Reggaeton

**Reggaeton** (UK: /ˈrɛɡeɪtoʊn, ˌrɛɡeɪˈtɒn/,[1][2] US: /ˌrɛɡeɪˈtoʊn, ˌreɪɡ-/),[3][4] also known as **reggaetón** and **reguetón**[5] (Spanish: [reɣeˈton]), is a music style which originated in Puerto Rico, United States, during the late 1990s.[6]It is influenced by American hip hop, Latin American, and Caribbean music. Vocals include rapping and singing, typically in Spanish.

Reggaeton is regarded as one of the most popular music genres in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, in countries including Puerto Rico, Panama, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Colombia and Venezuela.[7] Over the past decade, the genre has seen increased popularity across Latin America, as well as acceptance within mainstream Western music.[8]

### 2004: Crossover

In 2004, reggaeton became popular in the United States and Europe. Tego Calderón was receiving airplay in the U.S., and the music was popular among youth. Daddy Yankee's *El Cangri.com* became popular that year in the country, as did Héctor & Tito. Luny Tunes and Noriega's *Mas Flow*, Yaga & Mackie's *Sonando Diferente*, Tego Calderón's *El Abayarde*, Ivy Queen's *Diva*, Zion & Lennox's *Motivando a la Yal* and the *Desafío* compilation were also well-received. Rapper N.O.R.E. released a hit single, "Oye Mi Canto". Daddy Yankee released *Barrio Fino* and a hit single, "Gasolina". Tego Calderón recorded the singles "Pa' Que Retozen" and "Guasa Guasa". Don Omar was popular, particularly in Europe, with "Pobre Diabla" and "Dale Don Dale".[22] Other popular reggaeton artists include Tony Dize, Angel & Khriz, Nina Sky, Dyland & Lenny, RKM & Ken-Y, Julio Voltio, Calle 13, Héctor Delgado, Wisin & Yandel and Tito El Bambino. In late 2004 and early 2005 Shakira recorded "La Tortura" and "La Tortura – Shaketon Remix" for her album, *Fijación Oral Vol. 1* (Oral Fixation Vol. 1), popularizing reggaeton in North America, Europe and Asia. Musicians began to incorporate bachata into reggaeton,[23] with Ivy Queen releasing singles ("Te He Querido, Te He Llorado" and "La Mala") featuring bachata's signature guitar sound, slower, romantic rhythms and emotive singing style.[23] Daddy Yankee's "Lo Que Paso, Paso" and Don Omar's "Dile" are also bachata-influenced. In 2005 producers began to remix existing reggaeton music with bachata, marketing it as *bachaton*: "bachata, Puerto Rican style".[23]

### 2006–present: Topping the charts

In May 2006, Don Omar's *King of Kings* was the highest-ranking reggaeton LP to date on the U.S. charts, debuting atop the Top Latin Albums chart and peaking at number seven on the *Billboard* 200 chart. Omar's single, "Angelito", topped the *Billboard* Latin Rhythm Radio Chart.[24] He broke Britney Spears' in-store-appearance sales record at Downtown Disney's Virgin music store.

In June 2007, Daddy Yankee's *El Cartel III: The Big Boss* set a first-week sales record for a reggaeton album, with 88,000 copies sold.[25] It topped the Top Latin Albums and Top Rap Albums charts, the first reggaeton album to do so on the latter. The album peaked at number nine on the *Billboard* 200, the second-highest reggaeton album on the mainstream chart.[26]

The third-highest-ranking reggaeton album was Wisin & Yandel's *Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres*, which debuted at number 14 on the *Billboard* 200 and number one on the Top Latin Albums chart later in 2007.[27] In 2008 Daddy Yankee soundtrack to his film, *Talento de Barrio*, debuted at number 13 on the *Billboard* 200 chart. It peaked at number one on the Top Latin Albums chart, number three on *Billboard's* Top Soundtracks and number six on the Top Rap Albums chart.[26] In 2009, Wisin & Yandel's *La Revolucion* debuted at number seven on the *Billboard* 200, number one on the Top Latin Albums and number three on the Top Rap Albums charts.

In 2017, the music video for "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee reached over a billion views in under 3 months. As of January 2018, the music video is the most viewed YouTube video of all-time. With its 3.3 million certified sales plus track-equivalent streams, "Despacito" became one of the best-selling Latin singles in the United States.

