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Reggaeton is a form of Reggaeton is a form of urban musicurban music that became that became

popular with Latin American popular with Latin American youth in the early 1990s. After youth in the early 1990s. After

its mainstream exposure in its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North 2004, it spread to North

American, European and Asian American, European and Asian audiences. audiences.

Historically there has been an invisible line Historically there has been an invisible line that has segregated Jamaican music and that has segregated Jamaican music and other Latin dance styles. But that line was other Latin dance styles. But that line was breached in Panama, a country with a breached in Panama, a country with a significant Jamaican population that had significant Jamaican population that had migrated south to work on the Panama migrated south to work on the Panama Canal in the early 20th century. Canal in the early 20th century.

There's a heated debate about whether There's a heated debate about whether Reggaeton originated in Panama or Puerto Reggaeton originated in Panama or Puerto Rico. While it seems obvious that the roots Rico. While it seems obvious that the roots are Panamanian, some of the best know are Panamanian, some of the best know (and earliest) purveyors of today's (and earliest) purveyors of today's reggaeton sounds come from Puerto Rico, reggaeton sounds come from Puerto Rico, so the confusion is easily understood.so the confusion is easily understood.