BEAT ON THE STREET

Reggaeton music was born in Puerto Rico, and it's here to stay.

A blend of reggae, hiphop and Latin music, reggaeton was born in Puerto Rico-and it's here to stay.

BY JEREMY DILLAHUNT

KENTUCKY HAS bluegrass; Nashville has country-and Puerto Rico is all about reggaeton. The island's inhabitants are crazy for this unique music style that blends reggae rhythms with Latin beat signatures and hiphop lyrics. In fact, it's pretty much all you'll hear at the island's dancing hotspots.

Reggaeton's musical roots can be traced back to Panama in the 1970s, and more specifically to the descendents of Jamaican immigrants who had moved there when the Panama Canal was being built. Th ese AfroPanamanians imported reggae and merged it with traditional Latino sounds, creating Spanish reggae, a style that was faster than contemporary Jamaican reggae, but slower than salsa or merengue. Th e music reached the height of its popularity through Panamanian star El General, who was popular throughout the Caribbean in the 1990s.

Nearby, hip-hop was flourishing in Puerto Rico in the early 1990s. Seeking to adapt it to their own musical traditions, local kids recorded themselves rapping in Spanish over the top of instrumental hip-hop or Latin songs, including those by El General. The style proved to be a perfect pop storm for the island's younger ears. According to reggaeton stars Alexis & Fido, "Reggaeton started as an underground genre. It has evolved so much... to the extent that there are radio stations in Puerto Rico and other countries dedicated solely to reggaeton. It's one of the top-selling genres in the Latin music industry right now."

With dance-friendly beats, lazy rhythms, and energetic lyrics and hooks, reggaeton can be heard around the world. But for a genuine taste of the music, you've got to hear it here. Alexis & Fido say it best: "Without any doubt, reggaeton is the best thing about Puerto Rico."

Feel the Rhythm

Soak up the sounds at these reggaeton hotspots.

Caldosos Pub
Carreteria 152, Naranjito
Reggaeton's upcoming stars use the poolroom of this local bar as the pulpit for their rhymes.

Club Dembow
Campo Rico Ave, Carolina
Dembow is low on luxury but high on authenticity. There's not much by way of couches or décor, and the patrons are generally more interested in dancing than showing off their bling. Occasionally, big names like Don Omar show up to provide unannounced shows.

Club Lázer
251 Cruz St, Old San Juan
To get in to Lázer, you need to look sharp. Velvet ropes denote this club as a bottle service, VIP haven, and the crowd is out to prove it. Sometimes big-name acts like Pitbull will stop by for some spotlight time, but on a week-to-week basis, the Sunday night party is the one to catch.

The Noise
203 Tanca St, Old San Juan
Famous for its Friday night parties, The Noise is the perfect blend of upscale style and underground authenticity-and it's one of Alexis & FIdo's favorite places. The club itself is an architectural marvel-a colonial-style home that has been refinished to accommodate dance floors and sound systems.