History of Reggaeton by Luis Montero
Reggaeton is a relatively new era of dance music that has become popular in Puerto Rico over the last
15yrs. The name is derived from the reggae music of Jamaica which influenced reggaeton's dance beat.
It was also heavily infuenced by other Puerto Rican music genres and by urban hip-hop music craze in
the United States. The first Reggae recordings in Latin America were made in Panama in the mid-1970s.
A large number of Jamaican immigrants, brought in to work on the Panama Canal, brought Reggae music
with them and introduced it to the local population. Nando Boom is considered one of the first deejays
from Panama. Shortly there after ‘El General’ made his debut. Some even argue that reggaeton itself
started in Panama, and that Puerto Rican artists merely added influences from house music and hip hop.
Whatever your opinion is, those are defining elements of the reggaeton era.
As is the case with hip-hop music in the United States, reggaeton appeals primarily to youths.
Reggaeton is closely associated with the "underground" movement of urban youth and is sometimes
also referred to in Spanish as "perreo"&“sandungeo”. In Puerto Rico, youths were inspired to
create reggaeton, after hearing Panamanian artists performing raps in Spanish styled after Jamaican
dance-hall raps, adding they’re native Bomba and Salsa beats. In 1985, rapper Vico C (born
Armando Lozada Cruz on September 8, 1971) born in New York but raised in Puerto Rico
produced one of the first Spanish-language hip hop records in Puerto Rico. Thus the two main influences
of the music 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
(the same melody and rhythm, but with translated lyrics). Towards the middle of the decade,
Puerto Ricans were producing their own "rhythms" with clear influences from hip hop and other
styles. These are considered the first proper reggaeton tracks, initially called "under", a short form
of "Underground". In 1993 a popular urban club called “The Noise” in San Juan, Puerto Rico
encouraged youths to get on stage and freestyle or Rap to these new beats. It became so popular
that a compilation album was released titled The Noise Vol 1. Many Artists you see here now were
a part of this movement. Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Baby Rasta y Gringo, Lito, Polaco & MC
Cassidy, Ivy Queen, Las Quanabanas and of course El Filosofo del Rap Vico C.
In my opinion he is the Sugarhill Gang/Kurtis Blow/Run DMC of the reggaeton/Spanish rap industry.
The new generation sometimes says that he is old and out of style. But today he is the only
Reggaeton/Spanish Rap artist nominated for a Grammy Award for His Album ‘Desahogo’
Some info acquired from www.reggaetonfever.com & www.musicadepuertorico.com
Vico C
Noriega
Alexis Y Fido
Don Omar
Lusi w/ Trebol Clan
Tego Calderon
Luis w/ Don Omar
Glory
Ivy Queen
Daddy Yankee
Hector El
Bambino
