Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
usually incorporating instruments including the
tres
(a type of guitar with three sets of
closely spaced strings), standard guitars and various hand drums.
Merengue originates from the Dominican Republic and can be characterized by a very
fast beat, with just two beats to each bar. It's typically played on the tamboura, guiro (a
ridged cylindrical percussion instrument made of metal or dried gourd) and accordion.
Hailing from the Andalusian region of Spain is the folk art of flamenco, which consists
of hand clapping, finger snapping, vocals, guitar and the flamboyant dance.
Miami's Argentines love to tango, a Buenos Aires invention that draws off European
classical dance and the immigrant experience of South America's French, Italian, African
and indigenous enclaves.
The popular reggae sound, originating in Jamaica and having strong Rastafarian roots, is
a total movement most popularly associated with Bob Marley. It's characterized by rhythm
chops on a backbeat and, at least in its beginnings, a political-activist message. There are
various styles within reggae, including roots (Marley's sound), dancehall (ie Yosexygirl-
wannagetboomshackalacka), raga and dub.
But it's rare to just hear one of the above. Miami is a polyglot kind of town, and it loves
to blend techno with
son,
give an electronic backbeat to salsa, and overlay everything with
dub, hip-hop and
bomba
(African-influenced Puerto Rican dance music). This mixed mar-
riage produces a lot of musical children, and the most recognizable modern sound derived
from the above is reggaeton, a driving mash-up that plays like Spanish rap shoved through
a sexy backbeat and thumpin' dancehall speakers. Pioneers of the genre include Daddy
Yankee, Don Chezina, Tito El Bambino, Wisin Y Yandel, Calle 13 and producers such as
Luny Tunes and Noriega. Although it largely originated in Puerto Rico, reggaeton is one
of the few musical styles that can get Latinos from across the Americas - from Nicara-
guans to Mexicans to Colombians - shaking it.
Miami's hip-hop has had a bit of a circular evolution, from early '90s Miami bass (dirty-
dance music, exemplified by 2 Live Crew) to more aggressive, street-style rap, which has
blended and morphed into today's club-oriented tracks. These modern sounds draw off the
crunk beats, Southern drawls and Atlanta overproduction of the Dirty South sound. The hit
2008 single 'Low' by Flo Rida encapsulates the genre, which sounds, in a lot of ways, like
the club child of Miami bass and everything that has come since. Local hip-hop heroes
work hard to keep Miami on the map and strongly rep neighborhoods such as Opa Locka,
Liberty City and Overtown; artists to listen for include DJ Smallz, Rick Ross, Flo Rida
