Reggaeton Music is one of the hottest music forms to sweep the world as of late. People everywhere and from all ages and all walks of life are doing their best to sign along to Reggaeton Songs, even when they don’t know exactly what the words mean. For those new to the Reggaeton scene, Reggaeton Music can best be described as urban Latin American music. It first became heard of in 2004 and since that time has become popular throughout North America and Europe and, recently, in Asia. It’s interesting to note, however, that Reggaeton isn’t all Latin in nature. The musical style is actually a mixture of West Indian music, reggae, and dancehall with a lot of traditional Latin American sounds and styles. So, while a lot of people think of this music as just another form of “rap,” it is actually much more.
One of the most talked about topics when it comes to Reggaeton Songs is the lyrics. Like rap music, Reggaeton Songs are often about having sex with women, other sexual exploits, and in some cases, violence or even gang violence. While many young people think the lyrics are “cool,” or even identify with them in some way, the subject matter of most Reggaeton has caused some controversy both in the United States and in Latin American countries.
Despite what some people may think about Reggaeton, the current popularity of Reggaeton Music suggests that it is here to stay. Popular artists in the United States who perform primarily Reggaeton Music or who have Reggaeton backgrounds include rapper N.O.R.E.; Nina Sky; Tego Calderon; and Daddy Yankee. The musical style has even been given its own special nickname in the states. It is called “Hurban,” which is simply a slang term for Hispanic Urban music.
While it still has a way to go, Europe seems to be the next big hot spot for accepting and falling in love with this slick musical style. It is especially helpful that many Latin American or Hispanic immigrants reside in various areas of Europe. This alone is causing the music to gain a wider following in Europe. In Europe, artists Lorna, Hector Y Tito, and Daddy Yankee are all fairly well known. A mixed Reggaeton style known as Moombahton,” has also garnered attention in European countries. Moombahton can best be described as mix of house music and slower than usual Reggaeton Music and lyrics. If the trend continues as expected, this form of music should take over Europe and then become even more popular in other areas as well. The best thing about all this is that this form of music is giving Hispanic and Latin American people a better understanding and stance in society, helping to bring tolerance and acceptance to a new level.