Alex Zurdo

Alex Zurdo, born Alexis Vélez Alberio, is a Puerto Rican Christian rapper, songwriter and singer who has become one of the most recognized figures in Latin Christian urban music. Born on June 10, 1983, in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, he built his career around rap, reggaeton and other urban sounds while making Christian faith the central message of his music.

Known professionally as Alex Zurdo, he emerged from Puerto Rico’s urban music culture and eventually became one of the leading voices in Spanish-language Christian hip-hop. His music combines rap and reggaeton with messages about faith, salvation, personal transformation and life with God. Over the course of his career, he has released numerous albums, performed throughout Latin America and collaborated with major Christian and Latin urban artists.

Zurdo’s career is also notable because he did not begin exclusively within Christian music. As a young artist, he participated in secular rap and reggaeton projects before making a decisive commitment to Christianity at the age of 21. That transition became the foundation for the ministry and musical identity that would eventually make him internationally known.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Alex Zurdo developed an interest in music at a young age. He began writing rap songs when he was around 11 years old and received his first piano at 13. He taught himself to play the instrument, adding musicianship to his developing interest in songwriting and rap.

During his teenage years, he became increasingly involved in Puerto Rico’s urban music scene. Before establishing himself as a Christian artist, he performed under the name Zurdo and worked with Rey Blasto. He participated in several secular rap and reggaeton productions, gaining early experience in songwriting, recording and performance.

Among the projects associated with this early period were collaborations connected to Puerto Rico’s underground urban scene, including appearances on productions such as The Noise and other reggaeton compilations. This period gave him firsthand experience of the musical culture that would later influence his Christian work.

Christian Conversion and the Beginning of His Ministry

At the age of 21, Zurdo made a major change in the direction of his life. After encountering Christianity more deeply at a youth retreat, he decided to leave secular music and dedicate his musical abilities to Christian ministry.

That decision did not mean abandoning the musical language he had learned. Instead, he began using rap, reggaeton and other urban sounds to communicate Christian ideas. His approach helped demonstrate that Christian music could speak naturally through contemporary Latin urban styles without losing its central message.

In 2004, he released Nada es mío, his first album as a Christian artist. The project marked the beginning of his professional ministry and established the foundation for a career that would eventually extend across Latin America and beyond.

He followed it with Con propósito in 2005 and Se trata de ti in 2006. Other early releases included De Gloria en Gloria: La Trayectoria and Una y mil razones, helping him build a substantial catalog during his first years as a Christian recording artist.

Career and International Breakthrough

Zurdo’s early work gradually expanded his audience, but Así son las cosas in 2010 became an important turning point. The project helped him reach listeners outside Puerto Rico, with songs such as “El Semáforo” contributing to his growing recognition in the Spanish-language Christian music scene.

His subsequent albums continued to establish him as a major figure in Christian urban music. Mañana es hoy, released in 2012, was followed by De la A a la Z in 2014 and AZ Live in 2016.

Throughout this period, Zurdo performed at Christian events and concerts across Latin America. His work also placed him alongside some of the most influential figures in Christian music, including Funky, Vico C, Marcos Witt, Christine D’Clario, Tercer Cielo and Danilo Montero.

His ability to combine a contemporary urban sound with explicitly Christian lyrics became one of the defining characteristics of his career. Rather than treating Christian rap as a niche style, he helped bring it into larger Latin Christian music spaces.

Musical Style and Influences

Alex Zurdo’s music is built primarily around Christian hip-hop and Latin urban music, particularly rap and reggaeton. His songs frequently use rhythmic verses, melodic choruses and modern urban production while addressing subjects such as faith, salvation, hope, perseverance and the challenges of everyday life.

One of his most important early influences was Puerto Rican rapper Vico C, whose approach to rap and songwriting helped shape Zurdo’s own artistic development. His experience within Puerto Rico’s urban music culture also influenced the rhythmic and lyrical character of his work.

A major strength of Zurdo’s music has been his ability to communicate Christian themes without abandoning the musical vocabulary of Latin urban culture. His songs can move between energetic rap performances and more reflective material, giving his catalog considerable range.

Major Albums and Collaborations

Zurdo has built an extensive discography since his 2004 debut. Some of his major projects include Nada es mío, Con propósito, Se trata de ti, De Gloria en Gloria: La Trayectoria, Una y mil razones, Así son las cosas, Mañana es hoy, De la A a la Z, AZ Live, ¿Quién contra nosotros?, M.E.M.E., UNO, DTOX, Conxsión, DUAL and MAYDAY.

His 2018 album ¿Quién contra nosotros? became one of the most significant releases of his career. The project featured collaborations with several prominent Christian artists, including Redimi2, Funky, Marcos Witt, Manny Montes, Indiomar, Kike Pavón and Gabriel Rodríguez EMC. The album was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the Best Christian Album in Spanish category.

Another major project was UNO, released in collaboration with Funky and Redimi2. The three Puerto Rican artists joined forces for the project, creating one of the most notable collaborations in Latin Christian urban music. The album reached number one on iTunes following its release.

In 2024, Zurdo collaborated with Gabriel Rodríguez EMC on DUAL. The project continued their musical partnership and brought together two generations of Puerto Rican Christian urban music.

His later work has also included collaborations with artists outside the traditional Christian urban scene. In 2025, he appeared on Daddy Yankee’s Christian album Lamento en Baile, contributing to the song “ABCD.” He also released MAYDAY, a project featuring collaborations with artists including Farruko, Wisin, Nacho, Onell Díaz, Natan El Profeta and Jay Kalyl.

Awards, Recognition and Current Career

Alex Zurdo’s career has earned recognition from both Christian music organizations and the wider Latin music industry. He has received a GMA Dove Award and multiple Arpa Awards, while his album ¿Quién contra nosotros? received a Latin Grammy nomination.

His work has also earned nominations at Premios Tu Música Urbano, reflecting the growing presence of Christian artists within the broader Latin urban music industry.

Zurdo remains active as a recording artist and performer. His catalog has continued to expand through new albums, singles and collaborations, including releases following MAYDAY. In 2026, his music continues to appear on major streaming platforms, with new material such as “Pa’ Lante Voy” adding to his ongoing body of work.

His career has extended well beyond Puerto Rico. Through concerts, recordings and collaborations, he has built an audience throughout Latin America and among Spanish-speaking Christian communities internationally.

Influence and Legacy

Alex Zurdo has played an important role in the development and international growth of Spanish-language Christian urban music. His career helped establish rap and reggaeton as effective vehicles for communicating Christian messages to younger Latin American audiences.

His influence is particularly significant because of the way he connected two worlds that had often been treated separately: Puerto Rico’s urban music culture and contemporary Christian ministry. Instead of abandoning his musical roots after becoming a Christian, he transformed them into the foundation of his ministry.

More than two decades after the release of Nada es mío, Zurdo remains one of the recognizable names in Latin Christian hip-hop. His extensive catalog, international collaborations and continued presence in contemporary urban music have made him an influential figure in the evolution of Christian rap and reggaeton in the Spanish-speaking world.