2002-2008 The Golden Age of Reggaeton & Hip Hop En Español part 2 Conclusion (Exclusive)

  2002-2008 The Golden Age of Reggaeton & Hip Hop En Español part 2 (The Conclusion)

By Reggaeton Party Mane 1

So, now that we have all that background out of the way we can focus on the era itself... well except there is a little bit more.  The title says 'Reggaeton and Hip Hop En Español'... ahh Hip Hop En Español, Reggaeton's forgotten older firstborn brother.  If Jamaican Reggae is the father then Hip Hop is definitely the mother of Reggaeton.  Rap in Spanish came first before Reggae in Spanish, at least in the Dancehall variety which is what Reggaeton came to be formed from.  Spanish Reggae came from Panama, made its way into Puerto Rico and fused with Hip Hop in the mid 1990's to form what came to be known as Reggaeton, but back then was called 'Underground'.  It wasn't until the late 1990's that 'Reggaeton' became the common term for music done over what is known as the 'Dembow' drum pattern or *Tumpa Tumpa*.

But what happened with Hip Hop en Español?  Vico C put Latin Urban music on the map in the late 80's with Rap not Reggaeton.  Spanish Rap had even more struggles than Reggaeton.  While Reggaeton in the 90's got some underground and after hours radio exposure, Hip Hop barely had any.  There came a time where promoters, disc jockeys and other influential personalities outright refused to play Rap as the genre was growing.  The argument was, "The Hispanic audience doesn't dance to Rap."  And they were right.

American Rap was born out of dancing.  One of the 4 elements of Hip Hop, B-Boying is all about the dance to Rap Music.  But Latinos instead adopted the more hardcore and social elements of Hip Hop music, making songs mostly about the struggles in the barrio back then.  Sure, there was the occasional "Saborealo" which made you shake your booty, but for the overwhelming majority of songs they were tracks like "Bendicion Mami", "Ven y Vuela" or "La Hija De Las Rosas De Los Vientos", songs you "listen" to but never danced to (well... some breakdance to Makiza's anthem... I've seen it, but no once dances with their girl or anything from my experience... maybe in Chile).  Unless you were doing Merengue Rap like Proyecto Uno, no one was dancing to your Hip Hop songs back then.

Thus Rap from everywhere, even Spain was mostly denied the ever growing exposure Reggaeton was getting.  And this limited exposure continued until the 2000's.  While Reggaeton crossed over, Rap in the Spanish language remained in the background and mostly underground.  Regardless, it had its own golden age too.

Originally, Spanish Rap and what came to be known as Reggaeton were separate.  Even though artists like Vico C and Kid Power Posse did both, the genres were originally seen as two different entities until Playero fused the two in his legendary Volume 37 album.  Since then, in the Caribbean islands of the Domincan Republic and Puerto Rico, Rap & Reggaeton went hand in hand.  That is until the artists who only did Hip Hop saw they got no exposure when compared to those who sang Reggaeton.  And it created some anti Reggaeton movements such as 'W.K.T.N' or "We Kill The Noise" from DJ Adam, who did Reggaeton but loved Hip Hop as well and the Puerto Rican Godfather of Rap, MC Coo-Kee.

Coo-Kee actually had another association which was the most famous anti Reggaeton movement inside of Puerto Rico known as the 'No Mel Syndicate' which means the 'No Melaza Syndicate'.  In the 90's, Reggaeton was also called 'Melaza' inside of Puerto Rico.  It is also slang for ganja in some countries.  Ironically No Mel was cosigned by the Reggaeton movements of PR.  DJ Stefano included them on vols 5 and 6 of his underground series.  And Daddy Yankee invited No Mel to participate on 'El Cartel De Yankee Los Intocables' meanwhile Coo-Kee made some beats on that album including Eddie Dee's classic "Porqué?"

But Hip Hop was rising right alongside Reggaeton.  Mexicano, Tempo and Lito & Polaco all released albums that went platinum to double platinum despite being mostly Rap.  SFDK, Nach, Mala Rdoriguez, Doble V and CPV were making waves that were felt across the pond in Latin America.  Mexico had Control Machete.  South America had La Etnnia, Makiza and Tiro De Gracia.  By 2002, Latin Rap was also on the cusp of a new golden age.

So *Boom* in comes Tego Calderon bursting the doors wide open for Latin Rap & Reggaeton.  What we got is in return is the era most pundits and fans alike reminisce upon as the Golden Age of "Hip Hop & Reggaeton".  DJ Blass, Echo and Luny Tunes elevated the music production to a level that has yet to be surpassed.  To this day fans recall this era as having the greatest Rap & Reggaeton beats of all time.  In that, we can agree.

Panama had their own thing going on as El Chombo discovered two of the great future producers in DJ Pablito & Predikador.  DJ Pablito famously brought La Factoria to the forefront who are mostly remembered for their unforgettable hit "Perdóname" with Eddy Lover.  Among these talents mentioned there was Lorna, Jimmy Bad Boy, Flex AKA "Nigga", Makano, Aspirante and Comando Tiburon making a lot of noise, meanwhile at the same time veterans like Aldo Ranks, El Roockie, Kafu Banton, Danger Man among others were still going strong.  It was Golden Age all around.

