Reggae Reggaeton Sauce
From distribution in barber shops and car boots on the streets of Puerto Rico to one of London's biggest clubs, DJ Nelson tells us how he achieved his status as godfather of the genre
Can you give us a quick explanation of what reggaeton is?
Reggaeton is part of what the whole urban Latin movement is – an evolution of reggae dancehall mixed with hip hop and Latin music.
Why do you think it has it taken so long to break through to a mainstream audience?
We have always been a street movement, so for a guy to come from New York and sign any of us it would be very hard. We have become commercial, but in Puerto Rico people listen to what is hot in the street, not what the major labels try to sell. When we started we didn't have any media outlet for promotion, so we had to do it old school: get out there and sell our music.
We have always been a street movement, so for a guy to come from New York and sign any of us it would be very hard. We have become commercial, but in Puerto Rico people listen to what is hot in the street, not what the major labels try to sell. When we started we didn't have any media outlet for promotion, so we had to do it old school: get out there and sell our music.
Can you describe the typical components that make up one of these parties?
A good reggaeton party in San Juan would have loads of girls, a powerful soundsystem, plenty of alcohol and loads of Perreo (the reggaeton dance). Perreo is what makes the parties hot.
A good reggaeton party in San Juan would have loads of girls, a powerful soundsystem, plenty of alcohol and loads of Perreo (the reggaeton dance). Perreo is what makes the parties hot.
You're DJing at the next event taking place Ministry of Sound, what can we expect?
A couple of DJs from Puerto Rico have told me it's just amazing. Ministry of Sound is the biggest club brand in the world and in Puerto Rico is associated with house music. So when we heard there was a reggaeton party there, we were like 'what the fuck?!' You will get from me a mix of the classics and my new productions. Tracks from Flow la Discoteca (1 and 2) and stuff from my unreleased album Cash Flow. I am well excited; I cancelled my trip to the Grammys to come here, that is how excited I am!
A couple of DJs from Puerto Rico have told me it's just amazing. Ministry of Sound is the biggest club brand in the world and in Puerto Rico is associated with house music. So when we heard there was a reggaeton party there, we were like 'what the fuck?!' You will get from me a mix of the classics and my new productions. Tracks from Flow la Discoteca (1 and 2) and stuff from my unreleased album Cash Flow. I am well excited; I cancelled my trip to the Grammys to come here, that is how excited I am!
Tell us a bit more about your label Flow Music.
At the time no label would touch us, we were basically banned from the music industry. We created our music, we sold the record ourselves: 50 000 to 100 000 from barber shops and car boots. We did our own concerts and parties, so we had this little business going on, so I decided to give it a try after one of my albums did really well.
You also have a clothing range (Flow Wear) - is clothing a big part of the scene for you?
We are part of the urban movement and as you know style is important. We represent the streets and we should look a certain way. I think that is not only with us but with all music genres.
Words: Naomi Misquita-Rice
We are part of the urban movement and as you know style is important. We represent the streets and we should look a certain way. I think that is not only with us but with all music genres.
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