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Reggaeton Sessions

Reggaeton compilation CD put together by The Heatwave, featuring tracks from Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderón, Julio Voltio and Candyman. The text below is from the original CD sleevenotes:

Reggaeton is a Latino hybrid of dancehall reggae and hip hop, though its influences include more traditional Latin sounds like salsa, merengue and bachata, all in evidence on this compilation. From San Juan to Tokyo, reggaeton is everywhere in 2006 and its stars are packing out concerts at home in the Hispanic Caribbean, across the United States and into Europe.

For a time suppressed by the authorities in its homeland Puerto Rico, this raw, bass-heavy dance music has been embraced by the urban underclass across the Spanish-speaking world. Having made a sizeable dent in the consciousness of hip hop fans in the States, it's now garnering massive interest in the wake of international hits like Daddy Yankee's Gasolina. Singers and MCs like Don Omar, Nina Sky and Tego Calderón are in demand for collaborations with top hip hop and R'n'B artists, adding some Caribbean spice in much the same way Sean Paul did a few years ago.

But this new sound did not spring fully formed from the glossy studios of New York. It was first created in the streets of Panama and Puerto Rico and, like so much Caribbean music and culture, its origins lie in migration, in this case that of Jamaican labourers to Panama for the construction of the Panama Canal.

As reggae moved into the digital era and dancehall exploded internationally in the late 80s and early 90s, Panamanians of Jamaican origin such as El General began recording Spanish-lanuage versions of ragga hits by the likes of Shabba Ranks and Little Lenny. While reggaeton today has moved away from simply mimicking dancehall tracks, the early 90s ragga beat lives on; reggaeton's characteristic rhythm pattern takes as its template Jamaican hits like Shabba Ranks's Dem Bow, Dirtsman's Hot This Year and Chaka Demus & Pliers's international smash Murder She Wrote. To this day, the classic reggaeton drum beat is know as 'the dembow'.

The Puerto Ricans (aka Boricuas) took on what was then called Spanish Reggae and made it their own, adding a hip hop influence that was inevitable given the island's geographical and cultural proximity to the United States. The genre's name comes from the mix CDs put together by producers and DJs such as DJ Playero in the 90s, blending dozen of tunes together in a seamless mix - a reggae maratón.

On this compilation you will hear artists from Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, New York and London as well as Puerto Rico itself. The songs featured showcase reggaeton's pan-Caribbean influences, from salsa piano and brass and the unmistakable guitar-led sound of bachata to productions which have more in common with the hard-edged electronic feel of contemporary dance music. Tracks built around straight-up merengue, dancehall and hip hop beats are also included, demonstrating that the reggaeton genre is now always restricted to the same simple drum pattern.

Reggaeton's lyrical themes have been characterised by a preoccupation with sex - uninhibited and often crude rhymes, not to mention lewd dancing based around a style known as 'perreo' (or 'doggy), leave little to the imagination and have sparked people's interest in the music and the culture behind it. There are, however, artists like Tego Calderón, Julio Voltio and Vico C who are pushing a more conscious and sophisticated message and after the crossover successes of 2005, reggaeton looks set to become a permanent part of the urban music scene around the world.

Tracklist

DISC ONE

1. Julio Voltio & Tego Calderón - Se Van
The highly rated Voltio hooks up with one of reggaeton's biggest stars on this tune, which fuses dirty synths and a salsa piano. Tego's vocals demonstrate why he's so much in demand in Puerto Rico and beyond.

2. Zion & Lennox feat Mackie & Yaga - Enamórate
A romantic number from two of Puerto Rico's top double acts who both balance memorable melodies with energetic toasting. The catchy sample is from Jamaican act T.O.K. 's hit She's Hot on the Sexy Lady riddim with production duties fulfilled by Luny Tunes, the top producers in reggaeton.

3. Candyman - El Pru
Cuban MC Candyman takes on a version of the all time classic Bam Bam riddim (the basis for the Chaka Demus & Pliers hit Murder She Wrote, returning to the roots of the reggaeton sound in early 90s ragga. The controversial artist's live performances are closely observed by the authorities in his homeland who are wary of reggaeton's social and musical energy.

4. Chaka - Échale Agua
The dirty percussion which is typical of reggaeton is prominent in this tune, which develops using a series of different snare sounds and the hyper drum roll breakdowns which lend the music much of its distinctive energy.

5. Chinovi - El Bembe
Swirling salsa piano and an eerie synthline are the basis of this track from New York-based Chinovi's album Me Gusta. The drums take a back seat for once in this production and the unusual breakdown sees the tune drop in tempo.

6. Julio Voltio - Julito Maraña
Another mesmerising Latin piano hook, married to a more hip hop-style beat: Voltio demonstrates his versatility, switching between several different styles.

7. John Eric & Alberto Stylee - Tú Sabes (remix)
The influence of American R'n'B is clear in this downtempo, melodic tune which sees heavy weight Puerto Rican MC John Eric join up with singer Alberto Stylee for a killer combination over a Notty & Sonic production.

8. La Bruja - Mi Gatita Negra
The sexual content of reggaeton is to the fore in this lewd tune, whose title translates as 'my black pussy'. Bronx-born La Bruja switches confidently between Spanish and English, demonstrating why she's one of the top female reggaeton stars. This multi talented MC has collaborated with some of US hip hop's biggest names, and also sings and acts - a sure bet for success in 2006.

