Reggaeton is a form of latin urban music. Reggaeton blends West-Indian music influences of reggae and dancehall with those of Latin America, such as bomba, plena, salsa, latin pop and bachata as well as those of hip hop, contemporary R&B, and electronica. However, reggaeton is also combined with rapping or singing in Spanish. The influence of this genre has spread to the wider Latino communities in the United States, as well as the Latin American audience. While it takes influences from hip hop and Jamaican dancehall, reggaeton is not the Hispanic or Latino version of either of these genres; reggaeton has its own specific beat and rhythm, whereas Latino hip hop is simply hip hop recorded by artists of Latino descent. The specific rhythm that characterizes reggaeton is referred to as “Dem Bow.”[2][3] The name is a reference to the title of the dancehall song by Shabba Ranks that first popularized the beat in the early 1990s. Reggaeton’s origins represents a hybrid of many different musical genres and influences from various countries in the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States.
Perreo is a Puerto Rican dance associated with reggaeton music, that focuses on grinding, with the man facing the back of the woman. The word ‘perreo’, meaning dancing “doggystyle”, derives from the Spanish word perro, meaning “dog”. This is also known as “booty dancing” or “freak dancing” in America. There was also an associated Puerto Rican music genre called perreo, which was the precursor to reggaeton. In Puerto Rico, youth perreo parties are a common part of regular nightlife.
When you are learning a new dance, getting some good music to practice to, or just to enjoy, can be very difficult. The music is taking over and you want more of it in your life, but don’t know where to start.
To make the process a little easier, we’ve rounded up a selection of our favourite pieces by genre, and provided links to iTunes where available. If you have a particular track that you think should be featured here, let us know. Remember, musicians have to earn a living too. If you like it, please buy it.
Artist |
Title |
Level |
Buy |
NORE | Oye Mi Canto | Beginner | |
Daddy Yankee | Gasolina | Beginner | |
Daddy Yankee | Lo Que Paso Paso | Beginner |
Reggaeton Performance