reggaeton (puerto rico)

another new one for me from songlines magazine list of 50 rhythms of the world
a bit of research reveals that it is a distant relation to jamaican reggae
and a lot younger also having been gestated in the 1970's
modern day reggaeton seems to be another derivation of american hip-hop
especially in the lyrics where sexual innuendo seems to be a common theme
here's what songlines had to say about this rhythm from puerto rico
reggaeton moves to various latin rhythms and the crucial dembow beat
created by late 90's reggae star shabba ranks from soca, ragga and hip-hop
in panama, el general introduced dembow to his latin-ragga mixes and unwittingly conceived reggaeton
influential bomba mixes by the puerto rican rapper vico c were formally labelled reggaeton and p r it's capital
from there daddy yankee's 2004 hit gasolina with catchy girl choruses and bomba beats propelled it internationally
today's electronic merengues and cumbias, real instruments, gangsta lyrics and erotic dances
including perreo (doggy style) have lured eminem and usher on board
which pretty well sums up what clips can be found on youtube
the most popular ones have had millions of viewings
which confirms it's international popularity
i must admit i found current reggaeton too close to rap
wanted something more authentic and original
so went back in time a bit and found the following clip
the song is called el meneaito and is performed by an artist known as gaby
wiki advises that this was the first international hit for reggaeton
it also smoulders with sexual innuendo
obviously an essential component
go the macarena
(33 of 50)