Reggaeton
Encyclopedia
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican
and Latin American urban and Caribbean music
. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español
from Panama
and Puerto Rico
and Jamaican Reggae. After the music's gradual exposure and commercial packaging in Puerto Rico
, it eventually evolved into a new musical style known as reggaeton. Reggaeton blends Jamaica
n musical influences of dancehall
, with those of Latin America, such as salsa
, latin rap
, and electronica
. However, reggaeton is also combined with rapping
or sing
ing in Spanish. Reggae en español is also popular in Puerto Rico and is often mixed with reggaeton there. The influence of this genre has spread to the wider Latino
communities in the United States, as well as the Latin American audience. While it takes influences from hip hop and Jamaica
n dancehall, reggaeton is not the Hispanic or Latino version of either of these genres; reggaeton has its own specific beat and rhythm, whereas Latino hip hop
is simply hip hop recorded by artists of Latino descent. The specific "riddim
" that characterizes reggaeton is referred to as "Dem Bow". The name is a reference to the title of the dancehall song by Shabba Ranks
that first popularized the beat in the early 1990s. Reggaeton's origins represents a hybrid of many different musical genres and influences from various countries in the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States. The genre of reggaeton however is most closely associated with Puerto Rico
, as this is where the musical style was created and became most famous, and where the vast majority of its current stars originated.
Reggaeton lyrics tend to be derived more from hip hop than dancehall. Like hip hop, reggaeton has caused some controversy, albeit less, due to alleged exploitation of women, and to a lesser extent, explicit and violent lyrics. Further controversy surrounds perreo, a dance with explicit sexual overtones which is performed to reggaeton music. Perreo was the subject of a national controversy in Puerto Rico as reggaeton music and the predominantly lower class culture it derived from, became more popular and widely available.
and jamaican reggae.reggae artist El General and Nando Boom were some of the first from panana.The music eventually made its way toPuerto Rico
where it became reggaeton. Reggaeton started as an adaptation of Jamaican reggae
to the Spanish language and overall culture in Panama and Puerto Rico.
Since the early 20th century when Jamaican laborers were used to help build the Panama Canal
. Afro-Panamanians had been performing and recording Spanish-language reggae since the 1970s. Artists such as El General
, Chichoman, Nando Boom
, Renato
, and Black Apache are considered the first Spanish reggae DJ
s from Panama. El General is often considered the father of reggae en español, blending Jamaican reggae into a Latinised version. It was common practice to translate the lyrics of Jamaican reggae song into Spanish and sing them over the original melodies, a form termed "Spanish reggae" or "Reggae en español". Meanwhile, during the 1980s the Puerto Rican rapper and reggaeton artist Vico C released Spanish-language hip hop and reggaeton records in his native island. His production of cassettes throughout the 1980s, mixing reggae and hip hop, also helped spread the early reggaeton sound, and he is widely credited with this achievement. The widespread movement of "Spanish reggae" in the Latin-American communities of the Caribbean and the urban centres of the United States help increase its popularity.
Meanwhile hip hop and reggae in Puerto Rico were on the rise due to the increased popularity of Jamaican ragga
imports. Towards the middle of the decade, Puerto Ricans were producing their own "riddim
s" with clear influences from hip hop and other styles. These are considered the first proper reggaeton tracks, initially called "under", a short form of "Underground." As Caribbean and African-American music gained this momentum in Puerto Rico, Reggae Rap in Spanish marked the beginning of Boricua underground rap and served as an expression for millions of young people. This created an entire invisible, yet prominent underground youth culture that sought to express themselves through Reggae Rap in Spanish. As a youth culture that exists on the fringes of society and criminal illegality, it has often been publicly criticized. The Puerto Rican police launched a raid against underground rap by confiscating cassette tapes from music stores under Penal codes of obscenity, issuing fines, and the demoralization of rappers through radio, television, and newspaper media.
The term "underground", coming out of hip hop discourse, associates underground artists as asserting a self-identification that rejects the commercialization of music. In San Juan "underground", however, it was not just about authenticity or ideology, but was literally about position in the market. "Underground" music was circulated via informal networks, copied from cassette to cassette, until the mid 1990s.
DJ Playero
was one of the most famous producers of "Underground" at the time, releasing several underground cassettes that featured early performances of some soon-to-be-famous artists like Daddy Yankee
.
The basis for reggaeton was laid in Puerto Rico at this time, with the melding of Spanish reggae, with influences from fast dancehalls, hip hop and various other Latin American musical genres.
The genre morphed through the years, at various points being termed "Melaza", "música underground", and "Dem Bow." This last name originated from reggaeton's distinguishing rhythmic feature: the Dem Bow (alternately spelled "Dembow") beat, relying heavily on the snare drum
, which is used in nearly all reggaeton songs today. This beat, or riddim
, was produced under the direction of Jamaican record producer Bobby "Digital" Dixon and performed by Steely & Clevie
. It first became popular in the song "Dem Bow" (They Bow) performed by Jamaican dancehall artist Shabba Ranks
in 1991. The song and beat achieved greater popularity among Spanish-speaking Latin Americans when Panamanian artist El General
released the song "Son Bow" in 1991, a Spanish language cover of "Dem Bow" using the same musical track. It should be pointed out that neither Shabba or El General sang reggaeton as neither the genre nor its title were as yet formed. Additionally "Dem Bow" was just a single song in Shabba's catalog, with Ranks not singing another significant song using the "Dem Bow" beat. However the influence of the original Bobby Digital beat is undeniable, and modern reggaeton often still reflects the original instrumentation, as well as the original rhythmic structure.
, like DJ Nelson
and DJ Eric. In the early '90s albums like DJ Playero
's Playero 37 (in which Daddy Yankee
became known) and The Noise: Underground, The Noise 5 and The Noise 6 were very popular in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic
. Singers like Don Chezina
, Tempo
, Master Joe & O.G. Black
, Baby Rasta & Gringo, and Lito & Polaco
among others were very popular.
The name reggaeton only gained prominence in the mid-2001 (from the 2001 to 2002 period), with the Dem Bow beat characterizing the genre; this is in contrast to the more reggae, dancehall and hip hop-derived tracks previously created. The name was created in Puerto Rico to signify the unique fusion of Puerto Rican sounds and distinguish it from the previous Spanish reggae, created from the years of mixing the different genres. Today, the music flourishes throughout Latin America. In Puerto Rico reggae en español is also dominated very well and often fusilier together with their reggaeton.
