Reggaeton

Reggaeton- (Porto Rico, Jamaica, Panama)

Reggaeton in English and known as Reguetón and Reggaetón in Spanish is a form of dance music which became popular with Latin American (or Latino) youth during the early 1990s and spread to North American, European, Asian, and Australian audiences during the first few years of the 21st century. Reggaeton blends Jamaican music influences of reggae and dancehall with those of Latin America, such as bomba and plena, as well as that of hip hop. The music is also combined with rapping in Spanish, English or 'Spanglish'. Reggaeton has given the Hispanic youth, starting with those from Panama, a musical genre that they can consider their own. 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 Jamaican dancehall, it would be wrong to define reggaeton as 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 rhythm 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 later popularized and became most famous, and where the vast majority of its current stars originate from.
2004 was the year that reggaeton gained widespread popularity in the United States, eventually gaining attention in many “Western” countries. This was due to N.O.R.E. introducing the genre to mainstream America with the song “Oye Mi Canto”, followed by Daddy Yankee who came out with his album “Barrio Fino” and his mega hit single “Gasolina”. 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 reggaetón artists include Alexis Y Fido, Angel Khriz, Nina Sky, Nicky Jam,Zion y Lennox, Rakim & Ken-Y, Voltio, Calle 13, Hécto El Father, Ivy Queen, Wisin & Yandel, Tito El Bambino and Tego Calderon.