CHIMBALA – ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Leury José Tejeda Brito, professionally known as Chimbala, is one of the most influential and successful artists in the Dominican urban music scene. Born on May 18, 1989, in the 27 de Febrero neighborhood of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, he was raised in a humble family. Following the passing of his father at an early age, Chimbala helped support his family by pursuing his passion for music.
He began his career as a music producer after moving with his family to Los Guaricanos, producing songs for local artists and quickly earning recognition for his talent. Before launching his own recording career, he produced music for several artists who later became major figures in Dominican urban music, including El Alfa and Toxic Crow.
Chimbala's breakthrough as a recording artist came in 2011 with a string of hit dembow singles, including "Digo E," "Con Los Pies," "Llégale," "Te Prendo," and "Te Me Va' a Doblar." These records established him as one of the leading voices of the genre and led to extensive touring throughout the Dominican Republic, the United States, Puerto Rico, Europe, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, and numerous Caribbean islands.
In 2018, Chimbala expanded his musical style by incorporating new rhythms and broader Latin urban influences into his sound. This evolution resulted in the smash hit "Maniquí," followed by a successful remix with Farruko. The new direction produced a series of major hits, including "Túmbala," "Celoso," "El Boom," "Yo No Sé," and "Soltero," significantly expanding his international audience.
Throughout his career, Chimbala has received nominations from some of Latin music's most prestigious awards, including Premios Juventud, Premios Heat, Premio Lo Nuestro, and Premios Tu Música Urbano, recognizing his impact on the genre and continued commercial success.
Today, Chimbala boasts more than 6 million monthly listeners on Spotify and over 4.1 million YouTube subscribers, with his official channel surpassing one billion cumulative views.
His recent hits continue to dominate streaming platforms and radio, including "CHE-CHE," which has accumulated nearly 300 million YouTube views, and "Abusadora," further solidifying his position as one of the Dominican Republic's most streamed artists.
Chimbala has collaborated with an impressive roster of internationally acclaimed artists, including Carlos Vives, Carín León, Wisin, Arcángel, Luis R. Conriquez, Juan Magán, Guaynaa, Farruko, Jay Wheeler, Juhn, Lenny Tavárez, Zion & Lennox, Justin Quiles, Omega, Natti Natasha, and El Alfa, among many others.
With a career built on innovation, consistency, and an undeniable connection with audiences worldwide, Chimbala has established himself as a defining figure and global ambassador of Dominican urban music, continuing to lead the evolution of the dembow movement on the international stage.