Reggaeton soon increased in popularity with Latino youth in the United States when DJ Blass worked with artists such as Plan B
and Speedy in albums such as Reggaeton Sex.
was already getting some airplay in the U.S. and it was very popular in the youth market. Daddy Yankee's "El Cangri.com" became popular that year in the U.S., as did Hector Y Tito. Luny Tunes y Noriega's Mas Flow was well received and Kilates, La Mision, Yaga y Mackie with Sonando Differente, Tego Calderón El Abayarde, Los Homerunes De Yankee, Desafio, Motivando a La Yal By Zion y Lennox, La Conspiracion, and others were popular as well. Then in 2004 rapper N.O.R.E released his hit single "Oye Mi Canto
" which seemingly broke cultural and language barriers, which featured the likes of Nina Sky
& Daddy Yankee
. Soon after Daddy Yankee came out with his album Barrio Fino
and his hit single "Gasolina
" which spread around the world becoming a mega-hit and with it introducing reggaeton to the rest of the world. Tego Calderón also increased the reggaeton genre with singles like "Pa Que Retozen" and "Guasa Guasa". Another important artist who contributed to reggaeton's increasing popularity, especially in Europe, is Don Omar
, with singles like "Pobre Diabla" and "Dale Don Dale." Other very popular reggaeton artists include J Balvin
, Alexis & Fido, Angel & Khriz
, Nina Sky
, Nicky Jam
, Zion
, RKM & Ken-Y, Voltio
, Calle 13
, Héctor "El Father", Ivy Queen
, Wisin & Yandel
, and Tito "El Bambino". In late 2004 and early 2005, Shakira
recorded "La Tortura" and "La Tortura - Shaketon Remix" in her album Fijación Oral vol.1 (Oral Fixation vol.1) popularizing reggaeton in North America, Europe and Asia.
, became history's highest ranking reggaeton LP in the top 10 US charts, with its debut at #1 on the Top Latin Albums chart and its peak at #7 on the Billboard's 200
albums. It also gained the #1 spot on the Billboard
Latin Rhythm Radio Chart with the single "Angelito." Don Omar was also able to beat the in-store appearance sales record at Downtown Disney's Virgin music store previously set by pop star Britney Spears
, further demonstrating reggaeton's massive rise to popularity in the United States. 2007 also saw new records set demonstrating the immense popularity of reggaeton with Daddy Yankee's June release of El Cartel III: The Big Boss setting the new record for highest first week selling reggaeton album with 88,000 copies sold. It peaked at #1 on both the Top Latin Albums and Top Rap Albums charts being the first reggaeton album to peak at #1 on the rap charts. It also peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200 making it the second highest ranking reggaeton album on the mainstream chart. The third highest ranking reggaeton album came later that year in the form of Wisin & Yandel
's album Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres
debuting at #14 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top Latin Albums chart. In 2008 reggaeton further proved it's staying power with a new 3rd place highest ranking album debut with the release of Daddy Yankee soundtrack to his movie of the same name Talento de Barrio debuting at #13 on the Billboard 200 knocking Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres down a spot. It also peaked at #1 on the Top Latin Albums chart, #3 on Billboard's Top Soundtracks and #6 on the Top Rap Albums chart. 2009 saw the release of Wisin & Yandel's album La Revolucion
debuting at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it equal 1st as the highest charting reggaeton album along with King of Kings. It also debuted at #1 on the Top Latin Albums and #3 on the Top Rap Albums, demonstrating a crossover appeal for reggaeton in mainstream "English-speaking" markets.
itself was first discovered and produced by Jamaican Dancehall
DJs in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, the original idea of Dem Bow's percussion pattern cannot be traced to any individual producer, because the riddim
itself was partly influenced by mento
's one drop, but also by other West Indian music such as calypso
and soca
, which in turn gives the dembow a pan-Caribbean nature. Steely & Clevie
, creators of the Poco riddim are usually credited with the creation of the original dembow.
The Dem Bow riddim
was first highlighted in the song "Dem Bow" by Shabba Ranks
. Dem Bow's drum and percussion pattern is created through a drum machine
. The creation of the drum machine
in the late 1970s revolutionized dancehall
music, and many dancehall producers used these drum machines to create different dancehall riddim
s.
Dembow's role in reggaeton is to be the basic building block, and the skeletal sketch in percussion. The dembow used in reggaeton also incorporates other different riddims such as the Bam Bam Riddim, the Hot This Year Riddim, the Poco Man Jam Riddim, the Fever Pitch Riddim, the Red Alert Riddim, Trailer Reloaded Riddim, and the Big Up Riddim, ex.Rayvon - Could You Be Love ft.Shaggy.(The name of this Riddim is to not get confused with another Riddim by the same name). As a result, different samples are often used to create Dem Bow in reggaeton.
As reggaeton continues to evolve, so does the Dem Bow riddim, and many of the newer reggaeton hits incorporate a much lighter and electrified offspring of the riddim. Examples can be heard in songs such as "Permitame" and "Pa' Que la Pases Bien
".
. Like hip hop music, reggaeton songs have hooks that are repeated throughout the song.
Reggaeton started as a genre composed of mostly male artists, with a slowly increasing number of female artists debuting over the years. Notable female reggaeton artists include Ivy Queen
, Mey Vidal
, Adassa
, La Sista
and Glory
.
Latino ethnic identity has been a common theme in reggaeton, articulated musically, lyrically, and visually.
Usually, reggaeton CDs are not labeled "explicit
" like many hip hop CDs are. One exception is that Daddy Yankee
's Barrio Fino en Directo
(Barrio Fino Live) was labeled explicit for objectionable content in the live concerts (and for explicit language by Snoop Dogg
in the song "Gangsta Zone"), even though the regular studio version of Barrio Fino
was not labeled explicit. Some reggaeton artists, such as Alexis & Fido, are able to circumvent radio and television censorship by using sexual innuendo and lyrics with double meanings in their music.
Some songs have also raised concerns about women's depiction on their lyrics.
, Colombia, Dominican Republic
, Cuba
, and Venezuela
. Reggaeton has become staple music in many parties and events, complementing the common mix of merengue, salsa and electronic music, and has paved a huge fan base.
In some Latin American countries such as Cuba, where ideas and language are an integral part of the appreciation of music, there is an alleged critical backlash against the increasing popularity of reggaeton. This rift supposedly exists often among members of the Cuban Hip Hop community. According to British music lecturer Geoff Baker, many critics claim that the music's lyrics do not explore any subjects past "sex, dancing, and the singer himself, in various combinations." Baker also believes that because reggaeton has an allegiance to so many Caribbean and Latin American countries, it overshadows distinctly Cuban forms and variations of music, such as Cuban Hip Hop, even though Hip Hop is ultimately a North American musical genre.
began taking reggae songs and beats and singing over them with Spanish lyrics. They also sped up Reggae beats, and added Hispanic and Latino elements to them. The music continued to grow throughout the 1980s, with many stars developing in Panama. El General has been widely regarded as the "Godfather of Reggae en espanol" due to many of his great songs. El General stepped down in 2004 from the music industry, and since then has been working to help underprivileged Panamanian children.
In 2005, a reggaeton single 'Chacarron Macarron' was released by El Chombo
and reached #20 in the UK Singles Charts.
and turntablism, rapped over cassette tracks. Alongside this early hip hop influenced reggae-rap, evolved the Panamanian reggae style which eventually fused into reggaeton.
