Topics in Recorded Music: The Reggaeton Revolution

Catalog description

This course is an in-depth exploration of the history and influence of the genre known as Reggaeton. A hybrid of Spanish-language hip-hop and dancehall with roots in Panama and Puerto Rico, Reggaeton is one of the most dominant genres in music today. The biggest artist in the world, Bad Bunny, is a Reggaeton artist who sings entirely in Spanish while regularly breaking streaming and touring records across the globe. Over the last decade, the genre's consumption has continued to grow, not just in the millions of people who make up the Spanish-speaking diaspora around the world, but with younger listeners of other languages. In part because of its infectious rhythm, Reggaeton is often misunderstood as party music. In fact, Reggaeton is a catalyst for change on a changing planet. It is a view on colonialism, imperialism, gender stratification, identity politics and the fight to right historical wrongs. It is also a sign of the increasing cultural and political power of Latinos on the world stage. This course will explore the true roots and meaning of this primarily Afro-Latino art form with roots in a revolution of sorts against the suppression and exploitation of marginalized communities, its evolution in the music business, and its place in contemporary popular culture.