Luke Taleno, a Cuban-American rapper born in Havana and raised in Hialeah, has made it to the semifinals of the 21st season of America's Got Talent (AGT). His quarterfinal performance captivated both the audience and the judges of the NBC show, earning him a spot among the top contenders.
Taleno's journey is as impactful as his music. According to Billboard, Taleno—whose real name is Luis Rojas—arrived in the United States at the age of three with his mother, who worked night shifts cleaning buses to support the family.
When Taleno was six, his mother discovered a CD player with an Eminem album inside. "Before I could speak English, I was already learning that I loved rap," the artist shared during his appearance on the show.
The Struggles That Shaped His Path
His challenges did not end there. At 13, Taleno was diagnosed with leukemia and spent nearly two years undergoing treatment at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami. "I didn't believe there was a future. Writing songs gave me hope; it kept me going," Taleno revealed to the judges.
After battling cancer, he started a family and began rapping on the streets of Miami to provide for his child. "When I started, it was just an empty sidewalk, and then it became a crowd," he recalled. This determination led him to AGT, where he had been a spectator the previous year. A year later, he realized his dream of performing on that stage.
From Audience to Performer
During his June audition, he performed "From Seat to Stage," an original song that tells the tale of his journey. Howie Mandel awarded him the Golden Buzzer, propelling him directly to the live rounds.
In the quarterfinals aired on August 18, Taleno took the stage with another original song titled "You Got to Fight," a rap that encapsulates his life story in just over two minutes.
Fighting for the Dream
His lyrics, blending Spanish and English, reflect his Cuban childhood, his battle with leukemia, his mother's fight against cancer, and his role as a hardworking father on minimum wage: "I came from an island very young and not knowing enough / My mom worked nights while fighting cancer / But she kept showing up."
His performance earned him a place as a semifinalist in that initial quarterfinal round.
Sharing videos of his performance on social media, Taleno wrote: "Dreams do come true... but you have to fight."
Before stepping onto the stage in the quarterfinals, he made it clear what drives him: "This time, being able to do this in front of my son makes me want to fight harder than ever. It's my entire life in a two-minute song. I'm so close to that million dollars. We're going to fight to win it all."
Luke Taleno's Inspiring Journey on America's Got Talent
Who is Luke Taleno?
Luke Taleno is a Cuban-American rapper born in Havana and raised in Hialeah, Florida. His real name is Luis Rojas.
What challenges has Luke Taleno faced in his life?
Luke Taleno was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 13 and underwent nearly two years of treatment. He also faced economic hardships, with his mother working night shifts to support their family after emigrating from Cuba.
What significant achievement has Luke Taleno accomplished on America's Got Talent?
Luke Taleno advanced to the semifinals of America's Got Talent Season 21 after receiving the Golden Buzzer during his audition, which automatically placed him in the live rounds.