djsherz
What's all this about "reggaeton"? I've never heard of this name before I started visiting the VDJ forums... reggae I've heard of, but not reggaeton...
From what I can gather, it's stuff in a similar vein to "gasolina", am I correct in thinking this? Here in Staffordshire, UK, it's not a genre I've ever been asked to play, apart from the occasional daddy yankee request during a hip hop/r&b set. I know there's VDJ users from all over the world on these forums, where's this music popular then?
From what I can gather, it's stuff in a similar vein to "gasolina", am I correct in thinking this? Here in Staffordshire, UK, it's not a genre I've ever been asked to play, apart from the occasional daddy yankee request during a hip hop/r&b set. I know there's VDJ users from all over the world on these forums, where's this music popular then?
Posted Tue 21 Mar 06 @ 6:07 pm
dj maddsound
Here is a little something on what Reggaeton is and where it originated from...
Reggaeton is a form of dance music which became popular with Latin American youth during the late 1990s and spread to North American, European and Japanese audiences during the first few years of the 21st century. Reggaeton (also spelled with the Spanish accent as Reggaetón, and sometimes as Reguetón in Spanish) - 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 (generally) in Spanish. Reggaeton has empowered the Spanish Caribbean youth, specifically those of Puerto Rico, Panama, Dominican Republic and Venezuela, as well as the Latin American audience and the Latino communities in the United States, with a musical genre as a voice.
While it takes influences from hip hop and dancehall, it would be wrong to define reggaeton as the 'Spanish'- 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. Reggaeton's distinguishing feature is the Dem Bow beat (alternately spelled Dembow), which originated in a song by Shabba Ranks in the mid-1990s.
Reggaeton lyrics tend to be more derived from hip hop than dancehall. Like hip hop, reggaeton has caused controversy due to its often explicit lyrics and alleged exploitation of women. Further controversy surrounds perreo, a dance with explicit sexual overtones which typically accompanies reggaeton music.
The genre's most notably unique feature is a driving drum-machine track, almost identical across different songs, derived from Trinidadian soca music and Jamaican dancehall rhythms. This beat is called "Dem Bow" after the beat in a Shabba Ranks song of the same name. It has been heavily influenced by other forms of electronic dance music, such as techno, house, and genres such as the merengue hip hop (also called merenhouse) of groups such as Proyecto Uno and Zona 7.
The birthplace of the music genre is a subject of debate between those who believe it was started in Panama and those who believe it originated in Puerto Rico, however, it is known that the first Latin American reggae recordings were made in Panama during the 1970s. Reportedly, Reggae is said first to have arrived in Latin America with Jamaican labourers who came to help build the Panama Canal in the early 20th Century.
Artists such as El General, Chicho Man, Rene Renegado, Black Apache are considered the first raggamuffin deejays from Panama. El General has been identified as one of the fathers of reggaeton, blending Jamaican reggae into a Latin-ised version
Meanwhile, during the 1980s the Puerto Rican rapper Vico C released Spanish-language hip hop records in his native country. His production of cassettes throughout the 1980s, mixing reggae and hip hop, helped spread the early reggaeton sound, and he is widely credited with this achievement. At this point the two main influences of the genre were in place, as well as the two main producing countries.
During the 1990s reggae production took off seriously in Panama; this also occurred separately in Puerto Rico due to the increased popularity of Jamaican ragga imports. It was common practice to translate the lyrics of Jamaican reggae song into Spanish and sing them over the original melodies. Towards the middle of the decade, Puerto Ricans were producing their own "riddims" 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". The 'under' scene widened when Puerto Rican and Cuban styles mixed with Panamanian-style reggae. DJ Playero was one of the most famous producers at the time, releasing several "underground" cassettes that featured early performances of some soon-to-be-famous artists like Daddy Yankee.
The genre morphed through the years, at various points being termed Melaza, musica underground and reggae de Puerto Rico. A breakthrough was made by the Jamaican artist Shabba Ranks who released a track Dem Bow in the early 1990s. The beat and rhythm from this song became the eventual background for the developing genre; at one point the genre became known as Dem Bow.
The name reggaeton only gained prominence in the mid-1990s (from the 1994 to 1995 period), with the Dem Bow beat characterizing the genre; this is in contrast to the more reggae, dancehall and hip hop -derived tracks previously created. The name was reportedly created in Puerto Rico to signify the hybrid sound created from the years of mixing the different genres. Today, the music flourishes throughout Latin America.
