We Visited the Reggaeton Capital of the World | Destination Spotlight | Afar - video Dailymotion

AFAR

Get ready to dance: In this installation of our Destination Spotlight series, Afar editor Cat Sposato travels to Medellín, Colombia—the reggaeton capital of the world—for a musical tour through one of Latin America’s most vibrant cities. From the colorful streets of Comuna 13, Barrio Alfonso Lopez, and Provenza to live reggaeton performances and local recording studios, here's her crash course on how Medellín became a global hub for reggaeton music.   CHAPTERS 0:00 – Intro 0:14 – A brief history of reggaeton in Medellín 1:01 – Comuna 13: A musical neighborhood built into the Andes 2:23 – Barrio Alfonso López: Living Tours Medellín and J. Balvin 3:00 – Barrio Aranjuez and Barrio Antioquia: Sidewalk concerts and home to two of Medellín’s biggest working artists 3:30 – Barrio Provenza: Nightlife in Medellín’s most famous neighborhood  This video is brought to you by Visit Myrtle Beach: https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/  Read more on music in Medellín: https://bit.ly/42WLJtk   #Medellin #Reggaeton #TravelDestinations #ColombiaTravel #Comuna13 #Afar ---- CONNECT WITH AFAR Afar.com is a digital and print magazine that publishes travel tips, guides, news, and stories: https://www.afar.com  Get updates on the latest articles, travel news, and more from AFAR by signing up for the AFAR newsletter: https://afar.com/newsletters  Follow AFAR on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afarmedia Follow AFAR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfarMedia Follow AFAR on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@afarmedia  Follow AFAR on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/afarmedia  ---- CREDITS  Cat Sposato - Producer, Associate Editor Jonathan Kramer - Video Editor Tiana Attride - Senior Editor, Social and Video Elizabeth See - Designer Sarika Bansal - Editorial Director Michelle Heimerman - Photo Editor  MUSIC "I'm On My Way" – Sold "As You Like It" – Windmills "Eleva Mi Amor – Instrumental" by Chico Honey "Corazon de Origami - Instrumental" – Cardec Drums  FOOTAGE / PHOTOGRAPHY iStock Shutterstock

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00:00In Latin America's reggaeton capital, dancing until you drop isn't just encouraged, it's the best way to see the city.

00:06Hi Afar, my name is Kat Sposado and today we are in the beautiful city of Medellin, Colombia, and we're going to be taking a musical tour of the city.

00:14Medellin is Colombia's second largest city with more than 2.3 million residents.

00:19Travelers usually come seeking out the country's most popular music genre, reggaeton, a pop music sound that combines elements of reggae, hip-hop, salsa, and trap.

00:28Since the late 2010s, Medellin has transformed into the epicenter of reggaeton music in Latin America, earning it a UNESCO Creative Cities designation back in 2015.

00:38They say you can find a performance almost everywhere you turn here. I decided to see how many I could find.

00:44Before we get started, today's video is sponsored by Visit Myrtle Beach.

00:48I want you to take the next few seconds and picture yourself in Myrtle Beach.

00:52You're warm, relaxed, and incredibly content.

00:55Now, let's get you there. Head to visitmyrtlebeach.com to start planning your trip today.

01:01We started off in Comuna 13, one of the most inaccessible parts of Medellin.

01:05Built into the Andes Mountains, it didn't have paved roads or public transit until the early 2000s.

01:11Now, buses, escalators, and walkable paths have opened up the area to tourism.

01:15I visited with Casa Colacho, a non-profit that empowers local musicians and tells the Comuna story through art and music.

01:22The guides are musicians themselves, and our three-hour walk brought us through vibrant murals, community landmarks,

01:28and stories about how local hip-hop collectives used music to resist violence and organize during the 1990s.

01:34We stopped for live performances, breakdancing, salsa, and a full-blown concert by Bene's Music,

01:40a freestyling reggaeton group that makes up songs using audience members' hometowns.

01:46Later, in the Comuna's artistic corridor, we visited the Salvajes Gallery and El Flow Machine recording space

01:52at the Colectivo de Artistas Salvajes Studios, where musicians come to record their songs.

01:58Afterward, we grabbed a mango biche, or bitter mango, ice pop from Cremas Doña Consuelo,

02:03a favorite among celebrities like J Balvin, Maluma, and even former president Bill Clinton.

02:09We wrapped up our tour at Casa Colacho HQ, where I saw their performance space and recording studio.

02:14I even got to leave my own mark by spray-painting part of a mural on their walls.

02:19Next, I met up with Ian Londoño from Living Tours Medellín,

02:23who took me to the city's biggest reggaeton landmarks and neighborhoods.

02:26We started off with a visit to the neighborhood of Colombia's biggest reggaeton artist, J Balvin,

02:31the first musician to get a song entirely in Spanish to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S.

02:38This is Barrio Alfonso López, a working-class neighborhood here in northwest Medellín.

02:43This park is known as Cinco Siete Cuatro and J Balvin Park,

02:46and it's the birthplace of Medellín's reggaeton revolution.

02:50If you're a fan of J Balvin, you'll definitely recognize this park from the music video for his hit song, Amarillo.

02:56He spent thousands of dollars to revitalize it and make it into a destination for this community.

03:00We then headed off to Barrio Aranuez and Barrio Antioquia,

03:04two neighborhoods that are home to two of Medellín's biggest artists working today,

03:09Alcolíricos and Bless, who host free sidewalk reggaeton concerts here every December.

03:14Pro tip, make sure you stretch and prepare to be winded for this tour if you're not already physically fit.

03:20Medellín's incredibly hilly landscape is no joke on the calves or the lungs.

03:25I was definitely left breathless in more ways than one.

03:28Welcome to Provenza, Medellín.

03:30Our final stop was Provenza, Medellín's most famous neighborhood.

03:34Colombian pop star Karol G made this place famous with her song of the same name,

03:38breathing new life into it for tourists.

03:41It may not look like much during the day,

03:43but at night, these streets are filled with energy.

03:46Here you can find several world-famous discotheques like Perro Negro and El Agite,

03:51all frequented by reggaeton stars.

03:53There is also El Teatro Victoria, which hosts several concerts by musicians across the city.

03:58You can also just catch live performances by buskers on the streets, like I did.

04:03I closed out the trip in one of the most traditional ways possible,

04:06by visiting Mad Radio, one of Provenza's best bars for music listening.

04:10I ordered a quick drink from the bar and then sat down to jam out to some of my favorite tunes

04:15and rest my legs after a long day.

04:18If there's any music landmarks we missed in Medellín, let us know in the comments.

04:21Otherwise, don't forget to like and subscribe so that you never miss a video.

We Visited the Reggaeton Capital of the World | Destination Spotlight | Afar

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