## Characteristics

### Rhythm

The dembow riddim was created by Jamaican dancehall producers during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Also known as "son bow", dembow consists of a kick drum, kickdown drum, palito, snare drum, timbal, timballroll and (sometimes) a high-hat cymbal. Dembow's percussion pattern was influenced by dancehall and other West Indian music (soca, calypso and cadence); this gives dembow a pan-Caribbean flavor. Steely & Clevie, creators of the Poco Man Jam riddim, are usually credited with the creation of dembow.[28] At its heart is the 3+3+2 (tresillo) rhythm, complemented by a bass drum in 4/4 time.[29]

The riddim was first highlighted by Shabba Ranks in "Dem Bow", from his 1991 album *Just Reality*. To this day, elements of the song's accompaniment track are found in over 80% of all reggaeton productions.[30] During the mid-1980s, dancehall music was revolutionized by the electronic keyboard and drum machine; subsequently, many dancehall producers used them to create different dancehall riddims. Dembow's role in reggaeton is a basic building block, a skeletal sketch in percussion.

Reggaeton dembow also incorporates Bam Bam, Hot This Year, Poco Man Jam, Fever Pitch, Red Alert, Trailer Reloaded and Big Up riddims, and several samples are often used. Newer reggaeton hits incorporate a lighter, electrified version of the riddim. Examples are "Pa' Que la Pases Bien" and "Quiero Bailar", which uses the Liquid riddim.[31]

### Lyrics and themes

Reggaeton lyrical structure resembles that of hip hop. Although most reggaeton artists recite their lyrics rapping (or resembling rapping) rather than singing, many alternate rapping and singing. Reggaeton uses traditional verse-chorus-bridge pop structure. Like hip hop, reggaeton songs have a hook which is repeated throughout the song. Latino ethnic identity is a common musical, lyrical and visual theme.

Unlike hip-hop CDs, reggaeton discs generally do not have parental advisories. An exception is Daddy Yankee's *Barrio Fino en Directo* (*Barrio Fino Live*), whose live material (and Snoop Dogg in "Gangsta Zone") were labeled explicit. Artists such as Alexis & Fidocircumvent radio and television censorship by sexual innuendo and lyrics with double meanings. Some songs have raised concerns about their depiction of women.[32] Although reggaeton began as a mostly-male genre, the number of women artists has been a slowly increasing and include the "Queen of Reggaeton", Ivy Queen,[33] Mey Vidal, K-Narias, Adassa, La Sista and Glory.

## Dance

Main article: Sandungueo

*Sandungueo*, or *perreo*, is a dance associated with reggaeton which emerged during the early 1990s in Puerto Rico. It focuses on grinding, with one partner facing the back of the other (usually male behind female).[34] Another way of describing this dance is "back-to-front", where the woman presses her rear into the pelvis of her partner to create sexual stimulation. Since traditional couple dancing is face-to-face (such as square dancing and the waltz), reggaeton dancing initially shocked observers with its sensuality but was featured in several music videos.[35] It is known as daggering, grinding or juking in the U.S.[36]

## Popularity

### Latin America

Over the past decade, reggaeton has received mainstream recognition in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, where the genre originated from, in countries including Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Venezuela, where it is now regarded as one of the most popular music genres. Reggaeton has also seen increased popularity in the wider Latin America region, including in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Ecuador and Peru.

In Cuba, reggaeton came to incorporate elements of traditional Cuban music, leading to the hybrid Cubaton. Two bands credited with popularizing Cubaton are Máxima Alerta (founded in 1999) and Cubanito 20.02. The former is notable for fusing Cubaton with other genres, such as son Cubano, conga, cumbia, salsa, merengue, and Cuban rumba, as well as styles and forms such as rap and ballads, whereas the latter's music is influenced more by Jamaican music.[37][38] The government of Cuba imposed restrictions on reggaeton in public places in 2012. In March, 2019, the government went a step further; they banned the "aggressive, sexually explicit and obscene messages of reggaeton" from radio and television, as well as performances by street musicians.[39]

The first name of reggaeton in Brazil was the Señores Cafetões group, who became known in 2007 with the track "Piriguete" - which at the time was mistakenly mistaken by Brazilians for hip hop and Brazilian funk because reggaeton was still a genre almost unknown in the country.[40] In Brazil, this musical genre only reached a reasonable popularity around the middle of the decade of 2010. The first great success of the genre in the country was the song "Yes or no" by Anitta with Maluma. One of the explanations for reggaeton has not reached the same level of popularity that exists in other Latin American countries is due to the fact that Brazil is a Portuguese-speaking country, which has historically led it to become more isolationist than other Latin American countries in the musical scene. The musical rhythm only became popular in the country when it reached other markets, like the American. The genre is now overcoming the obstacle of language. Some of the biggest names in the Brazilian music market have partnered with artists from other Latin American countries and explored the rhythm.

