Reina El Reggaeton

A Spanish-language fusion of dancehall reggae, hip-hop, salsa, cumbia, merengue and other Caribbean flavors, reggaeton (pronounced reggae-TONE) percolated for years in the streets and clubs of Puerto Rico before making its way to the continental USA. Its infectious, driving rhythms and the sexy bump-and-grind dancing that it inspires made it a favorite in clubs, particularly in such cities as New York and Miami. Reggaeton has its roots in Panama, where Spanish-language reggae was developed in the 1970s by Jamaicans who were descendants of immigrants who helped build the Panama Canal. The new hybrid eventually found its way to Puerto Rico, where rapper Vico C (Luis Armando Lozado Cruz) produced the first Spanish-language hip-hop record in 1985. Ultimately, the two influences combined into a music that appealed to urban youth in Puerto Rico and eventually evolved into contemporary reggaeton.

Source: Hip Hop Republican