Just when the world of Reggaeton had been losing ground on the charts Franxel y Chami-Ka sparked it big last summer with their hot hit “Feel Your Love (San Pedro)”. The genre had begun struggling as industry leaders like Ivy Queen have turned their focus towards acting and other ventures. The Belize natives refused to let the genre take a beating and fired it back up by charting with “Yo Te Quiero Ver“.
The song and video gained audience and critical acclaim the minute it left the studio even turning featured English singer Nikki Breeze into an unexpected Latin star.
Her new fame would propel her to split the microphone with Houston‘s top rapper Lil Flip on the pop-laced “Big Dreamer“. Belize was now making stars in the name of Reggaeton. It was only a matter of time before artists like Daddy Yankee and Don Omar needed help fanning the genre’s flames. Belize accepted the call. RVM Records producer Josh El Codigo would sweep all the way to El Salvador with “Bombon” as the Belizean flag started to show up at more and more major concerts.
The tide continued to turn when Myro El Fundamento’s video for “Tu Pum Pum” showcased his fiery style worldwide and gained appeal in countries not known for Reggaeton. “It is not only Belizean artists but we are seeing musicians from Central and South America pouring in here to record,” stated Chami-Ka (Jose Chacon). “It’s getting hard to find a studio in Belize that’s not booked up with Reggaeton.” The demand has taken over others as well. “We are a rap label and the phone is ringing off the hook asking for Belizean Reggaeton,” explains Belize City’s award winning JAG Camp producer Deady On Da Beatz “You can’t help but want to be a part of this success.”
The spark has become a wild fire and even Spain‘s 2 Ramas, known as the Black-Eyed Peas of the red fury, quickly released “Pegate A Mi” with popular Chami-Ka. Belizean names like One Carlos, Reggae Joe, DJ Flako, Osky, T-Romeo, and Jahby will soon be sitting on the charts with Plan B and Wisin y Yandel. “We could not get where we are today without international support,” reflects Franxel (Francisco Ponce). “But we need to keep working together to keep Reggaeton alive.”
SOURCE Jose Chacon and Francisco Ponce