The sales were astonishing as well.  Many artists sold upwards of 100,000 units even reaching the millions like in the cases of Don Omar, Daddy Yankee, Wisin & Yandel and Angel & Khriz ("Ven Bailalo" sold a millon back then, can you believe it?).  It was estimated during annual music reports in 2006 that the "Urbano" genre was generating record breaking revenue valued at around half a billion US dollars.  Now that pales in comparison to today now that the genre brings in well over a couple billion dollars a year around the world, but these were different times before audio streaming and Urbano concerts everywhere.  

Many classic albums were released during this time period including the golden 3 which many pundits and fans call the 3 greatest Urbano albums of all-time (I disagree wholeheartedly but understand the viewpoint) in "Barrio Fino", "Pal Mundo" and "The Last Don" which for the longest time were the highest selling Urbano albums in history until Ozuna and Bad Bunny surpassed them recently.

Even at the tail end of things we had the rise of the Domincan Urbano movement which definitely shook the foundation of everything with the likes of Lapiz Conciente, Mozart La Para, Toxic Crow, Monkey Black, Vakero among others becoming big names by 2008.  It definitely was a golden age.  People were no longer ashamed to bring out their Urbano flag in public and it was a widely accepted culture among our Hispanic Heritage.  Sadly, it would not last.  Starting in 2007, the labels were resenting the autonomy many Reggaeton artists possessed in owning their own material and began to sabotage the genre.  Then the music crash of 2008 happened and with it went the Golden Age of Hip Hop & Reggaeton.

Thanks for reading.  To gain a better perspective here are some classic works and some of the most notable artists of the era.  Along with my Top 50 songs of the era.  The songs are just my own personal taste and not influenced by any outside opinions like the rest of my lists.

Honor Roll for Reggaeton & Rap Class of 2002-2008

Tego Calderon - Vico C - DJ Pablito & La Factoria - Daddy Yankee - Mala Rodriguez - Nach - SFDK - Mozart La Para - Wisin & Yandel - Ivy Queen - Naldo Sangre Nueva - Luny Tunes & Noriega - Cheka - Eliel - DJ Sonic - Jota Mayúscula - Violadores Del Verso - Echo, Hyde & Diesel - Don Omar - Maestro - Voltio - Mucho Muchacho - Eddie Dee - Johnny Prez & Pedro Prez - Tito El Bambino - Hector 'El Father' - Master Joe & OG Black - Tony Dize - Arcangel y De La Ghetto - Baby Rasta & Gringo - Kafu Banton - El Roockie - Lapiz Conciente - Lito & Polaco - Flex - Alexis & Fido - Yaviah - Aspirante - Maicol y Manuel - Calle 13 - Cartel De Santa - JDC El Pueblo - Filosofia Misteriosa - Macano - La Etnnia - Tres Coronas - Cosculluela - Getto y Gastam * Ñengo Flow * Jadiel * Franco El Gorila * Yaga & Mackie * Divino & Baby Ranks * Shotta & Tote King * DJ Joe & Trebol Clan

Classic Albums

Getto y Gastam - Vida Eterna * Eddie Dee - Los 12 Discipulos * Tego Calderon - El Abayarde * Nach - Poesia Difusa * Luny Tunes & Noriega - Mas Flow *  Mala Rodriguez - Alevosia * Calle 13 * Vico C - En Honor A La Verdad * Tempo - Free Tempo * Casa De Leones * Luny Tunes & Tainy - Los Benjamins * Divino - Todo A Su Tiempo * Trebol Clan - Los Bacatranes * Sangre Nueva * Tres Coronas - Nuestra Cosa * Violadores Del Verso - Vivir Para Contarlo - El Bando Korrupto 2 - No Vamos a Parar * Eliel - El Que Habla Con Las Manos * Ñejo y Dálmata - Broke & Famous * DJ Nelson - Flow La Diskoteca 2 * Blin Blin vol 1 * Los Matadores Del Genero * Desafio * Angel & Khriz - Los MVP * DJ Memo - La Revolucion Del Reggaeton * SFDK - Odisea En El Lodo * Cartel De Santa - Volumen ProhIIIbido * Planet Reggae (White Lion Records) * DJ Blass - Sandunguero 2 * La Conspiracion 2 La Secuela * Luny Tunes & Baby Ranks - Mas Flow 2 * Wisin & Yandel presentan Los Vaqueros * Chosen Few El Documental * The Impact (DJ Zonik) * Tego Calderon - The Underdog/El Subestimado * John Eric - El Peso Completo * Calle 13 - Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo * Orishas - Emigrantes * El Chombo - Cuentos De La Cripta Platinum * Yaga & Mackie - Sonando Diferente * Plan B - El Mundo Del Plan B * Guatauba xXx * MVP (Gocho MVP Records) * Kilates 2 Segundo Impacto * The Majestic * Playero 42 * Don Omar - The Last Don * Hector El Bambino - The Godfather * Tito El Bambino - Top Of The Line * Jadiel - Lo Mejor De Mi * Daddy Yankee - Talento De Barrio * Hector El Father - Los Anormales * Las Guanabanas - G3 Guillaera * RKM & Ken-Y - The Masterpiece Nuestra Obra Maestra * Don Omar - King of Kings * Don Omar Presenta Los Bandoleros * Don Omar presenta Los Bandoleros Reloaded * Lapiz Conciente - Cotorra Asesina * Ivy Queen - Flashback * Hector El Father presenta Los Rompediskotecas * Wisin & Yandel - Pal Mundo * Yandel - Quien Contra Mi * Wisin - El Sobreviviente * DJ Flecha & Predikador - La Revelacion * El Roockie - Semblante Urbano * Eddy Lover - Perdoname * Flex - Te Quiero * Alexis & Fido - Sobrenatural * Gargolas 5 - The Next Generation * DJ Dicky 4 - Sin Miedo * Notch - Raised By The People * Arcangel y De La Ghetto - La Factoria Del Flow * Buddha's Family 2 Desde La Prision * Zion - The Perfect Melody * Arcangel - El Fenomeno * De La Ghetto - Masacre Musical * Daddy Yankee - Barrio Fino         

