Let’s Get Niche - 5 Podcasts Celebrating Reggaeton

[SpotifyPodcasts]

"For some people, Reggaeton is just party music. But the real story behind Reggaeton is a story of La resistencia-- resistance."

- Ivy Queen

Reggaeton has moved from country to country, culture to culture, and has grown to become one of the most impactful genres of music across the globe. For some, it's just heavy beats and danceable melodies. Though the stories told from these podcast episodes, however, we think that you'll find that it's much much more than that. 

LOUD - 1. The Zone

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cY7LtS3tT71hcHLEXskfI?si=a7f351327a154a49

In this premiere episode of the explosive new show LOUD, reggaeton legend Ivy Queen leads you through the streets of Panama to meet three Afro-Panamanian friends. When they began translating Jamaican dancehall songs into Spanish and preforming an neighborhood parties, they had no idea that they were laying the foundations for what would become music's largest and most influential genre. 

Perreo 101 - E1: The Evolution of Roots

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1WmUm8FWMxIB9L1HlAwN9r?si=CxuJmfwOQJSVNMqFBPhcnA&dl_branch=1

Perreo 101 is a bilingual tribute to the history, roots, hottest trends, and evolution of Raggaeton. In this episode, host Gata, joined by the voices of DJ Blass, Mista Greenz, Miacol, and Darell, lays out the cultural moments that led to the beginning of Reggaeton, as well as the reasons why Reggaeton is inherently political. 

Made in Medellin - En La Ciudad del Perreo

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sEch2IquqWKwZ0LwKEl4E?si=ve8sgUPjRNOwSwqqpvLufQ&dl_branch=1

In this all-Spanish episode of Made in Medellin, listen along as host J Balvin takes you through the history of the Columbian city of Medellin, as well as how Reggaeton was built in its streets. 

Alt.Latino - The Meteoric Rise of Latin Urban Music

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2z8Ro26Ubjko7tOAZJYizT?si=3eHFJBYuTfK_R0o0HKRsmQ&dl_branch=1

From NPR, Alt.Lation is a spotlight on the world of Latinx arts and culture. In this episode, Alt.Latino asks a music writer, a college professor, and a reggaeton pioneer to break down the history and intricacies of the prominent Latin influence in pop music. 

Radio Menea - Dominican Dembow

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3WsxRhgSu71jn52T3XyIFe?si=lLisNajCQCa3TKynY4iqCA&dl_branch=1

In this episode of Radio Menea, Latinx friend duo Miriam Zoila Perez and Veronica Bayetti Flores are joined by music journalist and Dominican Dembow expert Jennifer Mota. Listen along as she digs deep into the history of the subgenre, as well as how migration and culture has shaped its development.