Reggaeton may feel like it’s everywhere right now—from global pop stars tapping into the sound to underground parties and viral playlists pushing new artists into the spotlight. But long before reggaeton became a billion-dollar global genre, it lived in much more intimate spaces for many Latinx kids: quinceañeras, block parties, weddings, and packed dance floors where awkward teens learned how to move, flirt, and grow up.

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Before the word reggaeton was even widely used, that sound came blasting through speakers via Spanish-language dembow, often powered by the music of El General. His music—explicit, playful, impossible not to dance to—became the soundtrack to countless coming-of-age moments across Latin America and Latinx communities in the U.S. While many histories later labeled his work as simply reggae en español, on the dance floor the distinction didn’t matter. What mattered was movement, sweat, and freedom.

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El General’s sound grew out of Panama’s Jamaican diaspora and its vibrant bus-sound-system culture, blending dancehall rhythms with Spanish lyrics and later incorporating salsa and merengue influences. His success eventually carried him to New York, American radio, and major crossover moments, laying groundwork that artists like Daddy Yankee would later build upon when reggaeton exploded worldwide.

At the height of his fame—armed with platinum records and global recognition—El General unexpectedly stepped away from music, dedicating himself to his faith and rejecting repeated offers to return, even as reggaeton surged back into the global mainstream. Today, while debates continue over who “owns” or defines the genre, one thing is undeniable: El General had Latinxs dancing to Spanish-language dembow years before reggaeton had a name, quietly shaping a cultural movement that would one day take over the world.