuelve | MC Davo | ||||
| 29 de mayo de 2013 | Déjame Conocerte | — | ||||
| 26 de junio de 2013 | Voy Por El Sueño de Muchos | — | ||||
| 24 de julio de 2013 | La Vida No La Tienes Comprada | Zimple | ||||
| 05 de septiembre de 2013 | Guerreros | Iluminatik | ||||
| 24 de septiembre de 2013 | Me Gusta La Calle | Prynce El Armamento | ||||
| 08 de octubre de 2013 | Sexy | Rigo Luna | ||||
| 30 October 2013 | Ya No Tiene Caso | Zimple, Javier La Amenaza | ||||
| 22 de noviembre de 2013 | Vivo La Vida Cantando | — | Clasificación C, Vol. 1 | |||
| 29 de noviembre de 2013 | Disculpa | Don Kalavera | Voy por el sueño de muchos | |||
| 24 de enero de 2014 | Se Juntarón Las Mafias | Zimple, Asek | — | |||
| 11 de marzo de 2014 | Latinos Unidos | Lil Rob | Clasificación C, Vol. 1 | |||
| 08 de abril de 2014 | Quiero Que Sepas | MC Magic | ||||
| 30 April 2014 | Justicia | Arianna Puello | ||||
| 28 de mayo de 2014 | Los Que Nadie Quiere | Zimple | ||||
| 04 de agosto de 2014 | Si No Estás | T Lopez | ||||
| 12 de agosto de 2014 | Eres Para Mí | Sporty Loco, T Lopez | ||||
| 14 de septiembre de 2014 | La Calle Sabe De Mi Nombre | — | ||||
| 07 de octubre de 2014 | Cuando El Amor Se Acaba | Prynce El Armamento | ||||
| 05 de noviembre de 2014 | Ayer, Hoy & Mañana | — | ||||
| 02 de diciembre de 2014 | Viajando En Una Nube | Pipo Ti | ||||
| 23 de diciembre de 2014 | Yo Soy Quien Soy | T Lopez | ||||
| 30 December 2014 | Un Par De Balas | — | ||||
| 27 de enero de 2015 | Por El Mexicano | Sporty Loco | Clasificación C, Vol. 2 | |||
| 17 de febrero de 2015 | Todo Lo Que Brilla No Es Oro | Don Dinero, Charlie Cruz | ||||
| 16 de marzo de 2015 | Intolerable | — | ||||
| 21 de abril de 2015 | Aparece | Pipo Ti | ||||
| 19 de mayo de 2015 | My Everything | Damon Reel | ||||
| 07 de julio de 2015 | Mamá Me Dijo Un Día | — | ||||
| 14 de agosto de 2015 | Mujer Bonita | MC Magic | ||||
| 16 de septiembre de 2015 | ¿Quién Contra Mí? | — | ||||
| 26 de octubre de 2015 | Mi Todo | Damon Reel | — | |||
| 26 de noviembre de 2015 | Ya Hago Rap | — | — | |||
| 29 de noviembre de 2015 | Te Vas | Crooked Stilo | The Take Over, Vol. 1 | |||
| 18 de diciembre de 2015 | Round 1 | MC Davo | — | |||
| 01 de febrero de 2016 | Carta de Amor | Javier La Amenaza | The Take Over, Vol. 2 | |||
| 26 de febrero de 2016 | Round 2 | MC Davo | — | |||
| 22 de marzo de 2016 | Maria | — | The Take Over, Vol. 2 | |||
| 29 de marzo de 2016 | Compadres | — | ||||
| 11 de abril de 2016 | Ted | — | — | |||
| 27 de mayo de 2016 | ¿Cómo Le Digo? | Derian | The Take Over, Vol. 2 | |||
| 01 de julio de 2016 | Jodanse Colegas | — | Antes de todo | |||
| 19 de agosto de 2016 | La Música Es Música, La Calle Es Calle | Snoopy, Refye El Demonio | MexiCKanos | |||
| 02 de septiembre de 2016 | Pesadilla de Amor | Prynce El Armamento | — | Make Money Records | ||
| 16 de septiembre de 2016 | Esta Noche | Derian | The Take Over, Vol. 2 | Mastered Trax Latino | ||
| 21 de octubre de 2016 | No Te Me Vayas | Melodico | Antes de todo | |||
| 20 de noviembre de 2016 | Ando | Refye El Demonio, Ruff | MexiCKanos | |||
| 25 de diciembre de 2016 | Fuego Cruzado | Eslok Diaz | ||||
| 17 de febrero de 2016 | C-Kan Pachino & Concrete De Niro | Concrete, Bz Bwai | The Take Over, Vol. 2 | |||
| 31 March 2017 | Cae La Ley | HomeBoys | MexiCKanos | |||
| 31 March 2017 | Me Pones A Volar | Prynce El Armamento | — | Make Money Records | ||
| 28 de abril de 2017 | Narcos | Ill Mascaras | MexiCKanos | Mastered Trax Latino | ||
| 26 de mayo de 2017 | De Que Me Sirve | Pipo Ti | Días de sol | |||
| 05 de julio de 2017 | Tú Y Yo | Pipo Ti | ||||