| "Oye Mi Canto"; Hear my song. Latinos, Puerto Ricans | | | | has grown in size over the past few years; evidenced |
| in particular, have been stating this for years. Trying to | | | | by the track mentioned in the beginning of this article. |
| get anyone who will listen to hear their music: | | | | "Oye Mi Canto" was released in the summer of 2004 |
| Reggaeton. A blend of Spanish rap style lyrics laced | | | | by rapper Noreaga featuring a well known reggaeton |
| over a sped up reggae drum beat. Many people in the | | | | artist by the name of Daddy Yankee and also |
| U.S. got their first taste of Reggaeton with "Oye Mi | | | | featuring GemStar, Big Mato and Nina Sky. This song |
| Canto" in the summer of 2004. In fact, Reggaeton was | | | | appeared on the Billboard charts and was in heavy |
| developed 30 years ago in Panama when Jamaican | | | | rotation on radio stations everywhere. Everyone, |
| immigrants were brought over during the building of the | | | | including Noreaga believed that they had stumbled |
| Panama Canal. With them, they brought Reggae | | | | upon something new. But recently artists from Puerto |
| music.In 1985, rapper Vico C from Puerto Rico | | | | Rico (which arguably produces the most popular artists |
| produced the first Spanish-language Hip-Hop record. | | | | of reggaeton) have emerged to be popular outside of |
| Thus the two main influences of the genre were in | | | | la isla del encanto: Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Winsin y |
| place, as well as the two main producing countries. | | | | Yandel, Hector y Tito, Daddy Yankee, Baby Rasta y |
| During the mid-nineties, Puerto Ricans were making | | | | Gringo and Ivy Queen. These are the most popular |
| their own material, with hip-hop influences, and | | | | artists in Puerto Rico and most of Latin America. They |
| recording what is considered to be the first Reggaeton | | | | are credited with bringing it to the mainstream, |
| tracks. Today, the music is flourishing in both Puerto | | | | amassing a large following in areas like New York, |
| Rico and Panama. And it now appears to be headed | | | | Florida, Boston and Chicago.Large companies are |
| to the U.S.The music is very similar to Jamaican | | | | taking notice as well. Last year, Roc-A-Fella Records, |
| Reggae or Ragga. The same rhythm is employed and | | | | best known for rappers Jay Z, Beanie Sigel and Foxy |
| the vocals tend to be reggae style though hip-hop | | | | Brown, created an extension of the label for Latin |
| style vocals are becoming extremely popular. The | | | | artists known as Roc-La-Familia. Bad Boy mogul Sean |
| lyrics are often about Love, Cheating, Street Life, | | | | "P Diddy" Combs also has started Bad Boy Latino. |
| Passion and Misunderstandings. Although there are | | | | The genre that was once chastised is beginning to |
| plenty of artists that have incorporated raunchy lyrics | | | | flourish. |
| the have to do with nothing but sex.Reggaeton today | | | | |