This new genre was simply called "underground". It contained very explicit lyrics about drugs, violence, poverty, homophobia, friendship, love, and sex. These common themes, which in many cases depict the troubles of an inner-city life, can still be found in reggaeton today. "Underground" music was recorded in "marquesinas" (or Puerto Rican open garages) and distributed in the streets via cassettes. These marquesinas were crucial to the development of Puerto Rico's underground scene due to the state's "fear of losing the ability to manipulate 'taste'". Marquesinas were often in "housing complexes such as Villa Kennedy and Jurutungo." Despite being recorded in the projects of Puerto Rico, the majority of the recordings made in marquesinas were of high quality, which helped in increasing their popularity to the Puerto Rican youths of not only the projects but those of the middle and upper class as well. The availability and quality of these cassettes led to the genre's popularity, crossing over socio-economic barriers in the Puerto Rican music scene. The most popular cassettes in the early 1990s were DJ Negro's The Noise I and II, and DJ Playero's #37 and #38.Gerardo Cruet Created these recordings spread out the genre from the marginalized residential areas into other sectors of society, particularly into private schools. By the mid '90s "underground" cassettes were being sold in commercial music stores. The genre caught up with the middle class youth and inevitably found its way to the media.
By this time Puerto Rico had a few clubs dedicated to the underground scene. Club Rappers in Carolina, and club PlayMakers in Puerto Nuevo were the most notable. Bobby "Digital" Dixon's dembow track was exploited in order to appeal in the context of the club. Underground music wasn't intended originally to be club music.
Underground rap music in Puerto Rico faced harsh criticism. In February 1995, there was a government-sponsored campaign against underground music and its cultural influences. Puerto Rican police launched six raids at records stores in San Juan, in which hundreds of cassettes were confiscated from record stores and fines were imposed (in accordance with Laws 112 and 117 against obscenity.) The Department of Education banned baggy clothing and underground rap music from the school systems. In the following months after the raids, local media demonized rappers, claiming they were "irresponsible corrupters of the public order."
By 1995 DJ Negro released The Noise 3 with a mock up label that read Non-Explicit Lyrics. The album contained no cursing until the last song. The album was a hit and underground music further crept into the mainstream. Senator Velda González of the Popular Democratic Party
and the media continued to view the movement as a social nuisance.
In the mid 1990s, the Puerto Rican Police and National Guard even went as far as to confiscate reggaeton tapes and CDs in an effort to get the "obscene" lyrics out of the hands of consumers. Schools also banned hip hop style clothing and music in an effort to quell the influence of reggaeton in the educational environment. In 2002, Senator Velda González led public hearings in an attempt to regulate the sexual "slackness" of reggaeton's lyrics and the perrero style of dance associated with the genre. While the effort did not seem to negatively effect the general public's opinion about reggaeton, it did reflect the unease of the government and upper social classes with what the music represented. Due to its often sexually charged content and because of its roots in poor, urban communities, many middle and upper class Puerto Ricans found reggaeton to be threatening, "immoral, as well as artistically deficient, a threat to the social order, apolitical, [and] misogynist."
Despite earlier controversy, reggaeton slowly began gaining acceptance as an important part of Puerto Rican culture, helped in part by politicians, including Velda González, who used reggaeton in election campaigns to appeal to younger voters, starting in Puerto Rico's 2003 elections. Currently, Puerto Rican mainstream acceptance of reggaeton has grown increasing more visible with reggaeton's appearance in popular culture, including a 2006 Pepsi
commercial featuring Daddy Yankee
. Other examples of a change in sentiment within the greater population of Puerto Rico can be seen in some religiously and educationally influenced lyrics. "Reggae School" for example is a rap album produced for the sole purpose of teaching math skills to children, reminiscent of School House Rock.
Despite Puerto Rico's struggling economy, reggaeton stars have been able to achieve success not only as global stars but as local entrepreneurs; this has been evidenced in industry labels such as DJ Nelson's Flow Music, Daddy Yankee's El Cartel Records, and Wisín and Yandel's WY Records. Through production models derived from U.S. hip hop artists and based in grassroots movements, reggaeton has been an artistic vehicle gaining worldwide popularity, a far cry from its previous reputation as an infamous underground product of urban youth.
's 2004 hit Oye Mi Canto
, which featured prominent reggaeton artists Tego Calderón
and Daddy Yankee
, reggaeton quickly gained popularity in the US. Soon after, Daddy Yankee caught the attention of many big names in hip hop with his song Gasolina
, propelling the style across the country.. Also in 2004, XM Radio launched a channel called Fuego (XM)
, which played exclusively reggaeton music. However, XM Radio removed the channel in December 2007 from home and car receivers, but can still be streamed off the XM Satellite Radio Website. The genre has also provided the foundation and basis for a modern Latin-American commercial radio phenomenon known as Hurban
, a combination of the terms Hispanic and Urban that is used to evoke the musical influences of hip hop and Latin American music. Reggaeton formed from hip hop and reggae, and has helped Latin-Americans contribute to the urban American culture while still keeping many aspects of their Hispanic heritage. The music relates to many of the socio-economic issues happening in America including gender and race which highly connects to hip hop in America today.
Underground clubs, youths in the inner-city ghettos, and huge hip hop moguls all participated in pushing the genre to the top of the charts.
. A Spanish concept called "La Canción del Verano" (The Summer Song), under which a particular song or two define the mood for the season and are regarded unofficially as such by Spanish media, served as the basis for the appearance popularity of reggaeton songs such as Panamanian rapper Lorna
's "Papi Chulo (Te Traigo el Mmm)" in 2003, "Baila Morena" by Hector y Tito
and Daddy Yankee
's Gasolina
in 2005. Puerto Rican and Panamanian reggaeton artists have toured Spain to give reggaeton concerts.
Music of Puerto Rico
The music of Puerto Rico has been influenced by the Spanish, African, Taíno Indians, France, and the United States, and has become very popular across the Caribbean and across the globe...
and Latin American urban and Caribbean music
Caribbean music
The music of the Caribbean is a diverse grouping of musical genres. They are each syntheses of African, European, Indian and native influences, largely created by descendants of African slaves...
. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español
Reggae en Español
Reggae en Español is reggae and dancehall music recorded in the Spanish language by artists of Latin American origin. It originated in the mid-1970s in Panama and 1980s in Puerto Rico, but today reggae en Español is well dominated by Puerto Rican reggae bands...
from Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and Jamaican Reggae. After the music's gradual exposure and commercial packaging in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, it eventually evolved into a new musical style known as reggaeton. Reggaeton blends Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n musical influences of dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
, with those of Latin America, such as salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
, latin rap
Latin rap
Latin rap is not a homogeneous musical style but rather a term that covers all Hip-Hop music recorded by artists of Latino origin.-Early Latinos in hip hop music:...
