This blog has focused on some of the classic latin genres that have been around for years. The genres I have discussed so far have been the traditional genres that my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents probably partied to. They are the genres that evolved from a combination of Indigenous, European, and African sounds and dances. However, as time evolves so does music. Today, what teenagers and young adults listen to is a combination of past sounds and new genres. Music has moved into the urban direction and now one of the biggest genres in Latin music is Reggeaton.

 

I was introduced to this genre when I was about 13 at a quinceanera party in Colombia. This was the music everyone was listening too and it was becoming sensational. This genre has an iconic beat that is very repetitive throughout the song and can be danced to quite easily and continuously. As an article on ThoughtCo puts it, reggaeton is a combination of electronic dance music, hip hop, and Spanish rap.

This may seem like an odd combination. But this genre is actually very fun at parties and is becoming popular on a global scale. If any of you have heard the song Despacito, this song is an example of reggaeton and Latin pop fused together.  

Now, where did this genre come from? Interestingly enough, not from one of the islands- technically. This genre originated in the 1990s in Panama by an artist referred to as El General. He interestingly came out with a few songs, revolutionalized the genre, and then kinda fell off the globe. The article “El General Pioneered the Sound of Reggaeton, Then Disappeared Entirely” goes into this if you are interested in learning more about his influence and sudden career halt.

Courtesy of we are mitu

 

The interesting thing is that it was not long before Puerto Rico took over and became the center for Reggeaton. To this day, they still produce the most amount of Reggeaton stars and songs. One of the pioneering artists could be said to be Daddy Yankee. In 2004 he came out with the hit “Gasolina” and just went off from there. He eventually collaborated with Luis Fonsi to produce Despacito in 2017.

Courtesy of Spin

 

Today, some of the most popular artists are from Puerto Rico. They include Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Wisin, Yandel, Nicky Jam, Ozuna, Plan B, and Arcangel. This is just to name a few of the top artists.

(Shown Above: Ozuna, Wisin, Nicky Jam)

Courtesy of Latin Billboards

Colombia has recently also been becoming very dominant in the Reggeaton world. Some artists include J Balvin, Maluma, Manuel Turizo, Sebastian Yatra, and even Shakira.

(Shown Above: J Balvin, Maluma)

Courtesy of Latin Billboards

Most of these artists try to go international and are pushing to make Latin music popular worldwide. It might not be long before we hear reggeaton in radios and parties in America too. Despacito was a hit in the United States. We will probably see more Spanish songs become hits in the future. If you go to Southern Florida in places like West Palm Beach and Miami, there are radio stations strictly for reggaeton. A radio station around Reading Pennsylvania is strictly for reggaeton. The genre is growing and will continue to grow.

 

I have not attached a song to this video because none really stand out over the others. If you are interested in reggaeton, there are great playlists on youtube and Spotify that will play some reggeaton hits that are currently being heard in Latin America.