Reggaeton soon increased in popularity with Latino youth in the United States when DJ Blass worked with artists such as Plan B and Speedy in albums such as Reggaeton Sex. The first song which introduced Reggaeton to a big amount of fans is the song Tra Tra by Don Chezina. From there on reggaeton gained fans with songs such as Amor Con La Ropa by Speedy, No Puedo Estar Sin Sexo by Plan B, and Dembow by Yandel.
Daddy YankeeReggaeton expanded and became known when other producers followed the steps of DJ Playero, like DJ Nelson and DJ Eric. In the mid 90s albums like Playero 37 (In which Daddy Yankee became known) and The Noise 5 and 6 were very popular in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Singers like Don Chezina, Master Joe, Mey Vidal, Baby Rasta Y Gringo, Polaco among others were very popular.
Many now popular producers, such as Luny Tunes,Noriega and Eliel, first appeared in the reggaeton scene in 2003. Albums such as Mas Flow, The Last Don, and Las Gargolas 4 expanded reggaeton's popularity among Latinos in the United States.
2004 was the year that reggaeton gained widespread popularity in the United States, eventually gaining attention in many 'Western' countries. This has been due to N.O.R.E. introducing the genre on to mainstream America with the song Oye Mi Canto, and when Daddy Yankee came out with his album Barrio Fino and his hit single Gasolina. Another important artist that contribuited to gain popularity to reggaeton, especially in Europe, is Don Omar, with singles like 'Pobre Diabla' and 'Dale Don Dale'.
Reggaeton as it is known today is most commonly associated with Puerto Rico where it has really flourished and from where it has been spread around Latin America and the world. The Puerto Rican influence in reggaeton has involved the addition of hip hop to the Panamanian reggae style. Puerto Ricans have claimed reggaeton as their own partly due to the fact that the movement was originally anti-establishment, with the government attempting to ban the perreo ("doggystyle") dance. Reggaeton is now more accepted within the country.
Reggaeton has been a huge hit all across the globe, especially in Latin American countries, such as the Caribbean nations like Colombia, Venezuela, and in some Central America where it has become staple music in most parties and events across, complementing the common mix of merengue, salsa and electronic music and has paved a huge fan base.In some countries (such as Venezuela, with Calle Ciega, Doble Impakto and Mr. Brian and Pescozada and Heavy Clan from El Salvador), domestic "reggaetoneros" have arisen, expanding the Pan-latin feel of the genre.
Today Reggaeton continues to see growth, with new artists and new fans in regions across the world. In Canada, pioneering producers like sensei introduced reggaeton in Toronto. In Japan, the movement was first introduced by special coverage on LATINA magazine by Takeshi Inoue and Ryo Ikedo in 2003 and then spurred with the worldwide hit of N.O.R.E, Don Omar, Daddy Yankee to Tokyo club scene. With the increasing intense fever of the scene, on September 2005 the first japonol reggaeton band Los Calibres released their first CD with much acclaim from spanish speaking scene. Their style of mixing Japanese and Spanish in one song creates new sound due to their proximity in sounds.
Reggaeton has grown to be a worldwide known genre. Pretty soon dude, it will be HUGE in the UK.
MS
Reggaeton is a form of dance music which became popular with Latin American youth during the late 1990s and spread to North American, European and Japanese audiences during the first few years of the 21st century. Reggaeton (also spelled with the Spanish accent as Reggaetón, and sometimes as Reguetón in Spanish) - 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 (generally) in Spanish. Reggaeton has empowered the Spanish Caribbean youth, specifically those of Puerto Rico, Panama, Dominican Republic and Venezuela, as well as the Latin American audience and the Latino communities in the United States, with a musical genre as a voice.
While it takes influences from hip hop and dancehall, it would be wrong to define reggaeton as the 'Spanish'- 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. Reggaeton's distinguishing feature is the Dem Bow beat (alternately spelled Dembow), which originated in a song by Shabba Ranks in the mid-1990s.
Reggaeton lyrics tend to be more derived from hip hop than dancehall. Like hip hop, reggaeton has caused controversy due to its often explicit lyrics and alleged exploitation of women. Further controversy surrounds perreo, a dance with explicit sexual overtones which typically accompanies reggaeton music.
The genre's most notably unique feature is a driving drum-machine track, almost identical across different songs, derived from Trinidadian soca music and Jamaican dancehall rhythms. This beat is called "Dem Bow" after the beat in a Shabba Ranks song of the same name. It has been heavily influenced by other forms of electronic dance music, such as techno, house, and genres such as the merengue hip hop (also called merenhouse) of groups such as Proyecto Uno and Zona 7.
