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What
is Reggaeton?
Reggaeton
is a up and coming genre of music that has become very popular
in Puerto Rico over the last decade. The name came from the
reggae music of Jamaica, which give the Reggaeton dance beat.
Reggaeton was brought up by other genres in Puerto Rico and
by urban hip-hop music from the United States. Reggaeton appeared
primarily to kids or teens. Reggaeton has become popular in
other Caribbean Islands and other countries including Dominican
Republic, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Nicaragua.
History:
The first reggae
recordings from Latin America were made in Panama in the mid-1970s.
While building the Panama Canal a large number of immigrants
from Jamaica brought with them the sound of reggae music.
In 1985, a rapper called Vico C. from Puerto Rico made the
first Spanish hip-hop record. Reggae became popular in Panama
in the early nineties, about the same time Jamaican reggae
was brought to Puerto Rico.
Towards the middle of the decade
Puerto Ricans started making their own music. The music was
clear hip-hop influences and the recording was the first proper
Reggaeton tracks. Panama also created a scene and infused
it with Puerto Rican music a couple of years later.
Similar features:
The reggaeton music today
is similar to Jamaican reggae. They both have the same rhythm
and many of the vocals are alike. Many of the riddims used
in reggaeton are taken from Jamaican producers with little
changes. Reggaeton’s most popular is a driving drum-machine
track from Puerto Rico genres Bomba and Plena.
The
lyrics, like most popular music’s are often about reality
on the streets, misunderstandings, unfair situations, love,
cheating and passion.
Reggaeton today:
Reggaeton has grown in size over the past years. It’s
starting to reach international standards. Reggaeton’s
biggest international hit up to date is “Papi Chulo
(Te Traigo El Mmm…)” by Lorna from Panama. Swedish
produced “ Chupa Chupa” by Cuban El Medico del
rap and the radio version remix of Dominican Bachata boy band
Aventura’s “Obsesion” are other hit tracks
influenced by the reggaeton style.
WELL KNOWN ARTISTS:
Daddy Yankee
Tego Calderon
Don Omar
Hector y Tito
Zion y Lennox
Ivy Queen
La Factoria
Baby Rasta y Gringo
Nicky Jam
Trebol Clan
DJ Blass
BIP
El Chombo
Lorna
Don Chezina
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