To the world of Latin reggae he is known as El General, the originator of reggaeton. To the people of his hometown Rio Abajo in Panama City he is Edgardo Franco. Franco was born on September 27 to Catherine and Victor Franco. He was one of 10 children growing up in a poverty stricken town inhabited by many Jamaicans. He grew up in a multicultural environment. His mother was part Jamaican and part Trinidadian. His father was part Panamanian and part Colombian.