Reggaeton originated in Panama in the 1970s as a combination of Jamaican reggae and Latin American music. It gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1990s, bringing success to artists like DJ Playero, Daddy Yankee, and Don Chezina. While many think it started in Panama, it was truly popularized and developed more in Puerto Rico. One of the top reggaeton artists, Zion, struggled for recognition for many years before gaining success through songs on compilation albums and increased radio play in the early 2000s.