Dominican Rapper El Alfa Reveals Why His Grandmother's Death Prompted Him to Retire at Age 34

El Alfa will move away from music.

After informing fans of the death of his grandmother Ramonita last week, the 34-year-old Dominican rapper (whose real name is Emanuel Herrera) took to Instagram on Jan. 7 with an emotional post revealing that he plans to retire later this year.

“I know life goes on, but my feelings don’t go unnoticed, my grandmother taught me to love God above all, so I will mourn in her memory,” El Alfa wrote in the post (translated from Spanish to English) alongside photos with Ramonita and other family members. “It was her happiness to see that I made it, but I can’t even stay awake!!”

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El Alfa in October 2023.

Billboard via Getty

The artist, who has 14.5 million Instagram followers and 20 million monthly Spotify listeners, continued: “I’m temporarily saying goodbye to my audience that loves me. I’ll be back soon, goodbye Instagram.”

“I could have spent more time with her, but my work didn’t allow me to,” El Alfa said. “MY RETIREMENT DAYS ARE GETTING SHORTER, ON DECEMBER 18 THIS YEAR I WILL NEVER SING AGAIN… rest in peace grandma #ramonita […] I LOVE YOU.”

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El Alfa in February 2022.

Getty Images for Univision

PEOPLE has reached out to a representative for El Alfa for comment.

Over the course of his career, El Alfa has released six studio albums, earned several platinum-certified hit songs, and collaborated with artists including Cardi B, Rauw Alejandro, Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, Lil Jon, Diplo, Becky G, and Kali Uchis, among others.

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Last week, El Alfa shared several photos of the late Ramonita on Instagram and shared the news of her death.

“Today is one of the saddest days of my life, I lost the love of my grandmother,” he wrote. “Since I came into this world she has always given me all the love in the world and more. I am devastated.”

“May God bless her,” continued El Alfa.

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Source: HIS Education