Akapellah Weighs In: Daddy Yankee's 'Gasolina' vs. J Balvin's Global Reign in Reggaeton

In a recent episode of MoluscoTV, Venezuelan rapper Akapellah offered his perspective on the global impact of reggaeton icons Daddy Yankee and J Balvin, sparking a debate about their respective contributions to the genre's worldwide phenomenon. Akapellah acknowledged the immense success of both artists but drew a distinction based on the era in which they achieved their breakthroughs. According to Akapellah, Daddy Yankee's hit "Gasolina" was a pivotal moment for reggaeton, as it introduced the genre to a global audience at a time when it was still new and its longevity was uncertain. "'Gasolina' made things happen that even Daddy Yankee himself didn't think it would," Akapellah stated, highlighting the song's unprecedented reach, even hitting charts in Asia. He emphasized the difficulty of popularizing a nascent genre and convincing the public of its staying power. Conversely, while recognizing J Balvin as a global superstar who brought urban music to new territories, Akapellah noted that Balvin's rise occurred in a different landscape. "J Balvin also did it, but 15, 20 years later," Akapellah explained, referring to the shift from physical CD sales to digital streaming platforms. He argued that while both artists achieved monumental success, they did so within the context of their respective eras, utilizing the resources available at the time. "You can't compare a digital process from the digital age with the 2000s, a new genre that nobody knew," Akapellah asserted. He concluded that both artists maximized their resources in their respective times, but Daddy Yankee's feat of establishing the genre's foundation was arguably more challenging. The discussion underscored the different historical contexts that shaped the global trajectory of reggaeton.