, and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
. However, reggaeton is also combined with rapping
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
or sing
Sing
Sing may refer to:* Singing, the act of producing musical sounds with the voice-Music:* SING! or Sing, annual student performance in New York City area high schoolsSongs:* "Sing" , a 1991 song from the album Leisure...
ing in Spanish. Reggae en español is also popular in Puerto Rico and is often mixed with reggaeton there. The influence of this genre has spread to the wider Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
communities in the United States, as well as the Latin American audience. While it takes influences from hip hop and Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n dancehall, reggaeton is not the Hispanic or Latino version of either of these genres; reggaeton has its own specific beat and rhythm, whereas Latino hip hop
Latin rap
Latin rap is not a homogeneous musical style but rather a term that covers all Hip-Hop music recorded by artists of Latino origin.-Early Latinos in hip hop music:...
is simply hip hop recorded by artists of Latino descent. The specific "riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
" that characterizes reggaeton is referred to as "Dem Bow". The name is a reference to the title of the dancehall song by Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks is a Jamaican dancehall musician.He was one of the most popular dancehall artists of his generation. He was also one of the first Jamaican deejays to gain worldwide acceptance, and recognition for his 'slack' lyrical expressions and content, when "ridin' di riddim"...
that first popularized the beat in the early 1990s. Reggaeton's origins represents a hybrid of many different musical genres and influences from various countries in the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States. The genre of reggaeton however is most closely associated with Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, as this is where the musical style was created and became most famous, and where the vast majority of its current stars originated.
Reggaeton lyrics tend to be derived more from hip hop than dancehall. Like hip hop, reggaeton has caused some controversy, albeit less, due to alleged exploitation of women, and to a lesser extent, explicit and violent lyrics. Further controversy surrounds perreo, a dance with explicit sexual overtones which is performed to reggaeton music. Perreo was the subject of a national controversy in Puerto Rico as reggaeton music and the predominantly lower class culture it derived from, became more popular and widely available.
History
Reggaeton itself was originated in Puerto Rico but also has roots from Spanish reggae in PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and jamaican reggae.reggae artist El General and Nando Boom were some of the first from panana.The music eventually made its way toPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
where it became reggaeton. Reggaeton started as an adaptation of Jamaican reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
to the Spanish language and overall culture in Panama and Puerto Rico.
Since the early 20th century when Jamaican laborers were used to help build the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
. Afro-Panamanians had been performing and recording Spanish-language reggae since the 1970s. Artists such as El General
El General
El General is a Panamanian Reggae artist considered by some to be one of the Fathers of Reggaeton. During the early 1990s, he initiated the Spanish spoken dancehall that would later become reggaeton...
, Chichoman, Nando Boom
Nando Boom
Nando Boom is a Reggaeton and Reggae en Español group from Panamá led by Fernando Brown.Brown began singing in 1977, and Nando Boom started in 1985...
, Renato
Renato
-People:* Renato, a given name derived from the Latin name Renatus .* San Renato, a saint of the Catholic Church.* Renato Vallanzasca, notorious Milanese mobster during the 1970s....
, and Black Apache are considered the first Spanish reggae DJ
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
s from Panama. El General is often considered the father of reggae en español, blending Jamaican reggae into a Latinised version. It was common practice to translate the lyrics of Jamaican reggae song into Spanish and sing them over the original melodies, a form termed "Spanish reggae" or "Reggae en español". Meanwhile, during the 1980s the Puerto Rican rapper and reggaeton artist Vico C released Spanish-language hip hop and reggaeton records in his native island. His production of cassettes throughout the 1980s, mixing reggae and hip hop, also helped spread the early reggaeton sound, and he is widely credited with this achievement. The widespread movement of "Spanish reggae" in the Latin-American communities of the Caribbean and the urban centres of the United States help increase its popularity.
Meanwhile hip hop and reggae in Puerto Rico were on the rise due to the increased popularity of Jamaican ragga
Ragga
-Origins:Ragga originated in Jamaica during the 1980s, at the same time that electronic dance music's popularity was increasing globally. One of the reasons for ragga's swift propagation is that it is generally easier and less expensive to produce than reggae performed on traditional musical...
imports. Towards the middle of the decade, Puerto Ricans were producing their own "riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
s" with clear influences from hip hop and other styles. These are considered the first proper reggaeton tracks, initially called "under", a short form of "Underground." As Caribbean and African-American music gained this momentum in Puerto Rico, Reggae Rap in Spanish marked the beginning of Boricua underground rap and served as an expression for millions of young people. This created an entire invisible, yet prominent underground youth culture that sought to express themselves through Reggae Rap in Spanish. As a youth culture that exists on the fringes of society and criminal illegality, it has often been publicly criticized. The Puerto Rican police launched a raid against underground rap by confiscating cassette tapes from music stores under Penal codes of obscenity, issuing fines, and the demoralization of rappers through radio, television, and newspaper media.
The term "underground", coming out of hip hop discourse, associates underground artists as asserting a self-identification that rejects the commercialization of music. In San Juan "underground", however, it was not just about authenticity or ideology, but was literally about position in the market. "Underground" music was circulated via informal networks, copied from cassette to cassette, until the mid 1990s.
DJ Playero
DJ Playero
DJ Playero is a Puerto Rican producer of reggaeton artists and albums. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of the genre on the island. In the early 90s, most of his underground productions were distributed and sold in housing projects and among fans...
was one of the most famous producers of "Underground" at the time, releasing several underground cassettes that featured early performances of some soon-to-be-famous artists like Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez , known artistically as Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican Reggaeton recording artist. Ayala was born in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, where he became interested in music at a young age. In his youth he was interested in baseball,...
.
The basis for reggaeton was laid in Puerto Rico at this time, with the melding of Spanish reggae, with influences from fast dancehalls, hip hop and various other Latin American musical genres.
The genre morphed through the years, at various points being termed "Melaza", "música underground", and "Dem Bow." This last name originated from reggaeton's distinguishing rhythmic feature: the Dem Bow (alternately spelled "Dembow") beat, relying heavily on the snare drum
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
, which is used in nearly all reggaeton songs today. This beat, or riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
, was produced under the direction of Jamaican record producer Bobby "Digital" Dixon and performed by Steely & Clevie
Steely & Clevie
Steely & Clevie, aka Wycliffe Johnson and Cleveland Browne, was a Jamaican dancehall reggae production duo. It worked with artists such as the Specials, Gregory Peck , Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and No Doubt....
