Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a Spanish-laguage genre of Dancehall with distinct Hip hop influences, originating in Central America and the Caribbean.
History
The first Reggae recordings in Latin 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.
However, Panama has always held its own production-wise and its own blooming Reggaeton scene was created when the local reggae scene was infused with 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 music is, even today, very similar to Jamaican Ragga. The same basic rhythm is employed and many of the vocals tends to be in the Ragga style, although Hip hop-styled vocals are also common. Many riddims used in Reggaeton are also directly taken from Jamaican producers, with relatively minor changes (see below).
The genre's most notably unique feature is a driving drum-machine track derived from Puerto Rican genres Bomba and Plena. This is integrated into the riddim used, whether Jamaican or locally produced. However, despite the genre's relatively high level of derivativeness it is often very creatively done, with some excellent producers and performers incorporating their own personal musical backgrounds into the crafting of songs.
The lyrics, like most working-class popular musics', are often about the reality on the streets, misunderstandings, unfair situations, love, cheating and passion.
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.
Well-known artists
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