Ankhal

Ankhal, born Anthony Khalil Mercado Díaz on August 21, 2000, in Puerto Rico, is a rising force in Latin trap and hip-hop. Before music, his future seemed headed toward sports—he was a gifted baseball player who even received a college scholarship offer in the U.S. But Ankhal followed a different dream, choosing music over the field. Influenced by artists like Kevin Gates, he began writing lyrics as a teenager and quickly gained a reputation in Puerto Rico’s underground scene through freestyle battles, including a major win at Freestylemania. His track “Antijudas” marked a turning point, gaining traction on SoundCloud and catching the attention of bigger players in the industry. In 2019, he signed with Farruko’s label, Carbon Fiber Music, and made waves with the “CFM Ganga Remix,” which racked up millions of YouTube views in days.

Known for his gravelly vocal tone and raw lyrical style, Ankhal explores themes of struggle, loyalty, and survival in his music. Songs like “Perreo Intenso,” “WUEPA,” and “Si Pepe” reflect both his streetwise perspective and his artistic range. His debut album Anti Judas (2021) and its follow-up Ankhalino (2022) showcased his artistic growth and versatility. In 2022, Ankhal survived a life-threatening shooting incident—an event that only seemed to deepen his resolve. His collaborations with major artists like Farruko, Lary Over, and Guaynaa have helped him reach broader audiences while staying true to his roots. Through it all, Ankhal continues to carve out a space that’s uniquely his in the Latin music world.