Reggaeton’s trajectory from el barrio to mass appeal is repeated regularly: In the late ‘80s, Spanish-language reggae traveled from Panama and established itself as reggaeton in Puerto Rico, where the genre as we know it today evolved from dancehall, rap culture, and local Caribbean music elements. And like hip-hop, reggaeton has endured for decades now, emerging from the ruins of the ghetto and reaching unimagined international ascension thanks in part to pioneer MCs such as El General, Vico C, Tego Calderón, Lisa M, and Ivy Queen, to name a few. But becoming a mainstream phenomenon means the rhythm has captured audiences far beyond its shores and humble beginnings, and its leaders, history, and street politics have sometimes been erased.
