Reggaeton: From Underground Roots to Global Phenomenon

The genre, blending dancehall reggae and Latin rhythms, has evolved over decades, influencing artists across genres and sparking unprecedented collaborations.

• Reggaeton, a genre that blends dancehall reggae and Latin rhythms, has evolved from its underground roots in the 1980s to become a global phenomenon.
• Key figures in the genre's development include El General, who popularized the genre in Latin America, and Tego Calderón, who balanced party songs with political messages.
• Reggaeton's mainstream success was boosted by the hit 'Gasolina' by Daddy Yankee in 2004, and further cemented by 'Despacito' by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee in 2017.
• Despite criticism of the genre's whitewashing and loss of its original political edge, reggaeton continues to influence artists from other genres and encourage unprecedented collaborations.
• Bad Bunny, a leading figure in the new generation of reggaeton artists, has returned to his trap roots while still paying homage to reggaeton pioneers.

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