Reggaeton

The lyrics tend toward topics such as the realities of street life, personal misunderstandings, gangs, love, and dancing.

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. Nando Boom is often seen as one of the first raggamuffin dee jays from Panama. Without Panamanian ragga dee jays like El General, there would be no reggaeton. Some even argue that reggaeton itself started in Panama, and that Puerto Rican artists mereley added influences from house music and hip hop. Those, however, are defining elements of the reggaeton sound.

In 1985, rapper Vico C from Puerto Rico produced one of the first Spanish-language hip hop record in Puerto Rico. 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 popular in Puerto Rico. It was common practice to translate an original Jamaican reggae song (same melody and rhythm, but with translated lyrics). Towards the middle of the decade Puerto Ricans were producing their own "riddims" with clear influences from hip hop and other styles. Those must be considered the first proper reggaeton tracks, initially called "under", a short form of "Underground".

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

Distinguishing Features

The genre's most notably unique feature is a driving drum-machine track derived from early Jamaican Dancehall rhythms and heavily influenced by other forms of electronic dance music, such as techno, house and genres such as the merengue hip hop (also called merenhouse) of groups such as Proyecto Uno and Zona 7. Despite the genre's derivativeness, reggaeton is quite unique as a genre, both as a form of Latin music and as a form of dancehall reggae and electronic dance music.

The lyrics, like most working-class popular music, are often about the reality on the streets, misunderstandings, unfair situations, love, cheating and passion. Although sexism and violence can also be heard in reggaeton lyrics, the focus is on less controversial topics such as dancing. Furthermore, 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.

Reggaeton's multi-ethnic flavor may be interpreted as a sign which demonstrates the openness and positivity of Puerto Rican society. Reggaeton's creativity and break from American and Jamaican musical styles is reflective of Puerto Rico's multi-ethnic flavor and its cultural proximity to other Latin American countries as well as the US and Jamaica. This creative fusion has allowed it to almost become a recognized Puerto Rican musical form. Not surprisingly, many important reggaeton musicians come from Panama, another country where Latin and Anglo influences join hands.

(www.coveralia.com - El Disco De Reggaeton Interior Trasera)

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, the radio remix of Dominican Bachata boy band Aventura's "Obsesión" and Mey Vidal Ft. Qbanito on "Gata Sandunguera", are other hit tracks clearly influenced by the reggaeton style. LunyTunes is often seen as the reggaeton answer to innovating hip hop, pop and R&B producers the Neptunes. The LunyTunes have been responsible for creating the major hits of most of all the reggaeton artists. But with Dj Blass and DJ Nelson this genre envolved. These were the first djs and producers to make the audible change in the genre.

Most recently, artists which have grown to be immensely popular are Tego Calderón, Don Omar, Héctor y Tito, Zion y Lennox, Baby Rasta y Gringo, and last but certainly not least Ivy Queen, being the 1st female artists in the genre. They are the most demanded reggaeton artists in Puerto Rico, USA, and most of Latin America. All have performed massive concerts in Puerto Rico, USA 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, Los Angeles, 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 and Mickey Perfecto. 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 (this is not true, Welmo, who emcees straigth up hip-hop was the first a few years ago). 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. Pitbull has also collaborated with many reggaeton artists as of late including Daddy Yankee on his smash hit "Gasolina."

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 with N.O.R.E.'s "Oye Mi Canto" - not surprisingly a record by an American rapper. Tego Calderon also grew in popularity along with other artists such as Tempo, Ivy Queen, and Daddy Yankee. These artists hit radio stations and MTV, as well as BET in a matter of no time. Many argue that reggaeton is set to explode in popularity, and it can already be heard in clubs in places as far away as Canada and Europe.

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