Reggaeton: Craze or here to stay?

By Asti Winston
Contributing Writer
Urban Edition

Reggae and dancehall music have been around for years, cultivating and influencing hip-hop and other genres of music. Recently, reggae has warped into something with a Latino vibe, called reggaeton.
This year, reggaeton was incorporated into the Latino Festival. Up and coming KGB records Reggaeton artist Gerson performed with Daddy Fuerte at the festival last weekend.
“It was awesome,” Gerson told Urban Edition.
Gerson says he was unable to perform solo due to a hectic production schedule but is anxious for the release of his own album entitled Bajo Zero (Below Zero). Gerson, who is originally from Puerto Rico, is now a Columbus resident. He is featured on two compilation CDs: Rebeldia (Rebellious) and Tha Crew 4.
Reggaeton, a relatively new genre of dance music that originates from Puerto Rico, is a mix of reggae, hip-hop and salsa music. It has become popular throughout the United States, the Caribbean islands and neighboring Latino nations.
“I think people are looking for something new and different,” Lisette Merced, a Columbus resident, said. “Latin music has become more mainstream so it was inevitable for reggaeton to plant its roots in the United States too.”
“Reggaeton is not new it was just underground, now it’s hot and many people are jumping on the bandwagon,” Gerson said.
Some think that the new genre will take over salsa and merengue because of the lyrics and the increased popularity. Others feel that reggaeton is simply an added incentive to the already established types of Latino music.
“For younger generations, I feel reggaeton takes away from traditional Spanish music because they (younger Hispanics) are so involved in the mainstream music that they aren’t learning about their traditional music and their culture,” said Merced.
Columbus DJs are serving up various reggaeton artists to the masses and suggest look
ing out for reggaeton artists like Ivy Queen, Dad-

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