. It first became popular in the song "Dem Bow" (They Bow) performed by Jamaican dancehall artist Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks is a Jamaican dancehall musician.He was one of the most popular dancehall artists of his generation. He was also one of the first Jamaican deejays to gain worldwide acceptance, and recognition for his 'slack' lyrical expressions and content, when "ridin' di riddim"...
in 1991. The song and beat achieved greater popularity among Spanish-speaking Latin Americans when Panamanian artist El General
El General
El General is a Panamanian Reggae artist considered by some to be one of the Fathers of Reggaeton. During the early 1990s, he initiated the Spanish spoken dancehall that would later become reggaeton...
released the song "Son Bow" in 1991, a Spanish language cover of "Dem Bow" using the same musical track. It should be pointed out that neither Shabba or El General sang reggaeton as neither the genre nor its title were as yet formed. Additionally "Dem Bow" was just a single song in Shabba's catalog, with Ranks not singing another significant song using the "Dem Bow" beat. However the influence of the original Bobby Digital beat is undeniable, and modern reggaeton often still reflects the original instrumentation, as well as the original rhythmic structure.
Rise to popularity
Reggaeton expanded and became known when other producers followed the steps of DJ PlayeroDJ Playero
DJ Playero is a Puerto Rican producer of reggaeton artists and albums. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of the genre on the island. In the early 90s, most of his underground productions were distributed and sold in housing projects and among fans...
, like DJ Nelson
DJ Nelson
Nelson Díaz Martinez , known artistically as DJ Nelson is a DJ/producer who played a significant role in the development and popularization of reggaeton. He first made a name for himself as part of the Noise, a club-centered collective that was spawned in 1992...
and DJ Eric. In the early '90s albums like DJ Playero
DJ Playero
DJ Playero is a Puerto Rican producer of reggaeton artists and albums. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of the genre on the island. In the early 90s, most of his underground productions were distributed and sold in housing projects and among fans...
's Playero 37 (in which Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez , known artistically as Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican Reggaeton recording artist. Ayala was born in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, where he became interested in music at a young age. In his youth he was interested in baseball,...
became known) and The Noise: Underground, The Noise 5 and The Noise 6 were very popular in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. Singers like Don Chezina
Don Chezina
Don Chezina is a singer, producer, and talent scout of reggaeton music. He is known for his high, nasal voice and fast rapping style , along with his most famous song "Tra Tra Tra", which in 1998 became one of the first reggaeton songs to become popular in the US...
, Tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
, Master Joe & O.G. Black
Master Joe & O.G. Black
Master Joe and O.G. Black was a Dominican–Puerto Rican reggaeton duo. They have released various albums and spawned moderate hits in Puerto Rico. They were part of DJ Joe's Escuadron Del Panico along with Hakeem & Jenay, Ranking Stone, Genio, Guayo Man, Doble Impact, Trebol Clan, and DJ Joe...
, Baby Rasta & Gringo, and Lito & Polaco
Lito & Polaco
Rafael Sierra ' and Rafael Omar Polaco Molina ' comprise a duo hip hop group from Carolina, Puerto Rico.-Musical career:...
among others were very popular.
The name reggaeton only gained prominence in the mid-2001 (from the 2001 to 2002 period), with the Dem Bow beat characterizing the genre; this is in contrast to the more reggae, dancehall and hip hop-derived tracks previously created. The name was created in Puerto Rico to signify the unique fusion of Puerto Rican sounds and distinguish it from the previous Spanish reggae, created from the years of mixing the different genres. Today, the music flourishes throughout Latin America. In Puerto Rico reggae en español is also dominated very well and often fusilier together with their reggaeton.
Reggaeton soon increased in popularity with Latino youth in the United States when DJ Blass worked with artists such as Plan B
Plan B (duo)
Plan B is a Puerto Rican Reggaeton duo, consisting of Chencho , born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico and Maldy , born in Guayama, Puerto Rico...
and Speedy in albums such as Reggaeton Sex.
2004: the cross-over year
2004 was the year that reggaeton gained widespread popularity in the United States and non-Hispanic Europe. Tego CalderónTego Calderón
Tegui Calderón Rosario is a Puerto Rican rapper and actor.-Early life:Calderón was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, the son of Pilar Rosario Parrilla, a schoolteacher, and Esteban Calderón Ilarraza, a government worker for Puerto Rico's Department of Health. Moving at a young age from his native...
was already getting some airplay in the U.S. and it was very popular in the youth market. Daddy Yankee's "El Cangri.com" became popular that year in the U.S., as did Hector Y Tito. Luny Tunes y Noriega's Mas Flow was well received and Kilates, La Mision, Yaga y Mackie with Sonando Differente, Tego Calderón El Abayarde, Los Homerunes De Yankee, Desafio, Motivando a La Yal By Zion y Lennox, La Conspiracion, and others were popular as well. Then in 2004 rapper N.O.R.E released his hit single "Oye Mi Canto
Oye Mi Canto
"Oye Mi Canto" is a Reggaeton single by N.O.R.E.. The song was originally released in 2004 as the lead single from the album 1 Fan a Day, which is heretofore unreleased. It is his second biggest hit, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was later included on the 2006 album N.O.R.E. y la...
" which seemingly broke cultural and language barriers, which featured the likes of Nina Sky
Nina Sky
Nina Sky is an American musical duo composed of identical twins Nicole and Natalie Albino .-Early life and career:Albino's parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico and were divorced when the girls were younger...
& Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez , known artistically as Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican Reggaeton recording artist. Ayala was born in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, where he became interested in music at a young age. In his youth he was interested in baseball,...
. Soon after Daddy Yankee came out with his album Barrio Fino
Barrio Fino
Barrio Fino is the third studio album and first commercially released album by Puerto Rican rapper performer Daddy Yankee, released on 13 July 2004, by Machete Music and El Cartel Records....
and his hit single "Gasolina
Gasolina
"Gasolina" , is a reggaetón song written by Daddy Yankee and Eddie Dee for Daddy Yankee's 2004 album Barrio Fino. It features Glory, who sings the line "dame más gasolina"...
" which spread around the world becoming a mega-hit and with it introducing reggaeton to the rest of the world. Tego Calderón also increased the reggaeton genre with singles like "Pa Que Retozen" and "Guasa Guasa". Another important artist who contributed to reggaeton's increasing popularity, especially in Europe, is Don Omar
Don Omar
Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey (born William Omar Landrón Rivera; February 10, 1978, is a Puerto Rican Reggaetón singer and actor.-Early life:...
, with singles like "Pobre Diabla" and "Dale Don Dale." Other very popular reggaeton artists include J Balvin
J Balvin
Jose Alvaro Osorio Balvin known artistically as J Balvin, is a Colombianreggaeton recording artist. Balvin was born in Medellín, the largest district of Antioquia, where he became interested in music at a young age.-Nuestra Tierra winnners:...
, Alexis & Fido, Angel & Khriz
Angel & Khriz
Angel & Khriz is a well known Puerto Rican reggaeton duo, consisting of Angel Rivera Guzmán,31 and Christian Colón,30.Also known as "The Mvps of Reggaeton" "Los Jugadores Estrella" and now "Los Internacionales" They worked largely with Luny Tunes,and were introduced in 2002 in the CD MVP, by Hector...
