Moffa Opens Up About How Being Adopted Shaped His Music

Puerto Rican reggaetón artist Moffa is opening up about his upbringing, identity, and mental health in a new Q&A for PS’s Tell Me Más series, timed to the release of his debut album, Playground. The 22-year-old singer, who has quickly emerged as one of reggaetón’s rising names, reflects on how being adopted by his Puerto Rican godparents shaped both his life and his music.

Moffa says he was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and raised between the metro area and the island’s west side, spending much of his childhood in places like Isabela and Aguada. He shares that he learned from an early age that he and his twin sister were adopted after their biological mother died of cancer when they were infants. His mother and the Puerto Rican couple who raised him had known each other since childhood, and he describes his adoptive parents as fully transparent about his background from the beginning.

The artist explains that his parents encouraged him to learn about his roots rather than hide from them. He says he was never bullied for looking different from his parents and believes Puerto Rico has become more accepting over time. At the same time, he acknowledges the complexity of having connections to his biological family in Brazil and the Dominican Republic, even though he has never met his biological father and does not speak Portuguese. He says relatives from Brazil sometimes contact him on social media, and he recently noticed that his biological father interacted with one of his posts, an experience he describes as strange and emotional.

Moffa also discusses how he understands his identity. Although he has family ties to Brazil and the Dominican Republic, he says he considers himself Puerto Rican first, while recognizing his Brazilian and Dominican blood. He admits he does not know much about Brazilian culture yet and has never visited Brazil or the Dominican Republic, but he is interested in exploring more of that heritage in the future. That curiosity has already appeared in his music: last year he released “TOKO,” his first Brazilian funk track, which he says he approached with excitement and respect rather than assuming any automatic right to the genre.

The conversation also touches on how his mother might have influenced his path if she had lived. Based on what he has heard, he believes she may have guided him toward a more traditional career and possibly away from music, though he says he cannot know for sure. Still, he credits his current family for supporting him unconditionally and giving him the freedom to pursue his dreams.

Moffa closes with advice for anyone who feels different or out of place: do not pity yourself, do not hide your story, and do not let adoption or identity make you feel limited. He says people should be proud of where they come from and continue moving toward their goals. On mental health, he emphasizes staying grounded in the pressure of a fast-paced industry, slowing down when needed, and allowing himself to cry or release emotions instead of bottling them up.