Reggaeton ( /ˌrɛɡeɪˈtoʊn/ or UK /rɛɡeɪˈtɒn/) is an urban form of music which has its roots in Latin and Caribbean music. Its sound derives from the Reggae en Español from Panama. The genre was shaped and made known in Puerto Rico where it got its name; most of its current artists are also from Puerto Rico. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European, Asian and African audiences.

Reggaeton blends Jamaican musical influences of dancehall, with those of Latin America, such as salsa, Latin hip hop, and electronica. Vocals include rapping and singing, typically in Spanish. Lyrics tend to be derived from hip hop rather than from dancehall. Like hip hop, reggaeton has caused some controversy, albeit less, due to alleged exploitation of women, and to a lesser extent, explicit and violent lyrics.

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 "Dem Bow". The name is taken from the dancehall song by Shabba Ranks that first popularized the beat in the early 1990s and that appears in his album Just Reality.

Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez (born February 3, 1977), known artistically as Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican reggaeton recording artist. Ayala was born in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, where he became interested in music at a young age. In his youth he was interested in baseball, and aspired to become a Major League Baseball player. He was unable to continue this sport when he received an injury to one of his legs, leaving him unable to walk correctly. He then became involved in the underground rap movement that was in its early stages in Puerto Rico, later to be called reggaeton. After receiving lessons from several artists within the genre, he developed an independent career, first recording in a production titled Playero 37. After this he began to produce independent albums. His first solo album was No Mercy. He subsequently formed a duo with Nicky Jam, and then continued his solo career with the releases of El Cartel and El Cartel II. This led him be one of many pioneers of the reggaeton genre earning him the nickname "El Cangri".

Nick Rivera Caminero (born in Boston, Massachusetts) is known artistically as Nicky Jam is a Puerto Rican singer. He was born to a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father. He is a reggaeton artist known for such hits as "Me Voy Pa'l Party", "Chambonea", "En la Cama", "Buscarte", "Guayando", "Vive Contigo" among others.

Born in Boston Massachusetts; he later moved with his family to Barrio Obrero, Puerto Rico. He has been in reggaeton since he was young and met with Daddy Yankee when they were recording with Guatauba and DJ Playero. He rose in popularity after the release of Vida Escante in 2004 and The Black Carpet in 2007 (his most recent studio album). Nicky Jam has worked with Daddy Yankee, Don Chezina, Lito & Polaco, Big Boy, R.K.M & Ken-Y and Héctor & Tito.^{[citation needed]} He has appeared in many reggaeton albums, currently holding the record for most appearances on various artist CDs which was formerly held by Daddy Yankee and Kesas.^{[citation needed]}

Javid David Álvarez Fernández (born December 13, 1989 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico) known artistically as J Alvarez is a Puerto Rican reggaetón singer.

Javid David Alvarez Fernandez was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico on December 13, 1983. When Alvarez was 12 years old he took the microphone to sing in front of several of his classmates and teachers, his first ever song "Lo Que Ella Trae" (What She Brings). Paying respect to reggaetón artist that he listened to from the reggaetón genre including Tego Calderon. Then, through his cousin, he met with DJ Nelson, and soon quickly emerged a working chemistry between the two. He was then signed to Flow Music in 2009.

Juana Judith Bustos Ahuite (born 22 November 1944 in Constancia, Loreto Region, Perú) is best known as La Tigresa del Oriente (lit. Spanish for The Tigress from the Orient, the "orient" being the Peruvian Amazon) is an singer, hairdresser and makeup artist. Due to the popularity of her videos on YouTube (the video for her single "Nuevo Amanecer" surpassed the 10-million-hit mark in 2009), she has become an internet meme and reached some international fame.

La Tigresa is known for her leopard garb, makeup and appearance, and for the choreographies staged by her dancing troupe, which includes three women and one man. Her first single "Nuevo amanecer (New Dawn)" became an Internet meme in Latin America.

Her videos for her first recording are unique, if low in budget, and were filmed in the Peruvian jungle with her "exotic" dancers. Other singles from Bustos include: "Mi canoa", "Carnaval en Iquitos", "Trabaja flojo trabaja", "Anaconda", "Tránsfuga de mi amor", "Hombre de Madera", and "Homenaje al Papa Juan Pablo II."