Reggaeton is a Thief in the House of Dembow: Dembow is the True Little Brother of Reggae and the Twin of Hip Hop

Latin urban music is the result of centuries of syncretism between African, Indigenous, and European traditions. However, its history is also marked by appropriation and struggles over the control of its roots. One of the most controversial cases is the relationship between reggaeton, dembow, and reggae. While reggaeton has dominated the global industry, its very existence is due to the exploitation of dembow, the rhythm that gave it life.

In this article, we analyze how reggaeton appropriated the legacy of Jamaican dancehall and Dominican dembow, sidelining the true connection between reggae and hip hop. In this story of music and power, reggaeton is the intruder, while dembow is the legitimate sibling of two of the most influential genres in modern history.