Mexicano 777 (born Israel Perales Ortiz), is a reggaetón and Latin hip-hop artist of Puerto Rican descent. His artist name comes from the fact that his father is of Mexican heritage.

His ability to sing was unveiled by parents and siblings when Israel went to take a shower and began to sing. As he came out of the bathroom everyone was waiting in front of the door asking how he had learned the songs he was singing (those of Pedrito Fernandez). All this happened when the singer was just 6 years old. At this young age he was already to duplicate the voice of Fernandez. Therefore after the young singer began taking part in various school activities such as plays, recitals, musicals.

Soon after people would start calling him by his nickname "Mexicano". As his voice continued to develop his would focus more on rapping. His beginnings can be traced back to the days of DJ Playero and DJ Adam. First with Adam he wrote "Se Testigo" and won the "Best New Style Award". Next he began working with Playero, a main pioneer in hip hop generation in Puerto Rico. Together they gave birth to "Santa Maria," "Shinane," "Miren Al Mexicano,", and "No Se Lo Que Estan Pensando." After the early Playero albums Mexicano tended to record with artists like O.G. Black and Ranking Stone which led to a rivalry between Playero and the reciently formed "Escuadron del Panico" which stirred verbal attacks towards Mexicano which continue to this day. His hit "Desde La Isla De La Muerte" formed part of the "Guatauba" release in New York together with Tony Touch one of the most known hispanic DJs. He would later make a music video for said song. Soon enough a war would stir with Polaco of hip hop/reggaeton duo Lito y Polaco.

The singer considered doing other things with his life such as attending a university, but he interest in music was too strong to combat. It wouldn't take long for his rapping style to be noticed by others. His song "Razor Sharp" together with Curly y Demus from Boricua Guerrero EP opened the door for the international market. Mexicano would later record a song titled "Vamos Pa La Guerra" together with Fat Joe. His first album "Entre El Bien y El Mal" would be released in September of 1998 which included popular picks such as "Bendición Mami," "Hagan Ruido Las Pistolas," y "Un Alma Inocente." He directed the corresponding music videos for the songs which reached an all time high popularity. A year later he participated in the match of the millennium with Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya producing and writing an introductory song titled "Triunfo Del Milenio". He was in a duo with Daddy Yankee, but both went their ways. That year he would be incarcerated for death threats made to the employees of a restaurant in 1993. While in prison he would continue his musical career. In 2001 he release his second album "God's Assassins". Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.