José Luis Maldonado Ramos (born 26 July 1987), 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). "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.
Career 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.
2012–2015 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).
In 2015, C-Kan and Julión Álvarez were the only two Mexican artists promoted through Tidal after the music-service launched its platform in Mexico. Popular songs from Clasificación C, Vol. 2 were performed via livestream on 29 October 2015 at Auditorio Benito Juárez.
2016–present C-Kan made his debut as a soundtrack composer in 2016 for Pantelion Films newest movie, Compadres. 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].
C-Kan appeared alongside Tanque, Menuda Coincidencia, Beast Jin, Serko Fu, Tino El Penguin, , 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.
In 2020, C-Kan signed with 33 & West for exclusive representation in the U.S. and Canada.
He released the album Mi Cancion in 2021.
C-Kan performed in Houston with Santa Fe Klan on 16 March 2022. He also toured with MC Davo and Dharius from 30 August 2022 to 14 October 2022.
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. It had debuted at number 7 in Latin Digital song sales. The music video reached number 14 on YouTube Music's Top Videos in Mexico for the week of 8—14 March 2024.
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.
Musical style
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.
Personal life 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. He is also father of a child.
Politics 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".
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.
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.
Tours MC Davo vs C-Kan Dos Tipos de Cuidado Días de Sol Dharius ICE Cube
List of concerts, show data, city, country, place, opening acts. Day City country place Opening act North America 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" Urbano Fest 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. Mi Canción Tour USA 2022, with Santa Fe Klan List of concerts, show data, city, country, venue, notes. Day City Country Venue Note(s) 11 March 2022 San Antonio, TXUnited 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 17 March 2022 El Paso, TX Plaza Theatre 19 March 2022 Tucson, AZ Encore 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 27 March 2022 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues 3 April 2022 Portland, OR Bossanova Ballroomwith Young Micah, Lil Espy, Dopamine, Cuddie Whompus LiveNation USA Tour 2022, with MC Davo and Dharius List of concerts, show data, city, country, venue, notes. Day City Country Venue Note(s) 30 August 2022 San Jose, CAUnited 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
Discography Albums Títle Details Positions Positions USA MEX Voy Por El Sueño de Muchos Launching: 10 December 2012 Label: Mastered Trax Latino Formats: CD, Music download — iTunes 1 Clasificación C, Vol. 1 Launching: 21 July 2014 Label: Mastered Trax Latino Formats: CD, Music download BillboardTop Latin Albums, 42Latin Rhythm Albums, 3 — Clasificación C, Vol. 2 Launching: 16 March 2015 Label: Mastered Trax Latino Formats: CD, Music download BillboardTop Latin Albums, 28Latin Rhythm Albums, 5 — Antes de Todo Launching: 30 June 2016 Label: Mastered Trax Latino Formats: CD, Music download Deluxe Edition release same day BillboardLatin Rhythm Albums, 6 — MexiCKanos Launching: 19 November 2016 Label: Mastered Trax Latino Formats: CD, Music download BillboardTop Latin Albums, 24Latin Rhythm Albums, 3 — Días de Sol with Pipo Ti Launching: 25 May 2017 Label: Mastered Trax Latino Formats: CD, Music download — — Greatest Hits Launching: 1 November 2018 Label: Mastered Trax Latino Formats: CD, Music download — — Baúl Launching: 5 November 2020 Label: Mastered Trax Latino Formats: CD, Music download — — Mi Canción Launching: 19 August 2021 Label: Mastered Trax Latino Formats: CD, Music download — — Baúl 2 Launching 7 December 2023 Label: Mastered Trax Latino Formats: CD, Music download — —
Music videos