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