Dante Santiago

In 1988, Santiago began his music career as a singer and dancer. In 1992, he collaborated with rappers will.i.am and apl.de.ap of the Atban Klann, a hip hop group signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records.^[7] Due to Eazy's death in 1995, Will and Apl left Ruthless,^[8] formed a trio with Santiago and changed their name to Black Eyed Peas. After including friend Taboo, they recorded demos and performed at several shows. Later in the year, Santiago left the group.^[9][10] He joined the group Broshigeez in 1998 with Huck Finn, Rawcel and NIU recording their selftitled Ep BRO.S.H.I.G.E.E.Z. ^[11] They released the singles, "Put It On Ya" feat apl and Taboo of Black Eyed Peas, "Achin" and "In The Mood" in 2002. He rejoined Black Eyed Peas in late 2002 and brought in his friend Fergie^[12] who became the group's joint lead vocalist. He performed vocals on several of their hit songs, including "Hey Mama".^[13] and "Let's Get It Started", which won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. As a solo artist Santiago's first two singles, "It's OK" and "Nasty Like Us",^[14] both appeared on the soundtrack to National Lampoon's Jake's Booty Call. On will.i.am's Must B 21 album, he appeared on the song "Sumthin' Special" while also releasing his first extended play, Inside Te's World. ^[15] Santiago also managed to work with some of music's top artists, recording vocals on songs by Busta Rhymes "I Love My Bitch",^[16] Too Short feat Snoop Dogg will.i.am "Keep Bouncin'", Mariah Carey "Heat" and Sérgio Mendes "Mas que Nada".^[17]

In 2003 Santiago went from Artist to Executive and was hired as A&R Music Coordinator for the peas Elephunk album and 2005's Monkey Business, also featuring on the song "Dum Diddly".^[18] He was promoted to Creative A&R for Fergie's solo debut The Dutchess in 2006, which had three Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Glamorous", "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "London Bridge". Santiago recorded his next LPDanté ^[19] and was the opening act for Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business Tour in 2005–06. Santiago was A&R on a lot of will.i.am's productions outside of the peas including Michael Jackson.^[20] In the studio with Jackson they recorded new material and songs which were a part of the Thriller 25 anniversary album. In 2007 he continued as Creative A&R and featured on the song "Impatient" ^[21] for the album, Songs About Girls. In 2009, he was promoted to A&R ^[22] on the next two Black Eyed Peas albums. First on The E.N.D. ^[23] which went to number #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 charts and the combined singles of "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling" went on a record breaking 26 consecutive weeks at number #1 on the Billboard Hot 100^[24] and for The Beginning with the hit single "The Time (Dirty Bit)".^[25] Later in 2010 Santiago left tour to work with LMFAO on their next album Sorry for Party Rocking. This is when he suggested to Redfoo the first single should be "Party Rock Anthem" ^[26] January 2011. The song went to number #1 which topped the charts in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland.

Having success with the Black Eyed Peas and LMFAO, in 2011 Santiago started his first business venture Ghettro Inc. The label released "F.U.M.C."^[27] by DJ Homicide feat SkyBlu of LMFAO and GoonRock. The video was directed by Anthony Chirco with cameos by Nas, Redfoo, Simon Rex aka Dirt Nasty, Fatlip of The Pharcyde, Taboo, Chuckie and DJ Lethal of House of Pain and Limp Bizkit.^[28] While on tour in Montreal, Santiago met designer CatG ^[29] and they collaborated on outfits for his stage shows. Santiago then launched the fashion line, called Ghettro by CatG.^[30]

In 2012, Santiago joined will.i.am as Coach Advisor on The Voice UK and on The Voice Australia (2014). Also in 2012 Danny O'Donoghue of The Script and co-judge on The Voice UK asked for Santiago's help to recruit will.i.am for the song "Hall of Fame".^[31] Santiago continued working with will.i.am on his fourth solo album #willpower ^[32] as Executive Producer^[33] and Head of A&R under his production company Ghettro Music and featured on the song "The World Is Crazy".^[34][35] It spawned the hit singles "This Is Love" featuring Eva Simons,^[36] "Scream and Shout" featuring Britney Spears and "#thatPower" featuring Justin Bieber. In 2013 Santiago also served as Executive Producer on Britney Spears "The Essential Britney Spears" album ^[37][38] and in 2016, he was Associate Producer for the peas video #WHERESTHELOVE? (pt. 2).^[39]

Santiago signed recording artist and actress Damoni Burkhardt ^[40] and in 2020 released her debut single "I'm Free (Watch Me Go)" ^[41] which had 150,000 streams on Spotify and former The Voice UK (series 2) participant Lyndrik Xela's ^[42] Ep Get To Know U (Part 1). Burkhardt also starred in the short lived TV Series "YA" ^[43] a spin off from The Bay. After a hiatus, Santiago rejoined The Recording Academy in 2024 as a voting member for its Los Angeles Chapter and in 2025, Ghettro released two singles by Burkhardt including "The One" and "Burning Room" a collaboration with Rhyan Besco.^[44]

• Inside Te's World (2003)
• Dante (2006)

Headlining

• 1992: Balistyx album release party (at Whisky a Go Go) ^[46]
• 1994: Atban Klann
• 1995: Black Eyed Peas

Opening act

• 1999-2000: BRO.S.H.I.G.E.E.Z. (opening for Burning Star)
• 2001: BRO.S.H.I.G.E.E.Z. (opening for Black Eyed Peas)
• 2005: Opening act for John Legend (Sydney, AU)
• 2006: Inside Te's World Tour (opening for Black Eyed Peas) ^[47]

Featured Artist

• 2003: Coachella Festival (with Black Eyed Peas)
• 2003: Elephunk Tour
• 2004: Fly or Die Tour (with bep and N.E.R.D.)
• 2004: Glastonbury Festival (with Black Eyed Peas)
• 2005–06: Monkey Business Tour
• 2007: Live Earth Festival (with Black Eyed Peas)
• 2009–10: The E.N.D. World Tour
• 2011: The Beginning World Tour
• 2013-15 #willpower Tour (with will.i.am)