Daddy Yankee Files Lawsuit Against Raphy Pina Over Allegedly Diverted Royalties

Puerto Rican megastar Daddy Yankee, real name Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, is suing his former manager and producer, Raphy Pina, real name Rafael Antonio Pina Nieves. The lawsuit, filed in a Hato Rey federal court, alleges that Pina Nieves oversaw a coordinated, long-term scheme to divert millions in royalties from Ayala Rodríguez.

The lawsuit:

• Ayala Rodríguez is seeking $3 million in damages and wants Pina Nieves to face a jury trial as part of a RICO case.

• The suit claims Pina Nieves was one of multiple individuals who participated in the scheme.

• Pina Nieves allegedly added his name to contracts and split sheets on Rodríguez's songs released from 2004 to 2025 without authorization.

• This allowed Pina Nieves to claim publishing royalties without taking part in the creative process behind the works while also channeling the funds through multiple entities.

• Several publishing companies are named defendants.

• The suit provided 15 Daddy Yankee songs and 36 tracks from other artists, from which Pina Nieves is accused of claiming unapproved royalties by falsely adding his name.

• Some of the other artists include Lito y Polaco, Tony Dize, Don Omar, Ñengo Flow, Natti Natasha, Maldy, Tego Calderón, Chencho Corleone, Wisin, Yandel, Tainy, and DJ Urba.

• Pina Nieves apparently employed threats and intimidation to conceal details of the scheme from Ayala Rodríguez and coerce others to take part.