Saturday, November 19, 2005

Ok people, let's get our heads out of the clouds on this reggaeton phenomenon. I am going take it back to when I first heard about "reggaeton" when it was referred to as "Spanish Reggae." I was back in high school and my boy Rob, a Dominican cat with a mean jump shot, was telling me about Spanish reggae. He was down with some guys and it's going to blow up. He offered to actually bring me in on it. He also gave me an open invite to join the Latin Kings.

But, I am not the type to go all crazy about joining anyone else's movement, gang, group, cause, etc etc etc. I am more about leading my own causes. If I believe in your cause, I'll lend you a hand.

Anyway, this was back in like 1995. Spanish reggae, at the time, was simply Spanish lyrics over a reggae beat. Who the hell knows how long that's really been going on. I am sure someone decided to speak Spanish over a reggae beat long before someone else thought it was their idea.


But, today, reggaeton is some sort of explosion or something. I guess I missed out! It's as if this is a new thing and something special. I am sorry to say, reggaeton bears little resemblance to the stuff I was hearing back in HS. People don't even recognize that today, reggaeton isn't even Spanish over a reggae beat anymore. This is because most people haven't heard the real stuff yet so they don't even know what they're hearing and gett confused.

Spanish Reggae is not reggaeton.

Reggaeton is fake, corporate packaged bullshit fronted by some Hispanic folks who were too hungry to stay true to the art form. Spanish Reggae, today, consists of Spanish lyrics over a heavy Hispanic-influenced Reggae beat. It's very distinct and you can tell the difference between Spanish Reggae vs original Reggae.

Spanish Reggae is NOT an up-tempo Hip Hop beat sprinkled with some spanish people. In other words, reggaeton is nothing more than Spanish over a Hip Hop or R&B sound. That's Hip Hop, translated. Nothing more, nothing less, NOTHING NEW.

Another thing that sort of bothers me is this rift that's developing between Hispanics and blacks over this bullshit music. I would hope both groups take my advice on this issue and stop acting like a bunch of damn fools.

Spanish people need to quit acting as if the bullshit played on the radio or in the clubs is real Spanish Reggae. Or rather, Hispanic folks need to stop equating reggaeton with real Spanish Reggae. This confuses people. You need to deny that fake shit that you hear and pop off with the real shit. Don't give it credit when it discredits the real thing.

And, Black people need to open their minds up to new things. Hip Hop culture is great but it doesn't mean it's the only music you should be hearing. Do more than listen to what they feed you on the radio.

BTW. Spanish Reggae didn't really catch on. I guess I didn't miss out.