Discovering Genres: Reggaetón — The Lexington Line

Reggaetón is becoming increasingly popular as artists like Bad Bunny and J Balvin gain massive followings around the globe. Despite the more recent popularity, Reggaetón is a genre of music with a rich history that started around the 1980s in Panama City but really grew in the 1990s when it made its way to Puerto Rico.

Reggaetón is a mix between Jamaican Reggae, dancehall, and hip hop and often features a signature beat called “dem bow.” The style originates from the Panamanian/Jamaican genre “reggae en Español.”

One of the most popular Reggaetón songs worldwide is the 2017 hit by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, “Despacito.” The song became the longest-standing number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time and received another version that added pop singer Justin Bieber.

However, if you feel somewhat familiar with Reggaetón but don’t know which artists to listen to, here are five popular artists to get you started with the genre.

Feid

Feid is a Reggaetón singer and songwriter hailing from Medellín, Columbia. He boasts seven studio albums and has collabed with multiple other artists like Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Karol G. Feid introduced a stage alter ego in 2020 named Ferxxo, who pays homage to his Medellín roots and leans more heavily into the Reggaetón genre than his previous music.

Rauw Alejandro

Another popular Reggaetón artist, Rauw Alejandro, has made a name for himself with his four studio albums released yearly since 2020. Alejandro’s music takes inspiration from Latin R&B, Reggaetón, and ballads to create a unique sound from other artists who lean more heavily into pop sounds.

Jhayco

Jhayco got his start composing music at just 15 years old. He collaborated with other artists for many years before releasing his first studio album, Famouz, in 2019. Since this release, Jhayco has released a special edition of his first album as well as a second album titled Timelezzz.

ROSALÍA

Rosalía is a singer, songwriter, and actress who became popular for her pop-inspired flamenco style of music. She has released three studio albums with her second, El Mal Querer, launching her into international success and winning a Grammy for Best Latin Rock, Urban, or Alternative Album. In 2022, Rosalía released the album MOTOMAMI, which departed from the sounds of her prior works and leaned more into the Reggaetón genre, winning her another Grammy for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album.

Mora

Mora started releasing singles in 2017, but his career escalated with his collaboration with Eladio Carrión, Brray, and Joyce Santana on the remix of the song “Pensabas.” He has since released four studio albums that have demonstrated his innovative approach to the Reggaetón genre.

Below is a playlist to help you get started listening to these artists and their popular releases.

Do you have a favorite Reggaetón artist from this list? Comment down below.