Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reggaeton & Rap
Reggaeton, a mix of American-style hip-hop and Latin rhythms, has exploded onto the
Dominican scene. Reggaeton has a distinctly urban flavor, and its fast-paced danceable
beats, street-life narratives and catchy choruses make it the party music of choice for many
young Dominicans. In terms of origins, Panama claims it was the first country to bring
Spanish-influenced reggae to the underground scene in the late 1970s. But it was Puerto
Rico that gave the music a whole new beat and name in the 1980s and '90s.
Since that time, reggaeton has become increasingly popular throughout the DR, and
Dominican artists have made their own stamp on the genre. Like hip-hop in the US, reg-
gaeton has evolved from a musical genre to an entire culture, with its own brand of fashion
and commerce. Artists to look out for include the well-known reggaeton duo Wisin & Yan-
del, Pavel Nuñez, an established star whose music is a mix between folk and Latin, and Kat
DeLuna, a pop singer whose music is a hodgepodge of styles and rhythms.
Rap Dominicano, a relatively new musical sub-genre, is pounded out of the Dominican
barrios, and has taken its place alongside reggaeton as the most popular forms of music
among Dominican youth. Although rap is an imported genre and the sounds blasting from
the speakers don't resemble the typical sounds of the DR, Dominican rap artists have man-
aged to weave the sounds of bachata and merengue into their tracks, rapping about an urb-
an upbringing that is uniquely their own. A few artists to look out for are El Lapiz Con-
ciente, Vakero, Joa, Toxic Crow, Punto Rojo and R1.
In 1818 the Spanish colonial governor ordered nighttime dancing in the street without a permit
to be illegal.
 
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