Reggaeton: From the alleys of San Juan to academia. The rhythm that mixes hip-hop with Caribbean music was born in Puerto Rico in the 90s and became a continental phenomenon with irreverent songs about sex, race, and immigrants. We’ll talk to the editors of a new book that studies reggaeton’s relevance, politics and poetry.
Guests:
Fernando OteroThe Relevance of Reggaeton
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Reggaeton might just be the most successful cultural export from Puerto Rico since Ricky Martin. But if Puerto Rican authorities had had their way back in the late 90s, this hard-driving style, with its often hardcore lyrics, would never have made it to 2004, when Daddy Yankee's out-of-nowhere hit "Gasolina" made reggaeton matter in the US. For years, reggaeton was seen by the authorities as a low-class, no-morals blight on society. It actually reminds me of another style of music... wait, which one was it again... Hip-hop? Jazz? Tango? Ragtime? The Waltz? Oh wait - I remember. It was ALL OF THEM!
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