Alternative reggaeton
| Alternative reggaeton | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Puerto Rico |
| Typical instruments | |
| Regional scenes | |
| Other topics | |
| Latin hip hop | |
Alternative reggaeton is a subgenre of reggaeton that emerged from the hip hop movement as a reaction to its repetitive and monotone dembow rhythm, and the predominant stereotypical gangsta content that became predictable. The result was a complex sound derived from world sounds, mainly rooted in Latin American folk music such as Puerto Rican bomba y plena, salsa and tango and also other foreign influenced music such as rock en español. Mixed with thoughtful (and sometimes crude) lyricism guided by an anti-colonialism discourse, Latin American sociopolitical content and racial pride, it gave listeners a smooth blend of danceable rhythms and intellectual dialogue.
The precursor is arguably one of the founding fathers of reggaeton: Vico C, whose albums relied heavily on hip hop acoustics, keyboards and reggae roots. Xplosión (1993), Aquel Que Había Muerto (1998) and Desahogo (2005) are good examples.
The starting point of alternative reggaeton is considered by many to be the album El Abayarde, the 2002 debut of Tego Calderón. The blend of Puerto Rican folk music, known as bomba y plena (derived from its African ancestry of Loiza), and a steady beats of hip hop and classical reggaeton served as a base for the new variant. The album became a major success, launching the underground status of Calderón to the pinnacle of the Spanish speaking MC's.
The breakthrough album of what is considered alternative reggaeton came in 2005 with the self-titled debut album of Puerto Rican duo Calle 13. The song "Atrévete-te-te" from the album became a big success on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, peaking at #15. This helped the genre gain more media exposure. The background of the Puerto Rican duo provided a fresh source for the subgenre. Producer and multi-instrumentalist Visitante was formerly educated in music, and eventually formed part of a rock en español and Brazilian batucada band called Bayanga, which provided a diametrical point of view from the traditional caserío-inspired dancehall synthesizer sound from most albums. Lyricist Residente was highly educated, having earned a Masters of Fine Arts in the Savannah College of Art and Design, which contributed to his crafted lyricism and purposeful sarcasm. The main asset of the album was that it provided more than just danceable tracks, and it began to question the inner perception of Puerto Rican identity and the acceptance of foreign models as a pertinent solution to Latin American issues. This is evident in the Diddy mocking song "Pi-di-di-di". Some criticism has been raised of Residente by its close similarity to Eminem's songs and whole '' ethos.
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