International Students Love Reggaeton, Not Rap

The international students here at Bethune-Cookman University come from very different cultural backgrounds and it shows in many things including their choice of music.

For some of them English is a second language in their countries. Others have different traditional music that influences their taste in music; even the way they think about celebrations can impact their taste in music.

In the United States the most popular musical genres include Hip-Hop, Rock and Pop. At B-CU campus Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B and Trap are more likely to receive a reaction compared to other genres. International students may know the mainstream artist that have made an impact globally, but artist such as Kodak Black, Gucci Mane, and others are something quite new for them.

Marvin Thompson, a native of the Bahamas, said, "I listen to Bruno Mars and Taurus Riley. The music back home is more of drums and still related to the African beat," Thompson said.

On the other hand, some Hispanic students said they listen to a broad list of genres but did not care much for Rap. They expressed more interest in listening to Reggeaton, Salsa and Bachata simply because the music is composed in their first language.

Jose Plazas and Juan Diego Ruiz, both part of the B-CU tennis team, said they are fans of Trap music, but just not in English. In fact, in Hispanic countries trap in Spanish is the most requested in radios and clubs. Artists such as Bad Bunny, Bryant Myers and De La Ghetto are the face of Spanish trap. Countries like the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Colombia are the Spanish's trap music.

Alvaro Barrera, a senior, was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. Barrera said that rap and country music are not his favorites. "I don't listen to Rap. I honestly will listen to anything a part from rap and country," he said.

Aminata Seye, Miss B-CU 2017-2018, also is an international student. Seye is a native of Senegal. In her role as Miss B-CU, she is highly involved on campus and the campus culture.

"I enjoy listening to slower music and R&B because is usually clean and the story
or message being conveyed is meaningful," Seye, said, adding her favorite artists include Adele, Christina Aguilera, Edith Piaf, Celine Dion, Garou and Whitney Houston.

"Unless I'm at a party scene, I don't care too much for rappers such as Kodak and lil Boosie because I can't relate in any way. The music in Senegal is very different, the artist don't curse at all and... some songs you can dance and you can hear the beat of the drums which makes it all more traditional," she said. 

By Karen Romero