, Nina Sky
Nina Sky
Nina Sky is an American musical duo composed of identical twins Nicole and Natalie Albino .-Early life and career:Albino's parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico and were divorced when the girls were younger...
, Nicky Jam
Nicky Jam
Nick Rivera Caminero is known artistically as Nicky Jam is a Puerto Rican singer. He was born to a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father...
, Zion
Zion
Zion is a place name often used as a synonym for Jerusalem. The word is first found in Samuel II, 5:7 dating to c.630-540 BCE...
, RKM & Ken-Y, Voltio
Voltio
Julio Voltio is one of the reggaetón genre's best-known artists.His nickname came to be as the result of an accident. Before joining Karel, he worked as an electrician. One day, he stuck his hand in the wrong place and got shocked...
, Calle 13
Calle 13 (band)
Calle 13 is a band formed by stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar , who calls himself Residente and Eduardo José Cabra Martínez , who calls himself Visitante Calle 13 is a band formed by stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar (born February 23, 1978 in Hato Rey, a subsection of San Juan, Puerto Rico), who calls...
, Héctor "El Father", Ivy Queen
Ivy Queen
Ivy Queen is a Puerto Rican Latin Grammy nominated reggaeton composer and singer. She is most commonly known as "La Reina del Reggaeton" . She is also known as the Queen of Rivalries.-Early years:...
, Wisin & Yandel
Wisin & Yandel
Wisin & Yandel are a Puerto Rican reggaeton Duo, consisting of Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malavé Salazar . They started their career in 1998 and have been together since, winning several awards during that time....
, and Tito "El Bambino". In late 2004 and early 2005, Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
recorded "La Tortura" and "La Tortura - Shaketon Remix" in her album Fijación Oral vol.1 (Oral Fixation vol.1) popularizing reggaeton in North America, Europe and Asia.
2006-present: topping the charts
In May 2006 Don Omar's album, King of KingsKing of Kings
King of Kings is a title that has been used by several monarchies and empires throughout history. The title originates in the Ancient Near East. It is broadly the equivalent of the later title Emperor....
, became history's highest ranking reggaeton LP in the top 10 US charts, with its debut at #1 on the Top Latin Albums chart and its peak at #7 on the Billboard's 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
albums. It also gained the #1 spot on the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
Latin Rhythm Radio Chart with the single "Angelito." Don Omar was also able to beat the in-store appearance sales record at Downtown Disney's Virgin music store previously set by pop star Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, further demonstrating reggaeton's massive rise to popularity in the United States. 2007 also saw new records set demonstrating the immense popularity of reggaeton with Daddy Yankee's June release of El Cartel III: The Big Boss setting the new record for highest first week selling reggaeton album with 88,000 copies sold. It peaked at #1 on both the Top Latin Albums and Top Rap Albums charts being the first reggaeton album to peak at #1 on the rap charts. It also peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200 making it the second highest ranking reggaeton album on the mainstream chart. The third highest ranking reggaeton album came later that year in the form of Wisin & Yandel
Wisin & Yandel
Wisin & Yandel are a Puerto Rican reggaeton Duo, consisting of Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malavé Salazar . They started their career in 1998 and have been together since, winning several awards during that time....
's album Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres
Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres
Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres is the sixth studio album by Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel, released on November 6, 2007 by Machete Music. On November 13, 2008, the album received the Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Music Album...
debuting at #14 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top Latin Albums chart. In 2008 reggaeton further proved it's staying power with a new 3rd place highest ranking album debut with the release of Daddy Yankee soundtrack to his movie of the same name Talento de Barrio debuting at #13 on the Billboard 200 knocking Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres down a spot. It also peaked at #1 on the Top Latin Albums chart, #3 on Billboard's Top Soundtracks and #6 on the Top Rap Albums chart. 2009 saw the release of Wisin & Yandel's album La Revolucion
La Revolución
La Revolución is the seventh studio album, and ninth overall, album by Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel. It was released on May 26, 2009 by Machete Music and WY Records. The album features collaborations with rapper 50 Cent, Ivy Queen, Yaviah, Ednita Nazario and Yomo...
debuting at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it equal 1st as the highest charting reggaeton album along with King of Kings. It also debuted at #1 on the Top Latin Albums and #3 on the Top Rap Albums, demonstrating a crossover appeal for reggaeton in mainstream "English-speaking" markets.
Dem Bow
The Dem Bow riddimRiddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
itself was first discovered and produced by Jamaican Dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
DJs in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, the original idea of Dem Bow's percussion pattern cannot be traced to any individual producer, because the riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
itself was partly influenced by mento
Mento
Mento is a style of Jamaican folk music that predates and has greatly influenced ska and reggae music. It has its roots in calypso and other Jamaican folk music. Mento typically features acoustic instruments, such as acoustic guitar, banjo, hand drums, and the rhumba box — a large mbira in the...
's one drop, but also by other West Indian music such as calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
and soca
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
, which in turn gives the dembow a pan-Caribbean nature. Steely & Clevie
Steely & Clevie
Steely & Clevie, aka Wycliffe Johnson and Cleveland Browne, was a Jamaican dancehall reggae production duo. It worked with artists such as the Specials, Gregory Peck , Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and No Doubt....
, creators of the Poco riddim are usually credited with the creation of the original dembow.
The Dem Bow riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
was first highlighted in the song "Dem Bow" by Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks is a Jamaican dancehall musician.He was one of the most popular dancehall artists of his generation. He was also one of the first Jamaican deejays to gain worldwide acceptance, and recognition for his 'slack' lyrical expressions and content, when "ridin' di riddim"...
. Dem Bow's drum and percussion pattern is created through a drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
. The creation of the drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
in the late 1970s revolutionized dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
music, and many dancehall producers used these drum machines to create different dancehall riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
s.
Dembow's role in reggaeton is to be the basic building block, and the skeletal sketch in percussion. The dembow used in reggaeton also incorporates other different riddims such as the Bam Bam Riddim, the Hot This Year Riddim, the Poco Man Jam Riddim, the Fever Pitch Riddim, the Red Alert Riddim, Trailer Reloaded Riddim, and the Big Up Riddim, ex.Rayvon - Could You Be Love ft.Shaggy.(The name of this Riddim is to not get confused with another Riddim by the same name). As a result, different samples are often used to create Dem Bow in reggaeton.
As reggaeton continues to evolve, so does the Dem Bow riddim, and many of the newer reggaeton hits incorporate a much lighter and electrified offspring of the riddim. Examples can be heard in songs such as "Permitame" and "Pa' Que la Pases Bien
Pa' Que la Pases Bien
"Pa' Que la Pases Bien" is a single by American reggaeton artist Arcángel from his first studio album La Maravilla, released in February 2008....
".