The birthplace of the music genre is a subject of debate between those who believe it was started in Panama and those who believe it originated in Puerto Rico, however, it is known that the first Latin American reggae recordings were made in Panama during the 1970s. Reportedly, Reggae is said first to have arrived in Latin America with Jamaican labourers who came to help build the Panama Canal in the early 20th Century.
Artists such as El General, Chicho Man, Rene Renegado, Black Apache are considered the first raggamuffin deejays from Panama. El General has been identified as one of the fathers of reggaeton, blending Jamaican reggae into a Latin-ised version
Meanwhile, during the 1980s the Puerto Rican rapper Vico C released Spanish-language hip hop records in his native country. His production of cassettes throughout the 1980s, mixing reggae and hip hop, helped spread the early reggaeton sound, and he is widely credited with this achievement. At this point the two main influences of the genre were in place, as well as the two main producing countries.
During the 1990s reggae production took off seriously in Panama; this also occurred separately in Puerto Rico due to the increased popularity of Jamaican ragga imports. It was common practice to translate the lyrics of Jamaican reggae song into Spanish and sing them over the original melodies. Towards the middle of the decade, Puerto Ricans were producing their own "riddims" 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". The 'under' scene widened when Puerto Rican and Cuban styles mixed with Panamanian-style reggae. DJ Playero was one of the most famous producers at the time, releasing several "underground" cassettes that featured early performances of some soon-to-be-famous artists like Daddy Yankee.
The genre morphed through the years, at various points being termed Melaza, musica underground and reggae de Puerto Rico. A breakthrough was made by the Jamaican artist Shabba Ranks who released a track Dem Bow in the early 1990s. The beat and rhythm from this song became the eventual background for the developing genre; at one point the genre became known as Dem Bow.
The name reggaeton only gained prominence in the mid-1990s (from the 1994 to 1995 period), with the Dem Bow beat characterizing the genre; this is in contrast to the more reggae, dancehall and hip hop -derived tracks previously created. The name was reportedly created in Puerto Rico to signify the hybrid sound created from the years of mixing the different genres. Today, the music flourishes throughout Latin America.
Reggaeton soon increased in popularity with Latino youth in the United States when DJ Blass worked with artists such as Plan B and Speedy in albums such as Reggaeton Sex. The first song which introduced Reggaeton to a big amount of fans is the song Tra Tra by Don Chezina. From there on reggaeton gained fans with songs such as Amor Con La Ropa by Speedy, No Puedo Estar Sin Sexo by Plan B, and Dembow by Yandel.
Daddy YankeeReggaeton expanded and became known when other producers followed the steps of DJ Playero, like DJ Nelson and DJ Eric. In the mid 90s albums like Playero 37 (In which Daddy Yankee became known) and The Noise 5 and 6 were very popular in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Singers like Don Chezina, Master Joe, Mey Vidal, Baby Rasta Y Gringo, Polaco among others were very popular.
Many now popular producers, such as Luny Tunes,Noriega and Eliel, first appeared in the reggaeton scene in 2003. Albums such as Mas Flow, The Last Don, and Las Gargolas 4 expanded reggaeton's popularity among Latinos in the United States.
2004 was the year that reggaeton gained widespread popularity in the United States, eventually gaining attention in many 'Western' countries. This has been due to N.O.R.E. introducing the genre on to mainstream America with the song Oye Mi Canto, and when Daddy Yankee came out with his album Barrio Fino and his hit single Gasolina. Another important artist that contribuited to gain popularity to reggaeton, especially in Europe, is Don Omar, with singles like 'Pobre Diabla' and 'Dale Don Dale'.
Reggaeton as it is known today is most commonly associated with Puerto Rico where it has really flourished and from where it has been spread around Latin America and the world. The Puerto Rican influence in reggaeton has involved the addition of hip hop to the Panamanian reggae style. Puerto Ricans have claimed reggaeton as their own partly due to the fact that the movement was originally anti-establishment, with the government attempting to ban the perreo ("doggystyle") dance. Reggaeton is now more accepted within the country.
