Reggaeton was created out of a mixture of different musical forms from the Caribbean region such as Jamaican dancehall, salsa, merengue, hip-hop and variety of other forms. This diverse set of influences can lead to vastly different songs all being classified as reggaeton. An example of this is Daddy Yankee's 'Ella me Levanto' and his other song 'Gasolina'.
It's similarity to Hip-Hop has caused it to be extremely popular among urban youth and other fans of Hip-hip. The 'gangsta' mentality is present in both genres and they both share similar musical ideas. It is a perfect example of how African and Latino ideas can come together to produce a popular form of music. The similarity also highlights how both groups of people, who have been continually oppressed by the white majority have dealt with the issues that have resulted from their subjugation. They have both glorified wealth and constructed the 'gangster' archetype. At the same time, both cultures have analyzed the impacts and issues of poverty and inner-city living. In this way Reggaeton shows that African-American's and Latinos and much different from each other at all.
Work Cited:
Rudolph, Jennifer D. "Pidieron Cacao: Latinidad and Black Identity in the Reggaeton of Don Omar." Centro 23.1 (2011): 31-53. Print.
This just goes to show how Afro-Latino and Black culture is so relateable, even in more recent times. It interesting, I wonder what other things they have in common.
ReplyDeleteAfrican American culture and Afro Latino culture are so much alike. It is sad that there is so much division between the two culture groups. They should embrace their similarities.
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