Reggaeton (also spelled Regueton or with an accent) is a Latin style of music. Reggaeton is Panamanian, but has grown to be more associated with "Boricuas" (Puerto Ricans), some claiming the genre as their own. It is characterized by a certain beat called "dem bow", which is a traditional Carribean beat but was first popularized by dancehall musician Shabba Ranks's song with a title of the same name. An example of the beat can be heard on that song or simply defined as A-A-B (or ch-ch-bass) or B-B-A (bass, bass, ch). Its influences include Hip hop, techno and Reggae dancehall, and touches of merengue, salsa, bachata, bolero and other Latin music can be featured. Unlike reggae, it does not use "riddims", instrumentals created by producers who can be used by any artists, most of the time, but exceptions can be made, such as Deejay Sasha and Ivy Queen's "Dat Sexy Body", which uses the Bookshelf Riddim originating from Reggae dancehall artist Beenie Man.

After Raggamuffin (dancehall) deejays from Panama including El General and Black Apache experimented with the same beat, they began "toasting" over it (a kind of Jamaican-style rapping which occurs when talking, rhyming, or singing is done over a beat) in Spanish. It further transformed with the likes of Don Chezina, Vico C, Las Guanabanas, DJ Blass, DJ Playero, and other Puerto ricans and Dominicans who discovered this then-emerging genre, and began rapping instead of toasting.

Singles from the next millenium broke Reggaeton into the mainstream music scene, such as Panamanian rapper Lorna's "Papi Chulo (Te Traigo el Mmm)" and half- Puerto Rican N.O.R.E. (also known Noreaga)'s "Oye Mi Canto" (featuring Nina sky, Daddy Yankee, and Gemstar and Big Mato).

Finally, Daddy Yankee's tremendously successful song "Gasolina" (written by Eddie Dee and produced by Luny Tunes) reached #1 in the United States Latin music charts, and then gained huge acclaim in Colombia, Mexico, Italy, France, the UK, and Germany.

At various stages, Reggaeton has been known as "Musica underground", "Dembow", "Spanish dancehall", or "Reggae en espanol", but was then finally known as its current name in the early 2000s.

Related genres similar to reggaeton include Salsaton, Merenhouse, Bachateo, and Bhangraton. Reggaeton is like, but not synonymous to, Latin rap. This is because Latin rap defines any rap recorded by artists of Hispanic or Spanish-speaking descent who rap in either Spanish, English or both, where reggaeton has specific influences and is mainly classified by the previously stated Dembow beat.

Today, Reggaeton has gained popularity and is being much experimented with throughout Latin America, especially in countries like Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, it is one of the most plagiarized genres in the music industry.

Some prominent reggaeton artists and producers or artists that have experimented with the genre (not listed in sequence of importance) include Daddy Yankee, Wisin and Yandel, Tego Calderon, Calle 13, Bimbo, Nicky Jam, Luny Tunes, Don Omar, Eliel, Pescozada, El Chombo, Ariel, Casper, DJ Playero, Don Miguelo, Kartier, Tony Dize, El Rubiote, Franco "El Gorilla", El Sensei, Rafy Mercenario, Rakim y Ken-y, Cheka, Yomo, Naldo, Lito y Polaco, Zion y Lennox, Voltio, Hector El Father, Tito El Bambino, Trebol Clan, Ingco Crew, Baby Rasta, Gringo, Arcangel, Tainy, Plan B, Alexis y Fido, John Eric, El General, Lorna, Killer Ranks, Wise, Big Boy, Eddie Dee, Angel y Khriz, Tony Dize, Johnny Prez, Fulanito, Gem star and Big Mato, Vico C, Ivy Queen, Tony Touch, Don Chezina, El General, D'Mingo, Heavy Clan, DJ Pollo, Magnate and Valentino, Baby Ranks, Sasha, Speedy, La Sista, and others.
Reggaeton can be heard on songs such as:

"Chulin Culin Chunfly"
"Oye Mi Canto"
"Quiero Bailar"
"Papi Chulo"
"Dat Sexy Body"
"Reggaeton Latino"
"Papi te Quiero"
"Cuando Baila Reggaeton"
"Que Se Tiren"
"Pa' Que Retozen"
"Para Mi Barrio (Reggaeton Mix)"
"Con Rabia"
"A Que No a Treves"
"Tra Tra Tra"
"Lo Que Paso Paso"
"Dejala Volar"
"Ella no te quiere"
"Cuerpo a Cuerpo"
"Ponte de Pie"
"Eso Ehh...!"
"El Telefono"

Keep in mind that these are only some of the songs that give a good example.

