Reggaeton originated in Panama as a genre called "reggae en español" but later evolved into its own style in Puerto Rico. While its predecessor began in Panama, reggaeton truly took hold and was popularized in Puerto Rico. There is a misunderstanding that reggaeton originated solely in Panama, but it started there before Puerto Rico developed it into the musical style known as reggaeton today. Many Caribbean people migrated between Panama and Puerto Rico for work opportunities, influencing the spread and evolution of the music.