Venezuelan singer/songwriter Kobi Cantillo blended a more traditional singer/songwriter sound into the Latin zeitgeist of the 2010s and 2020s, using his smooth, understated vocals to deliver stories of romantic pursuits and conflicted love.

Born in Venezuela's capital city of Caracas, Abraham Cantillo honed his vocal and instrumental abilities at the José Ángel Lamas School of Music, singing and playing a guitar gifted to him by his grandmother. Adopting the name Kobi -- "King of Big Ideas" -- alongside his given surname, the musician debuted in 2018 with "Sigue Creyendo," a breakup ballad fusing singer/songwriter and trap styles. The Afro-pop-esque "OMG" and sentimental "Aunque Intentes" were quick to follow, and he issued two collaborations later in the year: the hedonistic "Culito Nuevo 2," alongside Jerry Di, Big Soto, and Micro TDH, and the Lenny Tavárez-assisted "Perfecta," which soon became the vocalist's breakout single. Cantillo closed out the 2010s with the guitar-led "Oye Oye" and "Qué Malo," a collaboration with Puerto Rico's Cauty.

Kobi used the 2020s to venture further into Latin pop and reggaeton: after appearing on Sharlene's summery "Quién Dijo Miedo (Remix)," he found a minor hit with the reggaeton-lite "Hechizo." Further developments in this sound arrived with features on Byron Salas' "Toca," Blackie Lois' "De Pana," Alejandro Santamaria's "Sin Querer," and Big Soto and Farruko's "Vacile," alongside the solo singles "Pal Cara" and "Peor Capítulo." In 2021, Cantillo issued a wide-rostered remix to "Hechizo," and "Tarantino," a collaboration with Big Soto and Alvaro Diaz. ~ David Crone, Rovi