Reggaeton is an urban form of music that has become widespread in popularity among young music lovers in Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Reggaeton music originated in Panama catering to Hispanic youth, with rapping and singing often in Spanish. The music is a blend of Jamaican style music such as dancehall and reggae and Latin America style music such as salsa, bomba, plena, merengue, bachata, hip hop, bolero, R&B, and Latin pop. It has its roots in the ’70s, when Jamaican workers moved to Panama to work on the canal and brought reggae music with them. Reggae’s popularity grew in Central America and the Caribbean at the same time that American rap was finding its way south.

When Vico C released Puerto Rico’s first Spanish-language rap album in 1985, producers linked Latin rap with Jamaica’s hard dancehall sounds. All they needed was to add a few native Puerto Rican touches like the bomba and plena rhythms (better known from salsa), and presto a new genre was born.

Reggaeton music boasts its own specific rhythm and beat. The rhythm of reggaeton is often referred to as “Dem Bow.” The name Dem Bow references the title of a dancehall song from the 1990s by Shabba Ranks. Though the music genre of reggaeton is mostly associated with Puerto Rico (where this style of music was popularised and became famous), the lyrics are more hip hop type lyrics than dancehall.

It’s the reggaeton beat, or Dem Bow, that drives the music and dances. The beat is described as a drum-machine track that originated with Jamaican dancehall rhythm. Reggaeton combines a syncopated snare and steady kick drum to create an unusual rhythm. There’s a 4/4 beat emphasized by the kick drum, and the snare starts with the “and” of the 3rd 8th note and right on the 4th 8th note. There are about 95 beats per minute, and the result is a magnified “boom-ch-boom-chick” sounding beat.

Though many westerners may critique the music for hoving the same beat in every song, the fact is, this is the same as any form of latin music. Every salsa song has the same rhythm, as does every cumbia, every merengue, etc… Any music intended specifically for dancing, as reggaeton is, will always have the same beat to make it easier and more fun to dance to.

Reggaeton beat sounds are usually synthesized electronically. There are also simple melodies created with electronic instruments, keyboards, and electric guitars. The beats are versatile, and can be based on bolero, hip-hop, salsa, merengue, bachata, or other similar beats.

Sensual (and controversial) dancing can often be seen in reggaeton clubs or on music videos. Many reggaeton songs have explicit lyrics but this is only one form and is called “Perreo.” The perreo type dance is a form of grinding dance derived from Puerto Rico. The dance puts women in control of the dance and is very provocative in its nature. It has been described as “one way of simulating coitus with your clothes on.” Perreo moves are popular in dancehall, rhythm and blues, and hip-hop music as well. A slightly calmer form of reggaeton dancing is cumbia, which was originally a folk dance and music from Colombia. Like perreo, the cumbia dance is flirtatious in nature with the women luring the men toward them and then pushing them away.

Some of the leading artists in reggaeton include CandyMan, Esko, Fito Blanko, Nicky Jam, Johnny Prez, La Fabrica, Don Miguelo, Daddy Yankee, De la Ghetto, DJ Blass, Baby Rasta & Gringo, Don Chezina, Lito & Polaco, Eddie Dee, Don Omar, Zion y Lennox, Adassa, El Chombo, and Tony Touch. Some popular producers of reggaeton music are Eliel, Luny Tunes, and Noriega.

With the widespread popularity of reggaeton music, there are now many radio stations specialising in this type of music. There are also online radio venues where fans can download music, listen online, or watch the reggaeton music video of choice. The major benefit of online radio is fans can listen to their favorite music or watch their favorite videos around the clock.

Reggaeton is not for everyone. In fact one well known musician called it “a noise produced by combining some annoying pre-recorded rhythms from a cheap electronic keyboard and the lyrics that come out from your sexually active daughter’s diary;” and another, “I’d rather live next to a noisy airport runway than listen to this horrible thing!”