### United States

The New York-based rapper N.O.R.E. (also known as Noreaga) produced Nina Sky's 2004 hit "Oye Mi Canto", which featured Tego Calderón and Daddy Yankee, and reggaeton became popular in the U.S.[41] Daddy Yankee then caught the attention of many hip-hop artists with his song, "Gasolina",[41] and that year XM Radio introduced its reggaeton channel, Fuego (XM). Although XM Radio removed the channel in December 2007 from home and car receivers, it can still be streamed from the XM Satellite Radio website. Reggaeton is the foundation of a Latin-American commercial-radio term, Hurban,[41] a combination of "Hispanic" and "urban" used to evoke the musical influences of hip hop and Latin American music. Reggaeton, which evolved from hip hop and reggae, has helped Latin-Americans contribute to urban American culture and keep many aspects of their Hispanic heritage. The music relates to American socioeconomic issues (including gender and race), in common with hip hop.[41]

### Europe

Although reggaeton is less popular in Europe than it is in Latin America, it appeals to Latin American immigrants (especially in Spain).[42] A Spanish media custom, *"La Canción del Verano"* ("The Song of the Summer"), in which one or two songs define the season's mood, was the basis of the popularity of reggaeton songs such as Panamanian rapper Lorna's "Papi Chulo (Te Traigo el Mmm)" in 2003 and "Baila Morena" by Héctor & Tito and Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina" in 2005.

### Asia

In the Philippines, reggaeton artists primarily use the Filipino language instead of Spanish or English. One example of a popular local reggaeton act is Zamboangueño duo Dos Fuertes, who had a dance hit in 2007 with "Tarat Tat", and who primarily uses the Chavacano language in their songs.

## Criticism

Despite the great popularity of the genre as a whole, reggaeton has also attracted criticism due to its constant references to sexual and violent themes.

Some reggaeton singers have decided to counteract such accusations. One notable example is singer Flex, who has committed himself to sing songs with romance messages, a sub genre he dubbed “romantic style”.[46]

## In Star Butterfly Edition

These episodes that Star confirmed his choreography with the other Echo Creek girls with pants. They started dancing during the episodes. See the albums of Star Butterfly Edition.

## List of reggaeton musicians

### Colombia

* Andy Rivera
* Farina
* J Balvin
* Kevin Roldán
* Maluma
* Reykon

### Dominican Republic

* Chosen Few
* Deevani
* Doble A & Nales
* Don Miguelo
* Ingco Crew
* Natti Natasha
* Noztra
* Luny Tunes

### Panama

* Gaby
* La Factoría
* Nando Boom
* Flex
* Eddy Lover

### Puerto Rico

* Alexis & Fido
* Angel & Khriz
* Alberto Stylee
* Arcángel
* Baby Ranks
* Baby Rasta & Gringo
* Bad Bunny
* Cosculluela
* Daddy Yankee
* De La Ghetto
* Divino
* Don Chezina
* Don Omar
* Erre XI
* Farruko
* Glory
* Héctor el Father
* Ivy Queen
* J Alvarez
* Jadiel
* Johnny Prez
* Jon Z
* Jowell & Randy
* Kendo Kaponi
* La Sista
* Lele
* Lisa M
* Lito & Polaco
* Luis Fonsi
* Magnate & Valentino
* Maicol & Manuel
* Mario VI
* Miguelito
* Monserrate & DJ Urba
* Naldo
* Nely "El Arma Secreta"
* Ñejo & Dalmata
* Ñengo Flow
* Nicky Jam
* Luny Tunes
* Nova & Jory
* Ozuna (singer)
* Plan B
* R.K.M & Ken-Y
* Residente
* Tainy
* Tempo
* Tego Calderón
* Tito El Bambino
* Tony Dize
* Tony Touch
* Trebol Clan
* Vico C
* Voltio
* Wibal & Alex
* Wisin & Yandel
* Yaga & Mackie
* Zion & Lennox

### United States

* Arcángel & De La Ghetto
* Divino
* Nina Sky
* Vico C
* Yomo