Reggaeton has come a long way from its early days in other underground clubs of San Juan. Now one of the most powerful forces in Latin music, reggaeton artists have begun to reflect on the massive genre which they have created.
Reggaeton by J Balvin (2018)
J Balvin’s Reggaeton, a 2018 single, is perhaps the most self-reflationary song to be released in the last few years. The song itself is a tribute to early reggaeton artists. The music video features imagery heavily inspired by the early days of the genre. Classic reggaeton album art and shirts with the likes of Daddy Yankee fill this video. As Balvin says, Dios bendiga reggaeton, amen.
787- Ivy Queen (2019)
Ivy Queen, one of the most important women in the history of Latin music, pens this song rich in reggaeton references. You could go line by line through this song and pick out almost limitless references to artists like Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, and Yandel. This 2019 song includes at least 15 different references to classic reggaeton songs according to Wikipedia.
Dembow 2020 – Yandel ft Rauw Alejandro
Yandel’s 2020 album Quien Contra Mi 2 is a tribute to reggaeton while also a retrospective on his highly influential 2004 album. One of the lead songs from the album, Dembow 2020 unites one of the undisputed legends of the genre with a rising star in Rauw Alejandro. To add another level of reflection, the title of the song is a reference to a 1990 song titled Dem Bow by Shabba Ranks. Dem Bow created the rhythm known as dembow, which is foundation to nearly every reggaeton song.
As the genre continues to grow, expect more songs to take the meta approach. Artists like Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, and Wisin & Yandel will all reflect on the massive empire they’ve created. Meanwhile, new artists will reflect on how they fit into the genre and the broader context of the music.
Keii – Anuel AA (2020)
This whole song is about refercing all of the biggest hits at the time. The title translates to “Respect” and the song itself is a tribute to the other artists producing hits in reggaeton and urban music. This track pays homage to all of the “no-strings-attached” hits of the day while adding it’s own chapter. Urban music, in general, consistently returns to this theme. With that understanding, the song is as much of a tribute as it is a new spin.
Are there any songs I missed? Sound off in the comments.
For a brief overview of reggaeton and the other major genres of Latin music, be sure to read Part 1 of our ongoing series of “What to Know About Latin Music”.