Derek R. Phillips a.k.a El Bwoy was born on Aug. 28, 1984 in Panama City, Panama. His family originated from St. James, Barbados and St. Mary, Jamaica who lived in Calle 13 Rio Abajo, Panama. The area was mostly populated by West Indians, due to the construction of the Panama Canal. Growing up with a West Indian background and learning about his West Indian culture, he started to show interest for reggae music. El Bwoy at the age of four started to introduce himself to the reggae community after performing his first reggae carnival in 1988. During that time, artists that control the airwaves in Panama were Nando Boom, Chicho Man, El General and Renato. In 1991, he moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York which brought him closer to his uncle Mikey(El General manager) and his four uncles Guillermo, Ricardo,(El General dancers for the video “Muevelo”) Pio and Jeffrey(El General bodyguards.) Being around them and also having Rigo Man and Killa Ranks as a close friends to the family he learned more about regga