Latin Trap-Reggaeton

tagStarted 2015Peak 2017–2020Last big hit still activeFrom Puerto RicoSung in Spanish

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A fusion of trap latino and reggaeton: booming 808 sub-bass, rattling triplet hi-hats and half-time trap grooves interlocked with dembow drops, running around 130/95 BPM. Vocals are Auto-Tuned melodic rap — moody, sing-song and often dark, dwelling on street life, money and desire. Productions are spacious, minor-key and bass-heavy, alternating trap verses with dembow-driven choruses. The mood is cold, luxurious and menacing, a nocturnal counterpart to pop reggaeton.

History

Latin trap crystallized around 2015 in Puerto Rico via producers like DJ Luian and Hear This Music and artists Bad Bunny, Anuel AA, Bryant Myers, Ozuna and Farruko, adapting Atlanta trap to Spanish and welding it to reggaeton. SoundCloud posse cuts like "La Ocasión" and breakout singles "Soy Peor" and "Sola" made it dominant, and its blend with reggaeton became the default template for late-2010s urbano hits. The style pushed Latin music darker and more hip-hop-forward while keeping the dembow for the dancefloor.

Defining artists

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Essential listening

← Explore Reggae / Caribbean

Sources

  • Petra Rivera-Rideau, Remixing Reggaetón (Duke University Press, 2015)
  • Rolling Stone and Fader features on Latin trap
  • Billboard Latin trap chart coverage