Reggaetón (/ˌrɛɡeɪˈtoʊn/ or UK /rɛɡeɪˈtɒn/, Spanish: reguetón [reɣeˈton]) is a music genre with roots in Latin and Caribbean music. Its sound is derived from the Reggae en Español from Panama. This rhythm was born in Puerto Rico and achieved a greater worldwide popularity. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European, Asian and African audiences.
Reggaeton blends musical influences of Jamaican dancehall and Trinidadian soca with those of Puerto Rico, such as salsa, bomba, Latin American hip hop, and electronica. Vocals include rapping and singing, typically in Spanish. Lyrics tend to be in a hip hop style.
While it takes influences from hip hop and Jamaican dancehall, reggaeton is not precisely the Hispanic or Latin American version of either of these genres; reggaeton has its own specific beat and rhythm, whereas Latin hip hop is simply hip hop recorded by artists of Latino descent. The specific "riddim" that characterizes reggaeton is referred to as "Dembow". The name "Dembow" is taken from the dancehall song by Shabba Ranks that first popularized the beat in the early 1990s, and appears on his album Just Reality.
You always think that you can play the fool (Play the fool)
But this is life these are real decisions
You say that none of its affecting you (Affecting you)
But beyond the self there are other reasons
Stepping back you've got to take the higher ground yeah
It's not ego but a belief in the reasons why
Stepping back you've got to take the higher ground yeah
It's not ego but a belief in the reasons why
We take it all so seriously
Cos It's not 'all bullshit?
We take it all so seriously
Stepping back you've got to take the higher ground yeah
It's not ego but a belief in the reasons why
Stepping back you've got to take the higher ground yeah
It's not ego but a belief in the reasons
We must rise informed of the enemy's that face us
Put our faith in a cause that take's us
Well beyond this self-obsessed existence
For all to know and to feel the reasons why
We take it all so seriously
Cos It's not 'all bullshit?
We take it all so seriously
But you're blinded by your arrogance
Dismissing new ideas
Sure it's enough to get you through
But there's only so long that this earth can sustain us
Its time to think straight
An a-political stand of reasons
Yeah we must think straight
Cos we're throwing it all away
You wanna wait till it's all fucking up
To believe it real
There'll be nothing left that we can do
Cos there's only so long that this earth can sustain us
Its time to think straight
An a-political stand of reasons
Yeah we must think straight
And it started yesterday
It started yesterday It started yesterday
It started yesterday It started yesterday
We'll never get a second chance
To amend our evils
But it's me and you who got to choose
Cause there's only so long that this earth can sustain us
Its time to think straight
An a-political stand of reasons
Yeah we must think straight
And it started yesterday
Cos we're throwing it all away Cos we're throwing it all away