The Best of Old School Latin Freestyle Music
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We’re taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of the best Latin freestyle hits from the 80s and 90s. From TKA to Cynthia to George Lamond, these are the songs that defined a generation of music lovers.
What is Latin Freestyle Music?
Latin freestyle is a type of dance music that emerged in the early 1980s in New York City. It is a blend of Latin hip hop, electronic music, and salsa.
The term “freestyle” refers to the improvised nature of the music. Latin freestyle artists often create songs by mixing together elements from different genres, including pop, hip hop, salsa, and merengue.
Latin freestyle was popularized by Hispanic American artists such as TKA, Exposé, George Lamond, Sa-Fire, Pretty Poison, Coro, Lisette Melendez, Johnny O, and Stevie B. The genre saw its heyday in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Latin freestyle music, with new artists such as Rey RUCCA5 Miguel Cortez , Cindy Lauper , Gloria Estefan , Ricky Martin , and Aventura incorporating elements of the genre into their work.
The Origins of Latin Freestyle Music
Latin freestyle music originated in New York City in the early 1980s. The music was a blend of disco, hip hop, and electronic dance music. It was created by Latino American DJs and producers. The music was popular among Latino American youths.
New York City
New York City is the birthplace of Latin freestyle music. In the 1980s, Latin music was booming in the city, and clubs were filled with salsa, mambo, and other forms of Latin dance music. But there was a new generation of young people who were looking for something different. They wanted to hear English lyrics, and they wanted to dance to a faster, more energetic beat. And so Latin freestyle was born.
Latin freestyle quickly spread from New York City to the rest of the country, and by the early 1990s, it was one of the most popular genres of music in the United States. Thanks to its catchy melodies and infectious beats, Latin freestyle quickly became a staple of radio stations across the country. And many of the genre’s biggest stars, including Jellybean Benitez, TKA, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, came from New York City.
Today, New York City is still home to many of Latin freestyle’s biggest stars. And the genre continues to evolve, as new artists add their own unique spin to the sound.
Miami
Miami began its relationship with Latin freestyle music in the 1980s, when the city’s Cuban community started tuning into WQBA 1140 AM, a Miami radio station that played salsa and other Hispanic genres. From there, Miami’s Latino population began to grow rapidly, and so did its appetite for Latin freestyle.
In the early 1990s, a new generation of Miami-based producers and musicians began to experiment with Latin freestyle, infusing it with elements of hip hop, R&B, and dance music. The result was a new sound that was called “Latin hip hop” or “hip hop en Español.” This new sound quickly caught on with Miami’s Latino youth, who embraced it as their own.
Latin hip hop soon spread from Miami to other parts of the United States with large Latino populations, such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In the mid-1990s, a number of Latin hip hop artists began to achieve mainstream success, including Fey, Diego Verdaguer, Control Machete, and Jesse & Joy. Today, Latin freestyle music is as popular as ever and shows no signs of slowing down.
The Golden Age of Latin Freestyle Music
Between the mid-1980s and early 1990s, a new genre of music emerged and quickly gained popularity in New York City and other urban areas with large Latino populations. This was Latin freestyle, also known as Latin hip hop, and it combined the sounds of traditional Latin music with the beats and rhyming style of hip hop. The result was a new and exciting sound that caught the ears of music lovers of all backgrounds.
The 1980s
The 1980s were the golden age of Latin freestyle music. This was a time when many talented artists emerged and created some truly amazing music. This genre of music is often considered to be a blend of hip hop, electronica, and Latin pop. Some of the most popular artists of this time include Cynthia, Johnny O, TKA, Exposé, and Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. These artists defined an era with their catchy tunes and unforgettable lyrics.
The 1990s
Latin freestyle music enjoyed its greatest popularity during the 1990s, when a number of artists achieved mainstream success. This was a time when many crossover hits became Top 40 radio staples, and Latin freestyle artists were able to reach a wider audience than ever before.
During this era, some of the biggest names in Latin freestyle music included TKA, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Expose, Taylor Dayne, Deborah Cox, Ricky Martin, and Jennifer Lopez. These artists helped to bring the sounds of Latin freestyle to a whole new generation of fans, and their contribution to the genre is still felt today.
The New Wave of Latin Freestyle Music
The 2010s
The 2010s has seen a resurgence in the Latin freestyle music genre, with artists such as Rey Ruiz, Eddie Santiago, Johnny Rivera, and El general achieving mainstream success. The new wave of Latin freestyle artists have brought the genre to a new generation of fans and has revitalized the sound of the music.
The 2020s
The 2020s are upon us, and with them comes a new wave of Latin freestyle music. While the genre has been around for decades, it has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. This is thanks in part to the success of artists like Maluma, J Balvin, and Ozuna.
Latin freestyle is a type of dance music that emerged in the 1980s. It is characterized by its use of synthesizers and drum machines, as well as its focus on melody and rhythm. The genre is often compared to disco and electronic dance music.
While Latin freestyle has its roots in the United States, it has since becomepopular all over the world. This is thanks to the success of artists like Gloria Estefan, who helped bring the genre to a wider audience.
If you’re looking for something new to listen to, check out some of the best Latin freestyle songs from the 2020s.