Some albums that mostly feature reggaeton include:

Daddy Yankee's "Barrio Fino" (or the live version, Barrio Fino en Directo")
Don Omar's "The Last Don"
Ivy Queen's "Diva"
Don Chezina's "Reggaeton Revolucion"
Luny Tunes's "King of the Beats", "Mas Flow: The Beginning", "Mas Flow 2", "Mas Flow 2.5", and "Mas Flow: Los Benjamins", which feature other reggaeton artists
Heavy Clan's "Cuerpo a Cuerpo"
Hector El Father's "The Bad Boy"
Tito el Bambino's "Top of the Line"
Rakim and Ken-y's "Masterpiece"
Wisin and Yandel's "Pa'l Mundo", and "Wisin y Yandel Presentan: Los Vaqueros"
Andy Montanez's "Salsaton: Salsa con Reggaeton"
Alexis and Fido's "The Pitbulls"
Voltio's self titled album, "Voltio"
Baby Rasta y Gringo's "Sentenciados"

Some (only some) Reggaeton compilations are:

"Sangre Nueva (Special Edition)"
"Los Rompe Discotekas"
"Gargolas-The Next Generation"
"Abusando del Genero"
"Reggaeton Hitmakers"
"Reggaeton Fury"
"Chosen Few: El Documental"
"100% Dominicano: La Nueva Sangre del Reggaeton"
"Dancehall Reggaespanol" (shows a more primitive form of Reggaeton)

Some Reggaeton record labels are:
Machete Music
Buddha's Family
Pina Records
Sangre Nueva Music
El Cartel Records
RB Entertainmet
Alex Music
Tommy Boy Entertainment
Don Ricardo Garcia international
by Gringostyle January 05, 2007
Disturbing noise some consider¨"music". Right up there with country and rap in terms of worse music on the planet.
Reggaeton keeps getting worse, thanks to such jackasses as daddy yankee and don omar.
by Adrian August 14, 2006
Derragatory and street influenced music whose roots began in panama in the late 80´s later adopted by Puerto rico and became later known as perreo. It is vulgar and just plain nasty and insults reggae or even being called that is a disgrace. It also should not be credited towards tha boris cuz much of their beats are obtain by mixtures of bachata and other. Its a wanna be gangsta rap genre ooh i hate reggaeton
Lil Jon and daddy yankee makes the shitiest combination ever since they both suck
by Yanin June 19, 2005
The reason alot of latinos/latinas get pregnant before they turn 15. but its also a sexy type of dance where the guy pretty much stands there and watches to girl grind her ass on your penis. and it also has repetitive sexist lyrics which sets the mood.
example of reggaeton lyrics.

Daddy yankee: mueve el culo mami mueve el culo mami mueve el culo mami mueve el culo mami te voy a meter el pito mami te voy a meter el pito mami te voy a meter el pito mami perrea perrea perrea mami
by BigJoe13 May 22, 2009
THE MOST fucking retarded music in the world, ay i'm cuban and i love latin music but this is just fucking wothless, its got tha same damn beat in ever fukin song and dnt gimme that shit bout "reggaeton love songs" thats bullshit! the song will be over the same beat bout them dumbasses talkin bout the same shit. Plain out..this reggaeton shit is just a passing fad, no fukin Reggaeton Forever type shit for me
Girl #1: Gasloina!!! i love reggaeton!
Me: STFU, look at the gas prices and you're singing some fukin stupid gasoline these days with their tone deaf ears
by pattycake January 04, 2006
A music found in Panama to Puerto Rico. A Tropical style of Reggae with the carribean beat with all the latin music put together. Very sexual music hip hop with reggae; Latin style make you want to grind
Vam0s a Perrear con el reggaeton
by La Gata Fiera April 19, 2005
An aberration of rap and reggae, translated into vulgar Spanish. Sexually-oriented lyrics make Reggaeton extremely popular, but in the end, the people behind it have no talent, creativity, and NO SENSE OF RYTHIM.
A mi me gusta la gasoliiina... DAME MAS GASOLIIINA... (I like the gasoline? FTS!!!)
by Yue CG May 12, 2005
Imagine Rap raped Reggae and they had a retarded child, that's more or less what Reggaeton is, it is also the source of most of the social and cultural problems of latin america and and the only way stupid bad boys can be rich legally without going to school.

It's dance is, in a few words, raping a woman wih your clothes on.

I doubt you will find a positive comment about reggaeton here as the people that listen to it use internet just for downloading music and Facebook.
Reggaeton is the only drug you comsume with the ears.
by HelpYourself May 30, 2010

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