Top 50 Songs 2002-2008

#1  Baby Rasta & Gringo – Carnaval

#2  Yaviah - Contacto

#3  Baby Rasta – Como Yo Ninguno

#4  Voltio ft Tego – Julito Maraña

#5  Violadores Del Verso – Pura Droga Sin Cortar

#6  12 Discipulos – Quitate Tu Pa Ponerme Yo

#7  Tego Calderon – El Kambumbo

#8  Zion - Sere Yo

#9  Daddy Yankee ft Randy – Salgo Pa La Calle

#10  Don Omar – Dile

#11  DJ Blass ft Maicol & Manuel, Ñejo y Dálmata – Como Te Extraño

#12  Luny Tunes ft Various Artists – Mayor Que Yo

#13  Hector El Father ft Yomo – Déjale Caer To’ El Peso

#14  Daddy Yankee ft Varios – Somos De Calle Remix

#15  Eloy ft Randy, Zion & De La Ghetto – Fuera Del Planeta Remix

#16  Mega y Kenai – No Te Enamores

#17  Luny Tunes & Tainy ft Randy Nota Loka – Welcome To My Crib

#18  DJ Goldy ft Amaro & Chencho Corleone – Las Mujeres En El Club

#19  Magnate y Valentino ft Hector & Tito – Gata Celosa

#20  Daddy Yankee – El Muro

#21  Arcangel y De La Ghetto – Sorpresa

#22  Lito y Polaco – Si Ella Es Brava   

#23  Arcangel & De La Ghetto – Traficando

#24  Baby Rasta – Vela Por Tu Vida

#25  El Chombo ft Yudi – Ya No Te Quiero

#26  Notch & Toy Selectah – Castigo

#27  Notch – Un Poco Mas De Ti

#28  El Chombo ft Jimmy Bad Boy – Movimiento Sabroso

#29  Wisin & Yandel ft Gadiel – Un Viaje

#30  Johnny Prez ft Pedro Prez, Yaga & Mackie – Chica Plastica

#31  Carlos & Omy – Quiero Sentir Tu Cuerpo

#32  Dálmata - Pasarela

#33  Daddy Yankee – A Lo Clásico (Incredible Reggaeton beat by Scott Storch of all people and Yankee does one of the last Underground style songs of his career)

#34  Fusssion Musik – Vamo Allá and Te Invito

#35  Baby Ranks – Detras De Ti (from This Is It) * I messed up and confused this song with "Bailando" which is a good song too, but "Detras De Ti" is the one that holds a special place in my heart.  Every other song on the list is the right one though.  Maestro's "La Calle" is really dope too.

#36 El Roockie ft Mr Phillips & Yazid – Por Ahi Dicen

#37  Eddie Dee – Mensaje De Texto

#38  Yaga & Mackie ft Arcangel & De La Ghetto – Aparentemente

#39  Nesty ft Yandel – Tus Amigas Hablan Mal De Mi

#40  RKM & Ken-Y ft Cruzito – Suéltate

#41  Luny Tunes ft K-Mill – Métele Perro

#42  Angel Doze – Hazlo Lento

#43  Shotta ft Tote King – La Infanta

#44  Luny Tunes ft Vico C - Que, Como?

#45  Calvo El Philarrican – La Rampletera

#46  El Roockie ft Baby Ranks – Delirando

#47  Tito El Bambino ft Daddy Yankee – Mia

#48  De La Ghetto – Tu Te Imaginas

#49  DJ Memo ft Carlos & Omy – Que Voy Hacer

#50  Nach – Amor Libre