Reggaeton has been a huge hit all across the globe, especially in Latin American countries, such as the Caribbean nations like Colombia, Venezuela, and in some Central America where it has become staple music in most parties and events across, complementing the common mix of merengue, salsa and electronic music and has paved a huge fan base.In some countries (such as Venezuela, with Calle Ciega, Doble Impakto and Mr. Brian and Pescozada and Heavy Clan from El Salvador), domestic "reggaetoneros" have arisen, expanding the Pan-latin feel of the genre.
Today Reggaeton continues to see growth, with new artists and new fans in regions across the world. In Canada, pioneering producers like sensei introduced reggaeton in Toronto. In Japan, the movement was first introduced by special coverage on LATINA magazine by Takeshi Inoue and Ryo Ikedo in 2003 and then spurred with the worldwide hit of N.O.R.E, Don Omar, Daddy Yankee to Tokyo club scene. With the increasing intense fever of the scene, on September 2005 the first japonol reggaeton band Los Calibres released their first CD with much acclaim from spanish speaking scene. Their style of mixing Japanese and Spanish in one song creates new sound due to their proximity in sounds.
Reggaeton has grown to be a worldwide known genre. Pretty soon dude, it will be HUGE in the UK.
MS
Posted Tue 21 Mar 06 @ 7:16 pm
vpcdj
In the US this reggaeton this exploded in 2004 with Oye Mi Canto. im sure in new york it was already on but the rest of the country took on after Oye Mi Canto. Noreaga gets some credit coz he jumped on Daddy Yankee's song and ran with it. Nina Sky in the chorus helped coz they'd just come with that big single they had that year.
i like the song to this day. but something interesting that is not really talked about this song is that the video discriminates against black latinos. racism is a bitch. but this statement starts a whole buncha -ish which ppl are not ready for.
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reggaeton now is huge here in the states. most reggaeton songs have that drum similar to oye mi canto's. (im not suggesting that oye mi canto was the originator. the post above says they got it from Dem Bow. which i didnt know until reading that post.)
a lot of spanish dudes who only rapped now do reggaeton.
reggaeton is not a fad. it almost sounds like a fad but the spanish ppl taking it so seriously it cant be taken as a fad.
a lot of rap stars doing reggaeton or reggaeton versions or their songs too. the reggaeton versions could be just guest starring a reggaeton artist or the beat could be reggaeton. Even Cypress Hill had a reggaeton song in their 2004 album. Cuban Link has a reggaeton song. etc....
i like the song to this day. but something interesting that is not really talked about this song is that the video discriminates against black latinos. racism is a bitch. but this statement starts a whole buncha -ish which ppl are not ready for.
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reggaeton now is huge here in the states. most reggaeton songs have that drum similar to oye mi canto's. (im not suggesting that oye mi canto was the originator. the post above says they got it from Dem Bow. which i didnt know until reading that post.)
a lot of spanish dudes who only rapped now do reggaeton.
reggaeton is not a fad. it almost sounds like a fad but the spanish ppl taking it so seriously it cant be taken as a fad.
a lot of rap stars doing reggaeton or reggaeton versions or their songs too. the reggaeton versions could be just guest starring a reggaeton artist or the beat could be reggaeton. Even Cypress Hill had a reggaeton song in their 2004 album. Cuban Link has a reggaeton song. etc....
Posted Tue 21 Mar 06 @ 7:54 pm
djsherz
Thanks people for that very detailed explanation! It's certainly a different sound, and seems to work on my dancefloor... only got a handful of tracks so far, I'll have to do some searching around!
That Gasolina song seems to have a bit of a DnB influence in the build-up to the chorus, discovered that it fits in great with stuff like Pendulum as well!
Haven't heard Oye Mi Canto yet, it's not a remake of that old Gloria Estefan / Miami Sound Machine track is it?
That Gasolina song seems to have a bit of a DnB influence in the build-up to the chorus, discovered that it fits in great with stuff like Pendulum as well!
Haven't heard Oye Mi Canto yet, it's not a remake of that old Gloria Estefan / Miami Sound Machine track is it?
Posted Thu 23 Mar 06 @ 3:10 pm
vpcdj
i dont think so. the ladies love reggaeton on the dancefloor. here in the US them latinos love it. its like dancehall music for the latinos or women in general. reggaeton is like dancehall. we dont really know what they'r saying but we love what the girls are doing on the dancefloor.
Posted Thu 23 Mar 06 @ 6:08 pm
vpcdj
the 'oye mi canto' of this year is Daddy Yankee - Rompe. its huge. its been in the lation charts for a while. check the video at www.launch.com
Posted Fri 24 Mar 06 @ 3:27 pm