Emmanuel Rodriguez was born December 16, 1981, in the town of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. In his formative years he lived in the neighborhood of Tamarindo, an environment known for drugs and violence. From an early age, Rodriguez had a strong desire and skill to write songs about his surroundings and the challenges that came with youth. In 1996, at the age of 16, Rodriguez came to know Jesus, and accepted him as his savior. This would prove to be a decision that would affect not only the course of his career, but the course of his life.