The tribute to El Taiger emerged as one of the most heartfelt moments at the Fiesta Latina 2024 event, held on Saturday night at Miami's Kaseya Center. The stage was graced by Cuban musician Descemer Bueno, DJ Conds, producer The Yabo, urban music singer and songwriter El Yonki, among other musicians, producers, and friends of the recently deceased Cuban reggaeton artist.
Images of El Taiger were prominently displayed on large screens, as friends and colleagues performed his well-known tracks, honoring the legacy he left in the urban music scene of Cuba. Fiesta Latina is an event dedicated to celebrating and appreciating artists who have made a significant international impact in this genre.
The last-minute inclusion of the tribute to José Manuel Carbajal Zaldívar (El Taiger) was intended to pay homage to his contributions to urban music. According to Enrique Santos, following El Taiger's tragic passing on October 10, it was deemed fitting to create a space to honor the memory of "one of the great pioneers of Cuban urban music."
Santos, a prominent presenter and a vital figure in the Latin community in the United States, hosted Fiesta Latina and addressed criticisms regarding the announcement of a tribute to the late Cuban reggaeton star. "With the generous support of DJ Conds, El Taiger's musicians, producers, and friends—those who worked closely with him until his last days—we will hold a tribute at the Kaseya Center during Fiesta Latina 2024 to remember the best moments of his musical career," the presenter explained.
He emphasized that creating a space for this tribute "was not easy, but it was the right thing to do." Additionally, Santos refuted rumors about payments to the musicians involved, asserting that "none of the invited musicians for this Saturday have received any payment; we are not paying any musician, producer, or DJ Conds."