2000s Latin Essentials

At the turn of the new millennium, the revolutionary forces of Latin pop reached critical mass. Though 1999 marked a big moment for the genre—with Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez leading the U.S. Latin-pop explosion—it also spawned numerous new scenes and subcultures. In Puerto Rico, the maximalist reggaetón of Daddy Yankee fuelled a perreo frenzy beyond the Caribbean, and Calle 13 flipped the style further with their pedagogic lyrics and a riveting fusion of tribal alt-rock. In Colombia, the psych-punk brilliance of electronic cumbia band Bomba Estéreo blew up; and a young troupe of Bronx-born Dominicans named Aventura retraced their roots, taking bachata—a once-rural folk form—to mainstream prominence. Mexican singer/songwriter Julieta Venegas created some of the most relatable love songs of the decade over perfect pop hooks. And iconic innovators Nortec Collective, concocting a clever fusion of techno with a norteño pulse, gave Tijuana a now-legendary soundtrack of its own.