Lyrics and themes
Reggaeton lyrical structure resembles hip hop lyrics. Like hip hop, most reggaeton artists recite their lyrics rap-fashion rather than sing it melodically. Unlike hip hop music, however, a significant percent of reggaeton artists are also singers, may blend rapping and singing, and may also have a "street" image, similar to AkonAkon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
. Like hip hop music, reggaeton songs have hooks that are repeated throughout the song.
Reggaeton started as a genre composed of mostly male artists, with a slowly increasing number of female artists debuting over the years. Notable female reggaeton artists include Ivy Queen
Ivy Queen
Ivy Queen is a Puerto Rican Latin Grammy nominated reggaeton composer and singer. She is most commonly known as "La Reina del Reggaeton" . She is also known as the Queen of Rivalries.-Early years:...
, Mey Vidal
Mey Vidal
Mey Vidal , in the city of Palma Soriano in the province of Santiago de Cuba. She is a Cuban Reggae en Español, Dance hall, and Reggaeton singer and composer. She was one of the first to represent the female genre in the Reggaeton movement.-External links:*...
, Adassa
Adassa
Adassa is an American reggaetón singer-songwriter also known as the "Reggaetón Princess".-Early life:Adassa was born in Miami, Florida but raised in St...
, La Sista
La Sista
La Sista is one of few female reggeaton artists.From Loíza, Puerto Rico, several members of her family are also musicians...
and Glory
Glory (singer)
Glory , also known as "La Gata Gangster", is a reggaeton singer.-Glory:Glory has one of reggaeton's most recognized female voices...
.
Latino ethnic identity has been a common theme in reggaeton, articulated musically, lyrically, and visually.
Usually, reggaeton CDs are not labeled "explicit
Parental Advisory
Parental Advisory is a message affixed by the Recording Industry Association of America to audio and recordings in the United States containing excessive use of profane language and/or sexual references. Albums began to be labeled for "explicit lyrics" in 1985, after pressure from the Parents...
" like many hip hop CDs are. One exception is that Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez , known artistically as Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican Reggaeton recording artist. Ayala was born in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, where he became interested in music at a young age. In his youth he was interested in baseball,...
's Barrio Fino en Directo
Barrio Fino en Directo
Barrio Fino en Directo is the second live album by Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Daddy Yankee, released on December 13, 2005, by El Cartel Records. The album is a live collection of songs from Daddy Yankee's previous album Barrio Fino...
(Barrio Fino Live) was labeled explicit for objectionable content in the live concerts (and for explicit language by Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
in the song "Gangsta Zone"), even though the regular studio version of Barrio Fino
Barrio Fino
Barrio Fino is the third studio album and first commercially released album by Puerto Rican rapper performer Daddy Yankee, released on 13 July 2004, by Machete Music and El Cartel Records....
was not labeled explicit. Some reggaeton artists, such as Alexis & Fido, are able to circumvent radio and television censorship by using sexual innuendo and lyrics with double meanings in their music.
Some songs have also raised concerns about women's depiction on their lyrics.
Latin America
Reggaeton is very popular in Latin American countries such as, PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, Colombia, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Reggaeton has become staple music in many parties and events, complementing the common mix of merengue, salsa and electronic music, and has paved a huge fan base.
In some Latin American countries such as Cuba, where ideas and language are an integral part of the appreciation of music, there is an alleged critical backlash against the increasing popularity of reggaeton. This rift supposedly exists often among members of the Cuban Hip Hop community. According to British music lecturer Geoff Baker, many critics claim that the music's lyrics do not explore any subjects past "sex, dancing, and the singer himself, in various combinations." Baker also believes that because reggaeton has an allegiance to so many Caribbean and Latin American countries, it overshadows distinctly Cuban forms and variations of music, such as Cuban Hip Hop, even though Hip Hop is ultimately a North American musical genre.
Panama
Spanish Reggae developed as a result of Jamaican immigration to Panama as a result of the Panama Canal. Eventually, many of these Jamaicans had intentions to go back to Jamaica, but many of them ended up staying, and eventually assimilated and became part of the culture. Meanwhile, in the 1970s, Panamanians like El GeneralEl General
El General is a Panamanian Reggae artist considered by some to be one of the Fathers of Reggaeton. During the early 1990s, he initiated the Spanish spoken dancehall that would later become reggaeton...
began taking reggae songs and beats and singing over them with Spanish lyrics. They also sped up Reggae beats, and added Hispanic and Latino elements to them. The music continued to grow throughout the 1980s, with many stars developing in Panama. El General has been widely regarded as the "Godfather of Reggae en espanol" due to many of his great songs. El General stepped down in 2004 from the music industry, and since then has been working to help underprivileged Panamanian children.
In 2005, a reggaeton single 'Chacarron Macarron' was released by El Chombo
El Chombo
El Chombo, real name Rodney 'Dirty Sanchez' Clark is an American-born Panamanian producer and artist, known for his song "Chacarron Macarron"...
and reached #20 in the UK Singles Charts.
Puerto Rico
Reggaeton derives from the bomba y plena, Afrocaribbean taino and Latin music from Puerto Rico with many rhythms related to dancehall, soca and salsa: the post-salsa music youth generation of the '90s in Puerto Rico. Before reggaeton exploded in the mid-nineties, young street artists, heavily influenced by East Coast hip hopEast Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City, USA during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the East Coast...
and turntablism, rapped over cassette tracks. Alongside this early hip hop influenced reggae-rap, evolved the Panamanian reggae style which eventually fused into reggaeton.
This new genre was simply called "underground". It contained very explicit lyrics about drugs, violence, poverty, homophobia, friendship, love, and sex. These common themes, which in many cases depict the troubles of an inner-city life, can still be found in reggaeton today. "Underground" music was recorded in "marquesinas" (or Puerto Rican open garages) and distributed in the streets via cassettes. These marquesinas were crucial to the development of Puerto Rico's underground scene due to the state's "fear of losing the ability to manipulate 'taste'". Marquesinas were often in "housing complexes such as Villa Kennedy and Jurutungo." Despite being recorded in the projects of Puerto Rico, the majority of the recordings made in marquesinas were of high quality, which helped in increasing their popularity to the Puerto Rican youths of not only the projects but those of the middle and upper class as well. The availability and quality of these cassettes led to the genre's popularity, crossing over socio-economic barriers in the Puerto Rican music scene. The most popular cassettes in the early 1990s were DJ Negro's The Noise I and II, and DJ Playero's #37 and #38.Gerardo Cruet Created these recordings spread out the genre from the marginalized residential areas into other sectors of society, particularly into private schools. By the mid '90s "underground" cassettes were being sold in commercial music stores. The genre caught up with the middle class youth and inevitably found its way to the media.
By this time Puerto Rico had a few clubs dedicated to the underground scene. Club Rappers in Carolina, and club PlayMakers in Puerto Nuevo were the most notable. Bobby "Digital" Dixon's dembow track was exploited in order to appeal in the context of the club. Underground music wasn't intended originally to be club music.
