Reggaeton is an extraordinarily popular Latin American music and dance genre that took shape in the 1990s in Puerto Rico, on the basis of Panamanian Spanish-language reggae, Jamaican reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, and Latin rhythms. It is recognised instantly by its characteristic rhythmic pattern — the “dembow.”
Reggaeton combines Spanish-language rap and singing with a crisp electronic beat and dance-floor energy. From a local underground style it turned into a global phenomenon: tracks such as “Despacito” top the world charts, and its performers become stars of planetary scale. Reggaeton has largely defined the sound of contemporary Latin American pop and has noticeably influenced the world dance scene of the early 21st century.
