Reggaeton alive and well, says Ivy Queen, despite commercial fall-off - Reggaeton News

By Rosalba Ruiz OC Register

March 24, 2007

Rosalba Ruiz gets to the bottom of the Puerto Rican genre's abrupt disappearance:

Whatever happened to reggaeton?

It was about two years ago when Southern California got hit by the big reggaeton wave. One L.A. radio station, KXOL/96.3 FM, even changed its format to play the contagious new beat as its major attraction. There was hit after hit: Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina," for one, was everywhere - nightclubs, radio stations like Power 106 and KIIS FM, and MTV.

Two years later, clubs aren't playing it as much, radio isn't playing it as much, and it's been a while since we've heard a major hit from any reggaeton artist.

But the genre has gone through phases like this before, says Ivy Queen, the Puerto Rican rapper known as "The Queen of Reggaeton."

The singer has been in the scene about 13 years now, always loyal to reggaeton - when the genre was underground in its native Puerto Rico until now, after the novelty has worn off in the U.S. "This music has always been marginalized," she said in a recent interview. "But there's no doubt there are people out there who listen to it and support it."

At least this talented singer-songwriter will contribute to its survival. Ivy Queen releases her next album, Sentimiento (Feeling), on March 27. As with much of her repertoire, the first single - "Que lloren" (Let Them Cry) - is dedicated to men.

Spite has been a favorite theme of hers. It's because she draws inspiration from her love life, she says. "My songs compile my life experiences," she says. "I think a lot of people can relate to them and find comfort in that."

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