9. DJ Loco & MC Mágico - El Baile De La Vibración
London-based Colombian crew La Raza have gained a dedicated following around the capital thanks to their compelling live shows. This stripped down production showcases their talents perfectly.

10. Candyman - Tendón
Candyman flexes his lyrical muscles over another rhythm based on a sample from a Jamaican classic - the Filthy riddim, which was the basis for Mr Vegas's massive international hit Heads High.

11. Banton & Ghetto - Tú Me Enseñaste
This pair hail from the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and show their roots in US hip hop and R'n'B as well as Jamaican dancehall. Their tried and tested combination of singing and rapping has seen them tour all around the Caribbean.

12. Miguelito & Waidy - La Respuesta
Singer Waidy here lays down a feminine counteraction to Don Omar's hit Dile over a bachata-influenced hip hop rhythm.

13. Bimbo - Amor Bandido
The classical sample on this tune shows that reggaeton really will draw its influences from anywhere. Bimbo raised his profile in 2005 with a promotional stunt which involved giving out free petrol (gasolina) to drivers in the USA.

14. John Eric & Tego Calderón - Los Calderones
John Eric teams up with Tego for this combination which acknowledges the coincidence of two of a small island's most popular artists sharing the surname Calderón. The crazed bachata-style synths work this track up to a frenzied climax.

DISC TWO

1. Zion & Lennox feat Daddy Yankee - Yo Voy
Daddy Yankee pushed reggaeton to international prominence in 2005 with his smash hit Gasolina which dominated charts on both sides of the Atlantic and initiated an unprecedented level of interest in Puerto Rican music.

2. Banton & Ghetto - Portarnos Mal
The infectious hook 'portarnos mal' translates as 'We go on bad', a sentiment you can hear in numerous dancehall tunes.

3. Bimbo - Bailalo Bien Lento
Does the opposite of what it says on the tin - the title means 'slow' but the frantic keys and drums provide a fast moving backdrop for Bimbo's rhymes.

4. Julio Voltio - Mambo
The intro to this tune is pure Latin hip hop, while the brass and percussion hark back to an even earlier era when mambo and salsa ruled the dancefloors of Puerto Rico. Voltio's rasping rap and the reggaeton beat which the tune breaks into update the sound for the 21st century.

5. Candyman - La Mordidita
Here Candyman uses his idiosyncratic rhyming and some bizarre sound effects (beep beep!) to ride a version of the Hot This Year (Drum Song) rhythm, a Jamaican dancehall hit.

6. Rude Girl aka La Atrevida - Si El Hombre Quiere
Panamanian sensation Rude Girl rides a typical early 90's reggaeton rhythm here which brings to mind the El General tunes which first popularised the genre. The message is that men must pay for what they want and she delivers it in uncompromising fashion, utilising a feminine take on the flat vocal style which was fashionable in that era.

7. DJ Miguelito feat Joshie & Derek - Acción
A sexually-charged call to action over an insistent, grinding beat showing off Joshie & Derek's relentless rapping styles.

8. Kid Afrika - Alerta
Cuban-born but now living in London, Kid Afrika has performed and released music in Cuba, Spain and the UK and his electric live shows have been known to send the crowd into a frenzy. This tune showcases his ear for a hook and the brass conjures up smoky clubs in his native Havana.

9. Banton & Ghetto - Baila Reina
Banton & Ghetto's most uptempo outing, with it's exhortation to 'Dance, Queen, dance' set to an energetic reggaeton rhythm featuring numerous breakdowns.

10. John Eric - Tembleque
Tembleque has a similar frantic energy to Gasolina, demonstrating that reggaeton can appeal to fans of dance music as much as those who prefer urban flavours. John Eric's growling rap ups the ante even further.

11. Zion & Lennox - Doncella
A sweetly melodic hook and skipping, synth-led beat produced by Puerto Rican Sonic makes this a surefire dancefloor filler.

12. Two Swing - Pégale Al Beat
Two Swing take us into the realms of merengue with a super-charged dance number featuring skilful, super-fast Spanish rhymes and off-beat horns.

13. DJ Loco & MC Mágico - Traicionera
Vocalist Mágico displays a fine singing voice as he condemns a treacherous girlfriend - "you played with my heart". DJ Loco's production nods to traditional Latin styles while also incorporating an overheard phone conversation, by now a staple of urban music.

14. MC Mel & Lunático - Acércate
An electronic ode to coupling-up that once again employs the reggaeton producer's favourite trick of developing a song's energy by introducing differing snare drums every few phrases.

15. Candyman - Puñeta
Here Candyman borrows a vocal tic of 90s Jamaican star Nardo Ranks, with the rolled Rs of 'burrrrrup'. Musically as well as vocally the Cuban star displays his love of neighbouring island Jamaica, with a stabbing, syncopated beat typical of so many ragga productions.

Feedback

• "The perfect soundtrack for Carnival queens - a thumping reggaeton marathon" - Metro
• "Musically exciting - this excellent introduction to a spreading world craze reveals many imaginative, witty practitioners" - Songlines
• "The Heatwave have been instrumental in spreading the reggaeton missive to the heathen; this double CD of hot-to-death joints brings you some of the biggest names in the scene. Shop it while it's hot" - Straight No Chaser
• "Four stars - showcases Latin America's biggest pop craze of the naughties" - BBC Music Magazine
• "A good window on the state of reggaeton circa 2006, though several tracks demonstrate that the music's roots extend back over fifteen years. These discs offer a good overview of a fun and significant strain of international dance music" - All Music Guide Read the reviews in full