Medellín is a mixture of a musical tradition in which tango, vallenato, popular music and tropical rhythms such as salsa, coexist with others such as reggae, hip hop, rap, ska and of course, reggaeton.
Of course, it is well known that Puerto Rico is the precursor country in the reggaeton industry, but the emergence of production companies in Medellin along with new local talents, have generated a new industry that has been very attractive for artists who are emerging in this genre.
In addition to Colombians, Panamanians, Ecuadorians and even Puerto Ricans, find in the city an industry and a platform to boost their career in a country that unlike Puerto Rico for example, they are not required VISA, which facilitates their mobility.
This without forgetting that artists such as Karol G, J Balvin, Maluma, Sebastián Yatra, Camilo, Piso 21, and Juanes himself, have already put the eyes of the world in Medellín and are an example for the new generations for their talent, dedication and perseverance.
In Medallo you live!
More and more, thanks to reggaeton’s catchy lyrics and its unmistakable Latin rhythm, the city has left behind the image of other times of a violent city, to become a world reference for being considered the capital of reggeaton.
In fact, songs like ¨Medallo¨ by Blessd, J Quiles and Lenny Tavárez, ¨Provenza¨ by Karol G ¨Poblado¨ by Natan and Shander and popularized in the remix by J Balvin, Nicky Jam and Karol G, explicitly mention not only the name of the city, but also neighborhoods and places frequented, especially by locals and tourists. This, without forgetting that the lyrics constantly use the parlache or slang of the city’s youth.
For example, in ¨Provenza¨, when Karol G mentions, ¨I don’t know if I’ll convince you, let’s go for a little walk in Provenza¨; with “roce” she means a walk, or a ride, and with Provenza, one of the neighborhoods of El Poblado where bars and restaurants illuminate the nightlife of one of the most recognized pink areas of Medellín.
<iframe width="504" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ca48oMV59LU" title="KAROL G - PROVENZA (Official Video)" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Where to listen to reggeaton in Medellín?
<iframe width="527" height="297" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VhQmTmqcEY0" title="Juanes - Pa Dentro" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Although of course it could be in a PH in El Poblado (as the song says), or in other places in the same neighborhood as the tourist corridor of Las Palmas or Barrio Colombia, in the city there are other places like Carrera 70 or Avenida 33 where the beat of reggaeton and other musical rhythms are protagonists in the traditional nightclubs and restaurants of Medellin.
But reggaeton, rap, hip hop and countless other Afro-Caribbean rhythms can also be heard in other Medellín neighborhoods such as Manrique or Comuna 13, where music and art have been vital for the empowerment of young people in the transformation of the neighborhood.
Therefore, it is no coincidence that videos like ¨Pa’dentro¨ by Juanes and ¨11 pm¨ by Maluma, have been recorded precisely in the Comuna 13, one of the most visited places in the city, among other things, for having the first public escalators in Colombia, which lead to a viewpoint with a fascinating view from where you can appreciate the contrasts of the city; with its mountains, buildings and colors.
This is what Medellín sounds like!
So as not to miss any urban song that mentions the city, Así suena Medellín, is our list on Spotify in which we constantly update reggeaton, rap and hip hop songs, as well as tropical and orchestral music, typical for example of the Feria de las Flores, that celebrate and make memory of a parrandero country that loves music.