THE HISTORY OF THE HISTORY OF REGGAETONREGGAETON

BY DEREK ADAMSBY DEREK ADAMS

WHAT IS REGGAETON?WHAT IS REGGAETON?

The distinctive sound of today's reggaeton is a The distinctive sound of today's reggaeton is a mix of Jamaican dancehall rhythms, derived mix of Jamaican dancehall rhythms, derived from reggae, and Latin merengue, bomba, plena from reggae, and Latin merengue, bomba, plena and sometimes salsa. It's heavily percussive and sometimes salsa. It's heavily percussive beat is called "dembow" and comes from beat is called "dembow" and comes from Trinidad's 'soca' music; it fuses electronic dance Trinidad's 'soca' music; it fuses electronic dance music, hip-hop elements and Spanish / music, hip-hop elements and Spanish / Spanglish rap to form a compelling, driving Spanglish rap to form a compelling, driving sound that has been embraced by hispanic sound that has been embraced by hispanic urban youth worldwide urban youth worldwide

THE ORIGINATION OF THE ORIGINATION OF REGGAETON AND REGGAETON AND CONTROVERSYCONTROVERSY

Historically there has been an invisible line that has Historically there has been an invisible line that has segregated Jamaican music and other Latin dance segregated Jamaican music and other Latin dance styles. But that line was breached in Panama, a country styles. But that line was breached in Panama, a country with a significant Jamaican population that had migrated with a significant Jamaican population that had migrated south to work on the Panama Canal in the early 20th south to work on the Panama Canal in the early 20th century. century.

There's a heated debate about whether reggaeton There's a heated debate about whether reggaeton originated in Panama or Puerto Rico. While it seems originated in Panama or Puerto Rico. While it seems obvious that the roots are Panamanian, some of the best obvious that the roots are Panamanian, some of the best know (and earliest) purveyors of today's reggaeton know (and earliest) purveyors of today's reggaeton sounds come from Puerto Rico, so the confusion is sounds come from Puerto Rico, so the confusion is easily understood.easily understood.

WHY JAMAICANS MIGRATED TO WHY JAMAICANS MIGRATED TO PANAMAPANAMA

TO WORK IN THE PANAMA CANAL FOR TO WORK IN THE PANAMA CANAL FOR FREEDOM AND MONEY. FREEDOM AND MONEY.

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Daddy YankeeDaddy Yankee

““Arguably the most popular, and hit songs Arguably the most popular, and hit songs like its nothing.”like its nothing.”

ZionZion

““Zion Is to Reggaeton what, Jordan is to Zion Is to Reggaeton what, Jordan is to basketball.”basketball.”

WisinWisin

““One half of the duo Wisin & Yandel, great One half of the duo Wisin & Yandel, great lyrics, and great style.”lyrics, and great style.”

Yandel Yandel

““One half of the duo Wisin & Yandel, great One half of the duo Wisin & Yandel, great vocals, and great style.”vocals, and great style.”

Arcangel Arcangel

““This game is about vocals lyrics, and This game is about vocals lyrics, and originality, and this man posses all of originality, and this man posses all of them.”them.”

Don OmarDon Omar

““A great artist, a little overrated, his latest A great artist, a little overrated, his latest works not so great, but his works before all works not so great, but his works before all masterpieces.”masterpieces.”

YomoYomo

““The best lyrics in the game period. Also The best lyrics in the game period. Also an very original style.”an very original style.”

Ken-y Ken-y

““Began as a youngster, great vocals, and Began as a youngster, great vocals, and everything he drops is a hit.”everything he drops is a hit.”

Baby RastaBaby Rasta

““Very underrated, but one of the artists Very underrated, but one of the artists responsible, for making reggaeton what it responsible, for making reggaeton what it is today.”’is today.”’

De La GhettoDe La Ghetto

““A young talented artist, with his diferent A young talented artist, with his diferent styles, and song titles.”styles, and song titles.”

IN CONCLUSIONIN CONCLUSION

THIS IS THE HISTORY OF REGGAETON THIS IS THE HISTORY OF REGGAETON AND ITS MOST POPULAR ARTISTAND ITS MOST POPULAR ARTIST