This is the tale of the young people from Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico and beyond who beat the odds, refused to be quiet and created an irresistible musical culture that has kept the world dancing.

First stop: Panamá. We meet three Afro-Panamanian friends —all descendants of West Indian canal workers— who start translating Jamaican dancehall songs into Spanish, and performing them at neighborhood soundsystem parties. Renato makes the first reggae en español hits and sells cassettes to commuters on tricked-out buses that are bumping and spreading the new sound.

“Loud: The History of Reggaeton” is a collaboration between Spotify and Futuro Studios and it’s hosted by Ivy Queen. 

You can listen and subscribe to Loud: The History of Reggaeton on Futuro Studios and on Spotify.

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Featured art courtesy of Futuro Studios and Spotify.