Reggaeton's roots started off as Spanish reggae in Puerto Rico, NOT Panama.[8]Puertorican who lived in Puerto Rico when Reggeaton started off, it sounded almost like Techno, family members were living in Panama at the time and it was not originated in Panama, Panama was the second country to introduce reggeaton thru reggeaton rapper "El General> The music eventually made its way and continued evolving and coming to prominence in Puerto Rico where it became reggaeton. Reggaeton started as an adaptation of Jamaican reggae to the Spanish language and overall culture in Panama.[3]
The origins of reggaeton begin with the first reggae recordings being made in Puerto Rico during the early 1970s. Reportedly, the Jamaican influence on Puerto Rican music has been strong since the early 20th century when Jamaican laborers were used to help build the Panama Canal.[3] Afro-Panamanians had been performing and recording Spanish-language reggae since the 1970s. Artists such as El General, Chichoman, Nando Boom, Renato, and Black Apache are considered the first raggaeton DJs from Panama. El General is often considered the father of reggaeton, blending Jamaican reggae into a Latinised version.[9][10] It was common practice to translate the lyrics of Jamaican reggae song into Spanish and sing them over the original melodies, a form termed "Spanish reggae" or "Reggae en español." Meanwhile, during the 1980s the Puerto Rican rapper Vico C released Spanish-language hip hop records in his native island. His production of cassettes throughout the 1980s, mixing reggae and hip hop, also helped spread the early reggaeton sound, and he is widely credited with this achievement.[11] The widespread movement of "Spanish reggae" in the Latin-American communities of the Caribbean and the urban centres of the United States help increase its popularity.[3]
Meanwhile hip hop and reggae in Puerto Rico were on the rise due to the increased popularity of Jamaican ragga imports. Towards the middle...