Where does Papi come from?
Papi is a colloquial term for “daddy” in Spanish, but in many Spanish-speaking cultures, particularly in the Caribbean, it is often used as a general term of affection for any man, whether it’s a relative, friend, or lover. The English “baby,” used as a term of endearment for spouses and children alike, is similar.
The term
papi was probably popularized among English speakers when Latina artist Jennifer Lopez, of Puerto Rican descent, released the song “Papi” in 2011. Its lyrics specifically encouraged listeners to “dance for your papi” (i.e., your man).
Another popular proponent of the term was Major League Baseball player David Ortiz, who was born in the Dominican Republic. When Ortiz first joined the Boston Red Sox in 2002, he brought over his culture’s habit of calling teammates
papi, to the point that they started calling him
papi back, eventually earning him the nickname
Big Papi. Since becoming a star, Ortiz has used his nickname for marketing products such as “Big Papi’s Kitchen.”
Since JLo was married to Marc Anthony during the time of the record's release, that should make him the Grand Papi for inspiring her.