Reggaeton is a Spanish language genre of Dancehall with distinct Hip hop influences, originating in Central America and the Caribbean.

Contents

1 History 2 Distinguishing Features 3 Reggaeton Today 4 Well-known artists

History

The first Reggae recordings in Latino America were made in Panama in the mid-1970s. A large number of Jamaican immigrants had been brought in during the building of the Panama Canal and they brought with them Reggae music to the local population.

In 1985, rapper Vico C from Puerto Rico produced the first Spanish-language Hip hop record. Thus the two main influences of the genre were in place, as well as the two main producing countries.

Reggae production took off seriously in Panama in the early nineties, about the same time Jamaican Ragga imports were becoming all the rage in Puerto Rico. Towards the middle of the decade Puerto Ricans were making their own riddim material, with clear hip-hop influences, and recording what must be considered the first proper Reggaeton tracks.

Although Panama has always held its own production-wise, a more-widespread Reggaeton scene was created throughout Latino America when local Panamanian-style reggae became infused with distinct Puerto Rican influences a couple of years later. Today the music flourishes equally in both countries and has also spread to the rest of Latin America, including Colombia.

Distinguishing Features

The genre's most notably unique feature is a driving drum-machine track derived from Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena musical beats and sometimes integrated into a Jamaican Dancehall rhythm. Sometimes hip hop-styled vocals, a NuYorRican import from the U.S., are also used. Despite the genre's derivativeness, the fusion is often very creatively done, with some excellent producers and performers incorporating their own personal musical backgrounds into the crafting of songs. In any event, after over a century of forced connection to the U.S., Island Puerto Ricans have- in the end- preferred to tie themselves back into the Caribbean matrix to which they belong.

The lyrics, like most working-class popular music, are often about the reality on the streets, misunderstandings, unfair situations, love, cheating and passion. The most notable differences in Reggaeton from some Jamaican Dancehall records, besides the inclusion of definite Latino melodies and musical styles, is the exclusion of the violence and homophobia which allows Reggaeton a more acceptable access to a much wider age-bracket and social spectrum of Latino music lovers worldwide. Also missing is the misogynistic lyrics found in some U.S. hip hop music. This is an Indigenous Taino aspect- both men and women can be Cacikes (leaders) in the same musical arena- equal and with respect. Ivy Queen's establishment as an artist who highlights female strength has garnered the respect from Latino youth- both male and female- and has paved the way for many female Reggaeton artists.

These developments are definite signs which demonstrate the openness, positivity and party-atmosphere preference of Puerto Rican society. Reggaeton's creativity and break from the normal Reggae style is reflective of Puerto Rico's multi-ethnic flavor- afroindoeuropean. This creative fusion has allowed it to become a respectable Puerto Rican musical form.

Reggaeton Today

The genre has only grown in size over the past few years and is starting to reach international recognition. Reggaeton's biggest international hit to date is "Papi Chulo (Te Traigo El Mmm...)" by Lorna from Panama. Swedish-produced "Chupa Chupa" by Cuban El Médico del Rap and the radio remix of Dominican Bachata boy band Aventura's "Obsesión" are other hit tracks clearly influenced by the reggaeton style.

Most recently, artists from Puerto Rico (which arguably produces the most popular artists of the genre) have grown to be immensely popular on the island and outside. Biggest of all being Tego Calderón, Don Omar, Wisin y Yandel , Héctor y Tito , Daddy Yankee, Zion y Lennox , Baby Rasta y Gringo , and Ivy Queen. They are the most demanded reggaeton artists in Puerto Rico, and most of Latin America. All have performed massive concerts in Puerto Rico and are the ones credited with bringing it into the mainstream and allowing it to become more commercial and embraced by the public that had chastized it in its beginning. Reggaeton is also beginning to amass a large following in areas such as Florida, New York, the Boston area, Chicago, and small pockets of the USA where the latino population is sizeable or where there is a large club scene.

And large music companies are taking notice. Sony Music has signed significant deals with artists such as Buddha's Family , Mickey Perfecto , and Noztra. Universal Music is also one of the major distributors of the genre in and outside Puerto Rico. They have deals with most of the large production companies of reggaeton on the island.

Don Omar recently headlined a concert in South America alongside international dancehall artist Sean Paul, worked alongside the famous merengue band Limi-T 21 on two songs on their recent album, was featured on Los Rabanes' newest CD, participated with Ednita Nazario in her recent concert, and made a public deal with Emilio Estefan for production of some songs as well as help in internationalizing himself and the genre. He will also be the first rapper to participate during the famous Banco Popular concerts that take place every year. Héctor y Tito themselves have recorded alongside Jose Feliciano, and more recently alongside Victor Manuelle and Domingo Quiñones (two popular salsa artists). They're also touted to have Gilberto Santa Rosa participate in their next album. Other artists have had high profile collaborations with other artists outside the reggaeton genre, most notably : Tego Calderón with Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, Cypress Hill, Toño Rosario, and 50 Cent. He is also the official face of Hennessy in the Latin American market. Ivy Queen's next album ("Real") has songs alongside Sean Paul, Beenie Man, La India, and Fat Joe. Daddy Yankee has a song alongside Nas called "The Prophecy", and also has a track on the soundtrack of the movie One Tough Cop.

Recent events have only slightly tarnished the image of reggaeton in Puerto Rico, most notably being Tego Calderón's public alimony dispute with his ex-wife, Nicky Jam's attempted murder case (the judge found no cause, and the case was dismissed), and Don Omar's highly publicized arrest after allegedly being caught by two police officers smoking marijuana inside his Hummer H2 and carrying a loaded gun with a mutilated serial number. He has denied any wrongdoing, and his case will go to court soon.

Reggaeton saw its first major hit in the USA when N.O.R.E. 's "Oye Mi Canto" feat. Tego Calderon alongside Nina Sky, and Daddy Yankee (on video version), hit radio stations and MTV, as well as BET.

Well-known artists

• BIP
• Tempo
• Lito y Polaco
• Voltio
• El Mexicano
• Don Omar
• El General
• Tego Calderón
• Héctor y Tito
• Zion y Lennox
• Wisin y Yandel
• Ivy Queen
• Baby Rasta y Gringo
• Nicky Jam
• Daddy Yankee
• Trébol Clan
• Las Guanabanas

Hip hop

Breakdance - Turntablism - Graffiti - MCing - Hip-Hop Music - List of Rappers

Fashion - Feuds - Urban slang - Timeline

Genres

East Coast - West Coast - South - Gangsta - G-funk - Horrorcore - Jazz rap - Underground - Abstract - Nerdcore - Old Skool - Hardcore

Trip Hop - Freestyle - Hip house - Hip life - Go go - Miami bass - Nu soul - Ghettotech - Electro - Rap metal - Reggaeton - Merenrap - Urban Pasifika

Reggae | Reggae genres
Mento - Rocksteady - Ska
Dub - Dub poetry - Dee jaying - Dancehall - Ragga - Raggamuffin - Reggaeton - Rockers reggae - Roots rock reggae - Skinhead reggae - Two Tone
Other topics
Haile Selassie - Jamaica - Marcus Mosiah Garvey - Rastafarianism - Skinheads