Reggaeton originated as a mix of Jamaican dancehall rhythms and Latin genres like merengue, bomba and plena. It developed in Panama where there was a large Jamaican population who had migrated to work on the Panama Canal in the early 20th century. While reggaeton's roots are Panamanian, some of the earliest and most influential reggaeton artists came from Puerto Rico, which is where much of its popularity grew. The genre combines electronic dance music, hip-hop elements and Spanish/Spanglish rap over heavy, percussive beats known as "dembow" to create a compelling sound that has been widely embraced by Hispanic youth worldwide.