Underground rap music in Puerto Rico faced harsh criticism. In February 1995, there was a government-sponsored campaign against underground music and its cultural influences. Puerto Rican police launched six raids at records stores in San Juan, in which hundreds of cassettes were confiscated from record stores and fines were imposed (in accordance with Laws 112 and 117 against obscenity.) The Department of Education banned baggy clothing and underground rap music from the school systems. In the following months after the raids, local media demonized rappers, claiming they were "irresponsible corrupters of the public order."
By 1995 DJ Negro released The Noise 3 with a mock up label that read Non-Explicit Lyrics. The album contained no cursing until the last song. The album was a hit and underground music further crept into the mainstream. Senator Velda González of the Popular Democratic Party
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
and the media continued to view the movement as a social nuisance.
In the mid 1990s, the Puerto Rican Police and National Guard even went as far as to confiscate reggaeton tapes and CDs in an effort to get the "obscene" lyrics out of the hands of consumers. Schools also banned hip hop style clothing and music in an effort to quell the influence of reggaeton in the educational environment. In 2002, Senator Velda González led public hearings in an attempt to regulate the sexual "slackness" of reggaeton's lyrics and the perrero style of dance associated with the genre. While the effort did not seem to negatively effect the general public's opinion about reggaeton, it did reflect the unease of the government and upper social classes with what the music represented. Due to its often sexually charged content and because of its roots in poor, urban communities, many middle and upper class Puerto Ricans found reggaeton to be threatening, "immoral, as well as artistically deficient, a threat to the social order, apolitical, [and] misogynist."
Despite earlier controversy, reggaeton slowly began gaining acceptance as an important part of Puerto Rican culture, helped in part by politicians, including Velda González, who used reggaeton in election campaigns to appeal to younger voters, starting in Puerto Rico's 2003 elections. Currently, Puerto Rican mainstream acceptance of reggaeton has grown increasing more visible with reggaeton's appearance in popular culture, including a 2006 Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
commercial featuring Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez , known artistically as Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican Reggaeton recording artist. Ayala was born in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, where he became interested in music at a young age. In his youth he was interested in baseball,...
. Other examples of a change in sentiment within the greater population of Puerto Rico can be seen in some religiously and educationally influenced lyrics. "Reggae School" for example is a rap album produced for the sole purpose of teaching math skills to children, reminiscent of School House Rock.
Despite Puerto Rico's struggling economy, reggaeton stars have been able to achieve success not only as global stars but as local entrepreneurs; this has been evidenced in industry labels such as DJ Nelson's Flow Music, Daddy Yankee's El Cartel Records, and Wisín and Yandel's WY Records. Through production models derived from U.S. hip hop artists and based in grassroots movements, reggaeton has been an artistic vehicle gaining worldwide popularity, a far cry from its previous reputation as an infamous underground product of urban youth.
United States
With the help of N.O.R.E, a New York-based rapper, and his producing of Nina SkyNina Sky
Nina Sky is an American musical duo composed of identical twins Nicole and Natalie Albino .-Early life and career:Albino's parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico and were divorced when the girls were younger...
's 2004 hit Oye Mi Canto
Oye Mi Canto
"Oye Mi Canto" is a Reggaeton single by N.O.R.E.. The song was originally released in 2004 as the lead single from the album 1 Fan a Day, which is heretofore unreleased. It is his second biggest hit, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was later included on the 2006 album N.O.R.E. y la...
, which featured prominent reggaeton artists Tego Calderón
Tego Calderón
Tegui Calderón Rosario is a Puerto Rican rapper and actor.-Early life:Calderón was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, the son of Pilar Rosario Parrilla, a schoolteacher, and Esteban Calderón Ilarraza, a government worker for Puerto Rico's Department of Health. Moving at a young age from his native...
and Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez , known artistically as Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican Reggaeton recording artist. Ayala was born in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, where he became interested in music at a young age. In his youth he was interested in baseball,...
, reggaeton quickly gained popularity in the US. Soon after, Daddy Yankee caught the attention of many big names in hip hop with his song Gasolina
Gasolina
"Gasolina" , is a reggaetón song written by Daddy Yankee and Eddie Dee for Daddy Yankee's 2004 album Barrio Fino. It features Glory, who sings the line "dame más gasolina"...
, propelling the style across the country.. Also in 2004, XM Radio launched a channel called Fuego (XM)
Fuego (XM)
Fuego was a channel on the XM Satellite Radio network that specializes in playing Reggaeton and Hispanic Rhythmic. It was available on channel 90 on XM Radio Online and channel 870 on DirecTV....
, which played exclusively reggaeton music. However, XM Radio removed the channel in December 2007 from home and car receivers, but can still be streamed off the XM Satellite Radio Website. The genre has also provided the foundation and basis for a modern Latin-American commercial radio phenomenon known as Hurban
Hurban
Hurban is a relatively new radio programming format from radio chain giant Clear Channel Communications and Senior VP Alfredo Alonso. Hurban radio stations target young Hispanics in the United States, primarily consisting of reggaeton, hip-hop, and dance music...
, a combination of the terms Hispanic and Urban that is used to evoke the musical influences of hip hop and Latin American music. Reggaeton formed from hip hop and reggae, and has helped Latin-Americans contribute to the urban American culture while still keeping many aspects of their Hispanic heritage. The music relates to many of the socio-economic issues happening in America including gender and race which highly connects to hip hop in America today.
Underground clubs, youths in the inner-city ghettos, and huge hip hop moguls all participated in pushing the genre to the top of the charts.
Europe
Reggaeton has not become as popular in Europe as in Latin America. However, It has a great appeal to Latin American immigrants, especially in Spain and ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. A Spanish concept called "La Canción del Verano" (The Summer Song), under which a particular song or two define the mood for the season and are regarded unofficially as such by Spanish media, served as the basis for the appearance popularity of reggaeton songs such as Panamanian rapper Lorna
Lorna (rapper)
Lorna Zarina Aponte , better known simply as Lorna, is a female rapper and reggaeton artist best known for her song "Papi chulo... "...
's "Papi Chulo (Te Traigo el Mmm)" in 2003, "Baila Morena" by Hector y Tito
Héctor y Tito
Héctor y Tito were a Puerto Rican reggaeton duo famous for their song "Ay Amor", featuring salsa singer Víctor Manuelle, which was the group's only charted song in the US...
and Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez , known artistically as Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican Reggaeton recording artist. Ayala was born in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, where he became interested in music at a young age. In his youth he was interested in baseball,...
's Gasolina
Gasolina
"Gasolina" , is a reggaetón song written by Daddy Yankee and Eddie Dee for Daddy Yankee's 2004 album Barrio Fino. It features Glory, who sings the line "dame más gasolina"...
in 2005. Puerto Rican and Panamanian reggaeton artists have toured Spain to give reggaeton concerts.