After the 2026 super bowl, a lot of Americans started asking what is Reggaeton? Reggaeton’s traction has been building for years now, and Bad Bunny’s controversial half time show was a visible testament to the broadening of its reach.
What is Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a relatively new genre of Latin music that began in the 90’s era. As the name suggests, it mixes some Spanish reggae influence with pop and hip hop sounds, and continues to evolve over time.
Marked by its high energy and hard hitting beats that want to make you move, reggaeton is commonly heard in gyms and in nightclubs. One of the most recent and incredibly viral examples of this is Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber’s (remix) of the song “Despacito”. Pitbull is another well known reggaeton artist whose name and music is highly recognized across the U.S.
Reggaeton Origin
Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico, and quickly spread across South and Central America. Different countries started to invent their own twists on the music. Today, you can find anything from Mexican mariachi sounds to Dominican Island beats infused into modern, classic reggaeton sounds.
Artists that are able to tap into reggaeton and heavily infuse sounds specific to their countries are turning folky regional sounds into ultra unique and catchy tunes that are enjoyed worldwide, thus broadening the reach of their local musical roots. Mexican artist Peso Pluma is one of the biggest examples of this right now.
How Reggaeton Genuinely Changed My Life
The statement “reggaeton changed my life” sounds dramatic at first glance, after all the words are not known to be profound, and it is generally intended for mindless fun. Ironically enough, that is exactly why it made such an impact on me.
I like many Americans did not grow up dancing. I really felt quite uncomfortable with even the thought of dancing, and anytime I needed to attend a school dance like homecoming, the only way I’d dance is if I was dancing around to make my friends laugh.
I grew up in a rather stoic home, and that level of expression felt so unnatural. I had an innate fear of trying to do something in the spotlight and risking looking stupid in the process. Laughing and joking in such situations was my method of coping with that fear. I thought, if I purposefully look crazy dancing, I will look like I am just having fun and joking, versus trying and people seeing that I’m actually no good at it.
I think that’s actually a pretty rational thought but deep down, I was suppressing myself and afraid to feel too seen. I needed more confidence, but didn’t know how to build it.
Introduction to Reggaeton: Guided By My Latina Friends
Fast forward to college, and suddenly I am at a school with 70% international students. I quickly made friends with many hispanic people, including my Chilean roommate Maca who happens to be an incredible dancer.
Together, we started venturing into the latin clubs that of course were always blasting reggaeton. Prior to going out, we stood in front of a big full length mirror on our closet doors and she taught me a few basic steps. With the help a friend, a bit of liquid courage, and the undeniably catchy reggaeton music, I was dancing in no time.
Through that experience, I was able to build up confidence and connect with that form of expression.
Today, I still listen to it to hype me up for the gym or when I need a boost of energy. Although the words are normally questionable like most hip hop, rap, and pop music, the sounds actually feel oddly healing.
