History of Reggaetón

Source: Billboard.com

Popular artists: Bad Bunny, Ozuna, Nicky Jam, Daddy Yankee, and J Balvin

Reggaetón was created in the early 1990s in Puerto Rico. It grew out of reggae and dancehall from Panama mixed with hip-hop and Latin beats. In the early 2000’s many artists like Don Omar and Daddy Yankee brought reggaeton out into the spotlight. With Don Omar’s “Dile” in 2003 which helped the genre reach radio stations and recognition in Latin America. Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” was the first reggaeton to go global.

Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” has a fast paced rhythm using synthesizers to get the reggae rhythm and beats. “Dile” uses instruments like a synthesized guitar to give that plucking sound especially around a minute and a half into the song.

Many other popular artists include Ozuna and Bad Bunny Both included their signature rhythms into the genre. Ozuna’s “Se Preparo” gives us a more rhythmic version of reggae, as he includes his iconic vocal effects to bring out an echo and use a synthesizer as well to bring out the reggae rhythm.

Listen to the songs mentioned below:

Se Preparó by Ozuna- https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=JbVP_aZiFSY&si=TFHT4YK0o6l4afFA

Dile By Don Omar- https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=VcrKS3nRvF8&si=Sm0GG525LsnnPpnz

Gasolina by Daddy Yankee- https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=CCF1_jI8Prk&si=b2bdk0YPQAEA5wI9