Big Soto

Gustavo Rafael Guerrero Soto, known professionally as Big Soto, is a pioneering Venezuelan rapper, singer, and composer born on October 19, 1996, in Cumaná, Sucre State, Venezuela. He spent part of his childhood in the small town of Marigüitar before moving with his family to Valles del Tuy at the age of nine. Big Soto’s stage name pays homage to his maternal family, the Sotos, who have a strong musical background and supported him throughout his artistic journey. Initially considering the name “Soto,” he opted to add “Big” to align with the trend among many rappers at the time, thus becoming Big Soto.

Big Soto’s musical career began in 2013 when he started participating in street rap battles. During this period, he also enrolled in audiovisual sciences at IUTIRLA while organizing events for local rappers. After dedicating a couple of years to freestyle, he made the bold decision to drop out of university in his fourth semester at the age of 20 to pursue music full-time. His first recorded song, “Exposicion,” was released in 2014, marking the beginning of his ascent in the urban music scene.

His breakout moment came in 2016 with the single “Chamito Loco,” a collaboration with the rapper Trainer. This track helped establish him in the music industry and led to his involvement with the Eleuce Music project, although he and Trainer would later leave to pursue solo careers. That same year, Big Soto released his debut studio album, Young Cream, featuring 13 tracks and collaborations with various artists. One of the standout singles from this album, “ISKIUSMI Panita,” further boosted the visibility of Big Soto and his peers.

By 2017, he had transitioned to the OBG label, led by Akapellah, which aimed to promote national trap artists. Under this label, he released the hit single “SKRT,” which garnered over 13 million views on YouTube. Other successful tracks, such as “Funny,” “Vida Buena,” and “Party,” solidified his place in the Latin trap genre, earning him widespread recognition.

In 2018, Big Soto’s partnership with fellow rapper Neutro Shorty blossomed into the album Apokalypsis, consisting of eight songs each accompanied by music videos. That same year, he signed with Rimas Entertainment, a Puerto Rican label, which further expanded his reach in the Latin music market. He continued to release tracks that showcased his versatility and ability to collaborate with a variety of artists, including Corina Smith and Eladio Carrión.

Big Soto’s career took another leap forward in 2020 with the release of “Tiempos de Cali.” He also collaborated with the Argentine producer Bizarrap for the BZRP Music Sessions #28, which quickly amassed millions of views online. In 2021, he released his second album, The Good Trip, which was produced in collaboration with notable artists like Jowell & Randy and Farruko. This album was recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the best Spanish and bilingual albums of the year.

Musically, Big Soto has a profound devotion to hip hop, rap, R&B, and other forms of African-American music. Influenced by artists like Young Thug and A$AP Rocky, he has embraced the trap genre while also exploring other styles. Not only is he an artist, but he is also involved in the technical aspects of music production, having learned about programming and mixing.

Big Soto’s image is characterized by a skater and urban style, and he has been a model for the global brand Fashion Nova since 2020. His journey through the Latin trap scene illustrates his resilience and creativity, making him a significant figure in contemporary music in Venezuela and beyond.