Tiny Desk Concerts

While most think of salsa and reggaeton, The range of Puerto Rican musicians is vast. Check out the artists below and be amazed at the talent of these Boricuas. 

Bad Bunny's wildly anticipated Tiny Desk concert was the most watched premiere in the series' history. 

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Jibaro

This traditional folk music is associated with the rural mountain areas of Puerto Rico.  
It often features the cuatro (a Puerto Rican stringed instrument) and tells stories about rural life.

Danza

This elegant musical genre has its roots in European classical music and became popular in Puerto Rican salons in the 19th century.

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Reggaeton

A defining feature of reggaeton is its distinctive rhythmic pattern, known as "dem bow." This beat provides the genre's signature danceable groove. ​Reggaeton features a mix of vocal styles, including rapping and singing.

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Bomba

This is one of the oldest musical traditions in Puerto Rico, with strong African roots.  It's characterized by its vibrant rhythms, call-and-response singing, and interactive dance.

 Latin Trap

Latin trap is a subgenre of Latin hip-hop music that originated in Puerto Rico in the mid to late 2000s. It can be described as a blend of rapping and singing in Spanish yet increasingly more in Spanglish. Recent artists have begun to bring in more traditional rhythms into the genre.

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Plena

This genre emerged in the early 20th century and is often referred to as the "newspaper of the people" because its lyrics frequently tell stories about current events and social issues.  The pandero (a type of hand drum) is a key instrument in plena.