Artist

Vico C

1985-present·San Juan, Brooklyn

Luis Armando Lozada Cruz was born in Brooklyn, raised in San Juan, and became the first to prove Spanish-language rap could stand on its own. Through the late 1980s and into the '90s, as mixtapes shuttled back and forth between New York and Puerto Rico, Vico C led what amounted to a Spanish-language hip-hop revolution, laying down the lyrical style and flow patterns reggaeton's later stars would build on.

The full story is in Reggaeton.

At a glance

Active
1985–present
From
Brooklyn, New York / San Juan, Puerto Rico

In the issues

  • Reggaeton
    An influence · 1985-2017 · Members

    Reggaeton is a genre from Panama City, Panama & San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1985–2017. Its principal artists include Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderón, DJ Playero and Ivy Queen. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 12 dated events.

Terms

Dembow
A syncopated drum pattern taken from Jamaican dancehall and named after Shabba Ranks' 1990 song 'Dem Bow', which used Steely & Clevie's 'Fish Market' riddim.