Jesús Manuel Nieves Cortés (born April 9, 1993), known professionally as Jhayco (; formerly Jhay Cortez), is a Puerto Rican rapper and singer. After releasing multiple EPs, his debut studio album, Famouz, was released in 2019.
Early life Cortés was born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. Later, he moved to Camden, New Jersey, where he learned English.
Cortés began songwriting at the age of 15, gaining the interest of producer Eddie Dee. Cortés wrote music with Lele el Arma Secreta and Eliel, who introduced Cortés to the duo Zion & Lennox. Cortés composed three songs that featured on Zion & Lennox's 2011 album Los Verdaderos: "Como curar," "Detective de tu amor," and "Soltera" (under the pseudonym Jay el Superdotado).
Cortés wrote five singles for Tito El Bambino, including "Llama al Sol," featured on his 2011 album Invencible, which won a Latin Grammy for Best Tropical Album.
Career
In 2013, Cortés began as a singer for the Latin pop group Stereo 4, composed of four Puerto Rican singers: Jafet Cortes, Eduardo Esteras, Rubén Chinea, and Jesús M. Nieves. Cortés later launched his career as a soloist. He collaborated with Stereo 4 for the last time in 2016 with the song "Te quiero ver."
On August 22, 2017, Cortés was the first artist signed under House of Haze, a partnership established between Universal Music Latino and producer Fino como el Haze. He released his first single, "Donde no se vea," under this label, collaborating with Jory Boy and Pusho.
On March 16, 2018, Cortés performed at SXSW's Sounds from Puerto Rico showcase.
Cortés helped in the composition of the songs "Criminal" by Natti Natasha with Ozuna and "Mi Religión" by Yandel. On May 16, 2018, he released the EP Eyez on Me under the Universal Music Latino record label. At the end of 2018, he released his single "Costear" with Almighty, which led to the release of two remixes.
On February 22, 2019, Cortés released the single "No Me Conoce," which reached the top of several Latin American music charts. It was certified triple platinum by PROMUSICAE of Spain; the song also featured a remix with J Balvin and Bad Bunny and was certified 20× platinum by the RIAA. In that same year, he also released the song "Deseame suerte" with the collaboration of Karol G. On May 24, 2019, he released his first studio album, Famouz, under the Universal Music Latino label. It was ranked 164 on the US Billboard 200 chart and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA.
In 2020, Cortés published a special edition of his first studio album with unreleased songs under the name Famouz Reloaded and released a new single, "Dime a Ve," which would be part of his second album, Timelezz. He was also the winner of five ASCAP awards as a composer and two Tú Música Urbano Awards in the categories of Composer of the Year and New Generation Album by Famouz. He received nominations for the Billboard Awards for Latin music, Premios Juventud, Lo Nuestro Awards, and the Latin Grammys. On October 30, he released the song "Dakiti" in collaboration with Bad Bunny, which reached number one on the Billboard Global 200 charts; it also reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 9. At the end of that year, he collaborated on the Blue Grand Prix remix of "La Curiosidad" by Jay Wheeler and Myke Towers. He also appeared on Yandel's album Quien Contra Mí 2 in the collaboration of the song "Ponme al día."
At the beginning of 2021, Cortés participated in a production of Los Legendarios with the song "Fiel" with Wisin, which reached number 9 globally on the Spotify music platform. On March 14, he appeared with Bad Bunny performing "Dakiti" at the Grammy Awards ceremony. He also received another iHeartRadio Music Awards nomination in the Latin Pop/Reggaeton Song of the Year category for "Dakiti." He then appeared on the remix of 911 by Panamanian singer Sech.
On September 3, he released his album "Timelezz", featuring collaborations with Anuel AA, Skrillex, Myke Towers, Kendo Kaponi, Arcángel and Buscabulla. The album hit #2 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. Later that year, he was a part of Anuel AA's Súbelo, with Myke Towers.
In 2022, he released "En La De Ella" with Feid and Sech.
In 2023, he released "Holanda". He was also a part of Tainy's album Data, on the song "FANTASMA | AVC".
In 2024, he released his album, "Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X)". The 29-track album features collaborations with Quevedo, Yandel, DJ Khaled, Omar Courtz, Yovngchimi, and many others. He also formed part of the remix of Si No Es Contigo by Cris MJ, along with Kali Uchis.
Personal life Cortez was in a relationship with pornographic film actress and webcam model Mia Khalifa.
Controversies In 2020, Cortez had a public spat with fellow rapper Bryant Myers on Twitter. The two rappers published diss tracks.
In December 2021, Cortez threw jabs at fellow artist Rauw Alejandro, comparing his dance moves to that of a cockroach on Ankhal's Si Pepe remix. Rauw would respond with the diss track "Hunter", saying Cortez's verse on the 911 (Remix) was written by Mora. Cortez then released "Enterrauw", a seven minute diss track.
On August 12, 2025, Cortez was arrested in Miami after deputies allegedly found cocaine and cannabis in his car during a traffic stop. He was later bonded out of jail.
Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUS USLatin SPA Famouz Released: May 24, 2019 Label: Universal Music Latino 164 5 54 RIAA: 3× Platinum Famouz Reloaded Released: January 24, 2020 Label: Universal Music Latino — — 54 Timelezz Released: September 3, 2021 Label: Universal Music Latino 70 2 4 RIAA: Platinum PROMUSICAE: Gold Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X) Released: September 6, 2024 Label: Universal Music Latino 77 6 1 RIAA: 2× Platinum "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
EPs + List of EPs Title EP details Eyez on Me Released: May 18, 2018 Label: Universal Music Latino
Singles As lead artist + List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US USLatin ARG MEX SPASingle peaks in Spain: All except noted: "512": "Emojis de Corazones": "En La De Ella": "Los Bo": WWSingle peaks on the Billboard Global 200: "Holanda": "Bby Boo": "Rosita": "Deseos" 2018 — — — — — — RIAA: Gold Eyez on Me "Se Supone" (remix) — — — — — — RIAA: Gold "Están Pa' Mí" — — — — — — RIAA: Gold "Costear" — — — — — — RIAA: Gold Famouz "No Me Conoce" 2019 71 4 4 — 4 — FIMI: Gold Note: To retrieve the certifications, 1) type in "Jhayco" in the box of "Filtra", 2) select years in the box of "Anno", 3) select "Singoli online" in the box of "Sezione", 4) click Enter PROMUSICAE: 4× Platinum RIAA: 9× Diamond "Deséame Suerte" — — — — — — RIAA: Gold Famouz Reloaded"A Tu Manera (Corbata)" — — 85 25 — — Mal de Amores "Easy" (remix) — 33 — — — — Famouz Reloaded"Medusa" 2020 — 12 57 — 5 — RIAA: Diamond PROMUSICAE: Platinum "Dispo" — — — — — — RIAA: Gold Orgánico"Dime a Ve" — — — — — — RIAA: Gold rowspan=2 "Prendemos" — — — — — — RIAA: 2× Platinum "Dakiti" 5 1 1 32 1 — FIMI: 3× Platinum RIAA: 24× Platinum PROMUSICAE: 8× Platinum El Último Tour Del Mundo"Kobe en LA" — 44 — — — — RIAA: Gold "Los Bo" 2021 — 40 — — 46 — RIAA: Gold Timelezz"Fiel" 62 5 8 — 1 — FIMI: Gold RIAA: 14× Platinum PROMUSICAE: 5× Platinum RIAA: 8× Platinum PROMUSICAE: Platinum Los Legendarios 001"Christian Dior" — 28 — — 27 — PROMUSICAE: Gold Timelezz"911" (remix)) — — — — 11 — PROMUSICAE: Platinum rowspan=2 "Súbele el Volumen" — — — 2 62 —"En Mi Cuarto" — 22 — — 31 — RIAA: 2× Platinum PROMUSICAE: Gold Timelezz"Delincuente" — — — — 94 — "Ley Seca" — 12 — — 2 — PROMUSICAE: 3× Platinum Timelezz"Emojis de Corazones" — 22 — — 68 — RIAA: Platinum PROMUSICAE: Gold Multimillo Vol. 1"Súbelo" — 12 — — 15 — PROMUSICAE: Platinum Las Leyendas Nunca Mueren"Sensual Bebé"2022 — 22 — — 28 — PROMUSICAE: Gold LCVRX"Ande con Quien Ande" — 49 — — 56 — RIAA: Platinum PROMUSICAE: Gold "En la de Ella" — — — — 20 — PROMUSICAE: Platinum LCVRX"Cuerpecito" 2023 — — — — 38 — PROMUSICAE: Gold"Mami Chula" — — — — 5 — PROMUSICAE: 2× Platinum"Fantasma/AVC" — — — — 69 — PROMUSICAE: Gold Data"En To Lao" — — — — 51 — PROMUSICAE: Platinum "Rockstar 2.0" — — 16 — 26 — PROMUSICAE: Gold Antes de Ameri"Holanda" — — 21 — 3 54 RIAA: 4× Platinum PROMUSICAE: 3× Platinum LCVRX"Ex-Special" — 22 — — 58 —"Bby Boo (remix)" 2024 — 27 18 — 6 179 RIAA: Platinum PROMUSICAE: Platinum rowspan=2"Passoa" — — — — 36 —"58" — — — — 38 —Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X)"Scorpio" 2025 — — — — 92 —rowspan="2" "Rosita"2026 — — — — — 192 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist + List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US USLatin ARG SPA"Darte" (remix) 2018 — — — — RIAA: 4× Platinum Sexflix 1.5"Only Fans" (remix) 2020 — — — 94 RIAA: 2× Platinum rowspan=2 "La Curiosidad" (Blue Grand Prix remix) — — — 14 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Other charted and certified songs + List of other charted and certified songs, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US USLatin ARG SPA "Easy" 2019 — — — 5 RIAA: 3× Platinum PROMUSICAE: 3× Platinum Famouz "Imaginaste" — 45 75 — RIAA: Platinum "Como Se Siente" 2020 — — — 6 RIAA: Gold PROMUSICAE: Platinum Famouz Reloaded"Como Se Siente" (remix) — 7 61 — Las que no iban a salir"512" 2021 — — 24 8 PROMUSICAE: 2× Platinum Primer Día de Clases "Magnum" — 41 — 78 Infinity"Dile (Homenaje)" — — — 5 PROMUSICAE: 2× Platinum Timelezz "La Venganza" — 46 — — Jose"Memorias" 2022 — — — 6 PROMUSICAE: 6× Platinum Microdosis"Tarot" 18 7 52 2 PROMUSICAE: 5× PlatinumUn Verano Sin Ti"Llueve" — — — 92 RIAA: Gold La Última Misión"Porshe Carrera"2024 — — — 79Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X)"No Entiendo" — — — 80 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Awards and nominations