Cubaton

Cubatón
Stylistic origins	Reggaeton - Contemporary Cuban music - Timba - Salsa
Cultural origins	Puerto Rico, Cuba
Typical instruments	Sampler - Dembow - Bass - Guitar - Drums - Trumpet - Salsa Instruments
Mainstream popularity	Mainstream in Cuba, starting from 2005
Regional scenes
Cuba, United States
Other topics
Reggaeton

Cubaton ^[1] (also known as Reggaeton a lo Cubano) is a sub-genre of Reggaeton. It is a fusion of Cuban percussions or Timbales, Salsa, Timba and Reggaeton. The Cubaton comes from the words "cuba" and "reggaeton".^[2].

Cubaton was born due to the popularity of reggaeton among youth in Cuba. Some of the leading Cuban reguetoneros started to mix local sounds and Riddles with imported Reggaeton and Rap, helping Cubaton develop its distinctive sound. Cubaton is also known as Timba-Reggaeton.

(El Nene Flow) Eddy K, Gente de Zona, Leyenda Urbana, Clan 537, CandyMan and Control Cubano are considered to be the pioneers of Cubaton in the new school scene of Reggaeton.

History

Reggaeton fever shakes Cuba

Cubaton has little official support or air time on state-controlled radio, the songs Cuban reggaeton artists record in makeshift studios lined with egg cartons for sound insulation are mostly transmitted though homemade CDs and on computer flash memory sticks. That is how the tropical fever of reggaeton is sweeping communist-ruled Cuba, captivating its youth and enraging a cultural establishment.

"Cubans know about music and if they picked reggaeton they have to be respected. The people are the ones who decide," said Sierra. "Cubaton" is played on crowded buses, shakes neighborhood windows with its throbbing bass and packs discos night after night. Its vibrations even seem to be shaking Cuba's cultural establishment, decades after the island shook the entertainment music world with its native-born mambo and cha cha cha.

Like hip hop, its relative, reggaeton chronicles real life in the streets. But its popularity stems from a catchy, sensual rhythm that is perfectly suited for dance-crazy Cubans.

According to Geoff Baker, Reggaeton is treading a fine line between official and unofficial/independent worlds. Cuban reggaeton has a distinctive rhythm from its Puerto Rican roots, local musicians say. It is also less generally violent in its lyrics than the imported version.^[3]

Notable Artists

Candyman

Candyman, born Ruben Cuesta Polomo, is one of the pillars of the movement. At the age of 28 he has contributed greatly the past 8 years to the musical’s style’s rise in popularity with the Cuban youth.

Originarily from the working-class neighborhood of Santiago de Cuba, he was born Ruben Cuesta Polomo. Beginning at 20 years old, he became one of the first promoters of the musical style. Candyman describes it as an art form that is able to convey his vision of the world and how he sees society through music that he himself calls « cheerful and melodious. »

Eight years later, he now performs Cubaton all over the Island collaborating with several renowned musicians such as DJ Bebe and DJ Shaggo. The result has been increased popularity of the movement and fame within Cuba for Candyman.

Alkana

Mileidys González, otherwise known as Alkana, was also born in Santiago de Cuba. Her unique perspective and style has made her one of the most influential female Cubaton artists.

Alkana began cultivating her interest in music at the age of 16 as a DJ with a hip-hop group she founded called “Alto Voltaje.” After her studies in sociology at Universidad de Oriente, she decided to concentrate on a career in the arts, not only as a Cubaton singer, but also as a dancer.

Preferring to perform live rather than record, Alkana shied away from the studio until recently, when she collaborated on the album “Trumpetica” with celebrated Cuban rapper Mikael.

Kola Loka

Kola Loka is a group that was established in 2001 by two brothers,Yacer and Yamel Robinson and their friend Angel Torres, in the working class suburb of Santiago de Cuba.

They moved to Havana in 2009 where they composed their first songs, “No Me Da Mi Americana” and “La Estafa del Babalo,” which would go on to become international hits.

This success allowed them to continue to explore and experiment with their music outside of the constraints of traditional Cuban music, while at the same time collaborating with some of the greatest artists on the Reggaeton scene.

Insurrecto

Insurrecto, whose real name is Leandro Molina, originated from El Cerro, Cuba. He began his musical career with the group “Triangulo Oscuro,” and soon after collaborated with Baby Lores, a well-respected producer in Cuba (see below). They both joined Clan 357, a group of Cuban musicians thereafter.

Since 2007 he has concentrated on his solo career, although that does not stop him from participating with musical projects from time to time with some of his talented compatriots on the Cubaton scene, like the song “Dale Sin Susto,” recorded with the group Gente de Zona.

His last solo album, “Labertino”, had its world release last January.

Baby Lores

Yoandis González, a.k.a Baby Lores, was born in Cabonao, a small village near Cienfuegos, Cuba.

He discovered the world of music with his Grandfather, who was a poet and a lute-player. He began singing at the age of 11 with Ismaelillo, a group made up of children from Cienfuegos. At sixteen, Baby Lores moved to Havana where he actively worked on his music, eventually becoming an indispensible artist on the modern Cuban music scene.

After working for so many years in the industry, he has played alongside, recorded, and produced the greatest legends of the Cubaton movement.

He worked with the group Insurrecto in 2004, then joined the well known Clan 357. His partnership with Insurrecto ended in 2007, when Baby Lores began working alongside El Chacal on another project.

Since 2009 he has concentrated on his solo career. Today he is one of the most prolific producers in Cuban music. His lastest single, “Dime Que Mas” was performed by Cuban rapper Roldan from the group Orishas.

El Micha

Michael Sierra Manda, nicknamed El Micha, is a self-taught Cuban musican. Often seen working alongside other Cuban or international artists, his last collaboration with the group Kola Loka is entitled “Se Extrana.”.

He also worked with Cistychov on the track “Si Te Vas”, and with Insurrecto on “La Ricurita”.

His recent successes have allowed him to organize a European tour to promote his new album “Con Dinero Y Pasmao.”

Famous songs

• Michael Gremio - "Conga Latina"
• El Chacal - "La Corrupcion", "No Te Veyas", "Soy Un Descarao"
• Gente de Zona - "La Palestina", "Tremenda Pena", "Le Gustan Los Artistas", "Soñe", "Mama Me Lo Contó"
• El Medico - "Miss Fatty", "Chupa Chupa"
• Eddy K - "Amigos", "Mami Bésame"
• Elvis Manuel - "La Tuba", "La Mulata"
• Leyenda Urbana - "Se acabó lo que se daba", "Hasta Que Amanezca"
• La Charanga Habanera - "Gozando en la Habana"
• Osmani Garcia - "Ella Es Mia", "El Pudin", "Me Enamore"
• Insurrecto - "Que Estas Formando Tu"
• Los 4 - "Si Se Va A Formar Que Se Forme", "El Oro Es Mio"
• Cola Loca - "Bella Culona"
• El Nene Flow - "Con Mi Flow"

References

1. ^ http://www.cubaton.it La Pagina del Reggaeton Cubano
2. ^ www.cubanflow.com, Cubaton Official Website.
3. ^ Reggaeton Fever shakes Cuban culture - Reuters - Billboard.com - Accessed September 14, 2009

External links

• http://www.havana-cultura.com