As reggaetón continues to dominate the music charts, legends of the genre, including Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderón, Ivy Queen and Don Omar remain as relevant as ever for their roles in defining form a movement that originated in Puerto Rico and eventually spread globally. But Don Omar’s return has been long awaited. Leenda, known for early 2000s hits like “Dale Don,” “Sácala” and “Salió el Sol,” has officially returned to the stage with the “Back to Reggateon” US Tour produced by CMN . The tour not only marks his highly anticipated return to the stage, but also beautifully celebrates his two-decade career and its impactful contributions to the genre.
On Saturday, March 9, Don Omar took to the Barclays Center stage to perform a sold-out show that filled the audience with joy and nostalgia. The most important thing is that it proves that 20 years later, his music is still hot. The Puerto Rican Reggaetónero has slowly worked his way back into the game since 2021, dropping singles leading up to his 2023 LP “Forever King.” His new music is a striking fusion of his signature early 2000s reggaetón with the modern sounds that are dominating the genre. But his current tour, which kicks off in Reading, PA, on March 7, speaks to how the community continues to honor and celebrate the OGs who pioneered the movement.
It’s easy to forget the originators of a trend or movement and focus on today’s big stars like Bad Bunny, Karol G, Young Miko or J Balvin. But today’s fans of reggaetón and Latin trap music know how to show their respect – that was abundantly clear at Barclays, where scores of fans belted out all the lyrics to much of the setlist. Don Omar’s two-hour set (especially when he raps his greatest hits, like “Pobre Diabla” and “Mayor Que Yo 3”).
The show also makes it clear that both the OGs of reggaetón and its current stars acknowledge the contributions of others and their contributions to the popularity of the genre. Don Omar performed several performances throughout the night, including performing “Gata Gangster” and “Desafío”, in which he shouted out Daddy Yankee like a legend.
“[Daddy Yankee] devoted 35 years of his life to reggaetón. I don’t have anyone to argue with anymore,” he joked, referring to their previous feud.
During his performance of “Entre Tú y Yo”, Don Omar shouted out Luny Tunes and other Dominicans’ contributions to reggaetón, which are often overlooked.
While the show and tour celebrate Don Omar’s two-decade career, in many ways it also pays homage to the genre, its beginnings and its evolution like nowadays. Witnessing the rise of Don Omar – an Afro-Boricua artist from Puerto Rico who began his career when reggaetón was banned by the Puerto Rican government – also speaks to how the genre has evolved to what extent.
“Thank you for making my dream come true. I am a high school dropout, a church pastor, and in the best moment of my life, you allowed me to be Don Omar, ” he said at the end of the program. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, and at my age, it’s clear that making mistakes is what got me where I am today because, from each of those mistakes, I’ve learned. I learned that on this planet.” , no one has the key to heaven. The only key to heaven is your direct relationship with what is in heaven.”
Johanna Ferreira is the content director of POPSUGAR Juntos. With over 10 years of experience, Johanna focuses on how intersectional identities are a central part of Latinx culture. Previously, she spent nearly three years as deputy editor at HipLatina, and she has freelanced for multiple outlets including Refinery29, Oprah magazine, Allure, InStyle, and Well+Good. She has also moderated and spoken on numerous panels on Latine identity. .
