Music

El Alfa Says He'll 'Never Sing Again' After Grandmother's Death

The 34-year-old King of Dembow announced he's 'retiring' from music.

El Alfa with a thick beard wears a Boston Red Sox cap and a white jersey, standing against a red background.
Image via Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images

El Alfa announced that he will be retiring from music after his grandmother’s passing.

Last Friday, the Dominican dembow rapper announced the death of his grandmother, Ramonita, in an emotional post shared to his Instagram account.

“Today is one of the saddest days of my life,” he wrote in Spanish. “I lost the love of my grandmother. Ever since I arrived into the world, she always gave me all of the love in the world and more. I’m devastated. May God have her in His glory. She taught me how to love God. I love you #Ramonita.”

It seems that the grief-stricken rapper, born Emanuel Herrera Batista, is ready to walk away from the limelight.

“I know that life goes on, but my feelings aren’t going unnoticed. My grandmother taught me to love God, therefore I will mourn in her memory,” El Alfa wrote in a separate post shared on Tuesday. “Her happiness was seeing me succeed, but I can’t even stay awake. I’m saying goodbye momentarily to my audience that loves me. I’m coming back soon. Goodbye, Instagram.”

“I could’ve spent more time with her, but my work wouldn’t let me. The days [until] my retirement are short. On Dec. 18 of this year, I will never sing again,” he added. “Rest in peace, grandma Ramonita. I love you.”

The Dominican-born artist, also nicknamed “the King of Dembow” became a household name thanks to dance floor stompers like “Singapur,” “Suave,” “Plebada” with Peso Pluma, and “La Mamá de la Mamá.”

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