Juan A. Abreu is well-known within the Latin Music industry as Xtassy and as a founding member of the award-winning and urban fusion producing duo, A&X. The self-made, multi-faceted, song-writer, producer, DJ and innovator gained his recognition at a young age for his record breaking hits within the new generation of Latin Music. Xtassy’s unique style of blending international rhythms with electric elements, Tropical and Urban influences, he has shaped the sounds and voices of today’s music.
Born in Bani, Dominican Republic, raised in the city of Santo Domingo as a child and a native New Yorker since the age of 12, Xtassy’s upbringings have turned him into an urban pioneer in the music industry. Xtassy was constantly surrounded by the warm Caribbean rhythms and soulful Latin beats, played at home by his dad, an inspiring DJ. During High School, he met his musical twin, Alcover, where A&X was formed as they both shared the same passion for music. Over the years, the duo became well-known producers for urban Dominican artists in New York City. Together, they helped uncover the underground, mergengue de calle, sounds and produced for international Dominican artists such as Oro Solido, Fulanito (one of the song’s A&X produced for the group was nominated for a Latin Grammy), Don Omar’s bachata group Marcy Place, Kalimete, Mr. Chapa and many more. Today, Xtassy along with Alcover are known as those who were responsible for promoting the Dominican underground movement of local artists in New York City.
Xtassy’s creativity has developed futuristic tones broke cultural boundaries within the Reggaeton movement for such artists as Don Omar. Alongside his trailblazing partner, Alcover, Xtassy has been recognized as 2012‘s Latin Billboard Awards “Producer of the Year,” and was awarded by the BMI Awards and 2012‘s Latin Grammys for the “Best Urban Album” for their work as co-writers and producers on Don Omar’s hit, “Dutty Love” featuring Natti Natasha and album, Don Omar Presents: Meet The Orphans.
A&X masterminded Don Omar’s top number one singles such as “Danza Kudduro” and “Taboo” (soundtrack for “Fast In The Furious Five” and multi-award winning track the Latin music industry), turning the Reggaton “King” into an international mainstream breakthrough artist with their one-of-a-kind compositions. Xtassy signed to Don Omar’s ‘Orfanato Music Group’ in 2009, where he’s been part of the label’s urbano historic development in Reggaeton, Latin Hip-Hop, Bachata, Latin Pop and other genres.
The groundbreaking producer and song-writer has supplied his modern integrations for top Latin artists and projects including Magic Juan, Latin Jazz player Nestor Torres, Mexican artist Belinda; “Aleluya” featuring Pitbull, a single co-written and produced by Xtassy for Romeo Santos’ number one album Formula 1. Along with his collaborators, Xtassy produced the 2013 solo album of Henry Santos (a member of the bachata group, Aventura).
A&X’s trendsetting music gained the attention of EMI Latin where they were approached to work with world-renowned producers on Mexican cross-over artist Selena Quintanilla’s second best hits album. Xtassy co-produced the remake hit of “Fotos y Recuerdo” featuring Don Omar.
With all of the success in his career thus far, he looks forward to continuing to break barriers within the music world by working with top cross-over artists. Xtassy will continue to focus on reviving underground street music by collaborating with undiscovered and talented producers to birth new waves in the music industry.
