Hottest Styles of Latin American Music

If your exposure to Latin American music comes from Top 40 and urban radio, you know how popular reggaeton is. This Caribbean music genre, which originated in Panama three decades ago, has a lot of crossover appeal, and it’s played at nightclubs around the world. Only time will tell if reggaeton continues to dominate the dance club circuit, but there’s no doubt Latin American music will be driving the beat for a long time to come. Here are some of the most popular Latin American music styles you’re sure to hear when you hit the dance floor at Onyx Room, the hottest Latin club in San Diego.

Salsa

Back in the day, salsa competed with disco, which was the most popular style of dance music from the 1970s to the late 1980s. Salsa is nowhere near as popular these days as it used to be 40 years ago, but it still draws dancers on dedicated nights because it’s strongly tied to Latin American culture. The all-time salsa anthem is “Lloraras” by Oscar DeLeon, but a more recent hit is “Candela” by Orquesta Fuego.

Banda

This is a catch-all term for various styles of music from the northern regions of Mexico. They usually include corrido, norteño, swing cumbia, and modern rancheras you can dance to. To get the full festive banda experience, you have to be at the club when touring artists perform live. The further north in the United States you go, the less frequently you’ll hear this music at the clubs. One of the most popular banda hits these days is “Jugaste y Sufrí” by Eslabón Armado.

Bachata

The Dominican Republic has contributed two important music styles to Latin American culture: merengue and bachata. While merengue is mostly limited to clubs, bachata has taken over the charts along with reggaeton, and it’s a club fave because couples love its simple steps. Club DJs who customize their sets for diverse audiences like to include a couple of bachatas and mix them up with some high-energy tracks. Anything by Aventura will send bachata-loving couples to the dance floor, but the hits that are getting more attention in 2022 are by artists such as Alexandra Queen and Eddy Herrera. Over the years, bachata has become known as the music to play toward the end of the night for couples who’ve had too much to drink.

Reggaeton

This music style has been ruling dance floors since before the coronavirus pandemic, and that isn’t likely to change anytime soon. “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee was ranked one of the most influential songs of the century by Rolling Stone, and the hedonistic Farruko track “Pepas” continues to drive people crazy at nightclubs across America. Reggaeton is just beginning to become popular in Brazil, so there’s still room for this genre to expand.

You’ll hear these styles and a lot more when you head to the area’s top Latin club. San Diego nightclub goers consistently rank Onyx Room as the best nightclub in town. With multiple rooms and various genres, we’re sure to please both first-time and veteran San Diego clubgoers. Whether you’re looking for the best Top 40, urban Latin, or hip hop clubs in San Diego, we have something to please everyone. Come see for yourself what Onyx has to offer. To join the guest list for the night of your choosing or get VIP bottle service and experience why Onyx Room is the best San Diego nightclub, call us at 619-876-8044.