Bad Bunny's Reggaeton Roots
Bad Bunny's global reggaeton empire sparks a battle over its true Afro-Caribbean origins, tracing the dembow beat from 1980s Black Panamanians to Puerto Rico's early 90s underground.
Tracklist
- We Win (Space Jam: A New Legacy) (and Kirk Franklin) — Lil Baby
- Maybach (feat. Future) — 42 Dugg
- Switch It Up (feat. Original Koffee) — Protoje
- Estamos Bien — Bad Bunny
- Pa' Que Retozen — Tego Calderón
- La Romana (feat. El Alfa) — Bad Bunny
- P FKN R — Bad Bunny
- Safaera (feat. Jowell & Randy, Ñengo Flow) — Bad Bunny
Transcript
Welcome to OffStereo. Late night session. Let's get into it.
We Win (Space Jam: A New Legacy) (and Kirk Franklin) — Lil Baby
Bad Bunny is a core part of your listening identity — but reggaeton's actual birth is a disputed, Afro-Caribbean origin story stretching from Jamaican canal workers in Panama to San Juan's underground rap scene. His 2025 album 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS' literally argues about this in the lyrics. Bad Bunny is a core part of your listening identity, but the true origin of reggaeton is an Afro-Caribbean story. This genre, now a global phenomenon, mirrors hip-hop's own ascent from regional sounds to worldwide dominance, as heard in tracks like "We Win (Space Jam: A New Legacy) (and Kirk Franklin)" by Lil Baby.
Maybach (feat. Future) — 42 Dugg
Just as artists like Future dominate the charts today, reggaeton grew into a billion-dollar industry. This widespread appeal and commercial power reflect a similar trajectory to the one we hear in records like 42 Dugg's "Maybach," featuring Future.
Switch It Up (feat. Original Koffee) — Protoje
The dembow beat, reggaeton's signature rhythm, traces directly back to Black Panamanians of Jamaican descent in the 1980s. These early artists translated Jamaican dancehall into Spanish, a sound popularized by Shabba Ranks' "Dem Bow," leading the way for tracks like Protoje's "Switch It Up."
Estamos Bien — Bad Bunny
By the early 90s, Puerto Rico's 'underground rap' scene embraced this Panamanian foundation, blending it with local sounds and US hip hop. DJs like Playero and Nelson were instrumental in formalizing the genre, creating a vibrant scene that eventually gave rise to global stars like Bad Bunny, whose song "Estamos Bien" became a massive hit.
Pa' Que Retozen — Tego Calderón
Ivy Queen, a pioneer of the genre, states, "If it wasn't for reggae and dance en Español, there wouldn't be no reggaeton. End of story." This crucial Panamanian influence evolved into the Puerto Rican sound, exemplified by artists like Tego Calderón and his impactful track "Pa' Que Retozen."
La Romana (feat. El Alfa) — Bad Bunny
The genre's identity remains a battle over who gets to own the sound, with Bad Bunny's 2025 album 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS' literally arguing about its origins. Yet, his collaborations, like "La Romana" with Dominican artist El Alfa, show reggaeton's constant cross-Caribbean evolution.
P FKN R — Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny's 2023 Coachella headlining set, the first for a Spanish-language and Latin American act, included documentary footage acknowledging reggaeton's complex history. His track "P FKN R" is a direct love letter to Puerto Rico's musical heritage, asserting its place in the genre's story.
Safaera (feat. Jowell & Randy, Ñengo Flow) — Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny famously declared, "There's never been someone like me before," a testament to his unique global impact. His track "Safaera," featuring OGs Jowell & Randy and Ñengo Flow, weaves together various dembow rhythms, celebrating the genre's diverse journey from Panama to global domination.
Thank you for joining me on this journey through reggaeton's incredible evolution. It's a powerful reminder of how a simple beat can transcend borders and build an empire, one rhythm at a time.