Entertainment · Music · 5 hrs ago
Cuban Reparto Gains Global Attention After Years of Restrictions
Reparto is a Cuban music genre that blends urban music with traditional sounds such as son, timba and rumba.
It took shape more than two decades ago but was restricted in Cuba, partly because its explicit lyrics described poverty and street life in Havana’s suburbs.
Performers once shared the music mainly at informal gatherings because it could not be played on radio or television.
Since 2020, reparto has grown more widely known, with “Dichavate” helping it reach audiences beyond Cuba.
The song gained attention online and became the first reparto song to reach the top five on Billboard’s Peru Songs and Spain Songs charts.
It has also reached high positions on charts in Argentina and Colombia.
Reparto artists are set to discuss the genre at the first reparto panel at Billboard Latin Music Week.
Reparto, a Cuban music genre that was once restricted on the island, is gaining global attention.
The genre blends urban music with traditional Cuban sounds such as son, timba and rumba.
Its growth since 2020 has been driven in part by “Dichavate,” a song by Ya Ice Dilan, Rey Tony and Helabusador.
The track reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Peru Songs chart and No. 5 on its Spain Songs chart.
Reparto artists are due to speak at the first reparto panel at Billboard Latin Music Week.
- Who
- Cuban reparto artists, including Ya Ice Dilan, Rey Tony and Helabusador, are behind the genre’s growing reach.
- What
- Reparto is gaining global attention, helped by the hit song “Dichavate.
- When
- The genre began taking shape more than two decades ago; it has grown since 2020.
- Where
- Reparto began in Cuba and has gained attention in markets including Peru and Spain.
- Why
- The genre’s growth has been helped by “Dichavate” gaining traction on social media and charts. The sources also describe its blend of urban and traditional Cuban sounds.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Reparto began taking shape in Cuba and was promptly banned.
Wow Popy began his career.
Reparto has grown and become more widely embraced around the world.
Dichavate” was released on YouTube, then on Spotify two weeks later.
Dichavate” broke onto Billboard charts and reached No. 1 on Peru Songs.
The song reached No. 5 on Spain Songs.
- Genre
- Reparto blends urban music with son, timba and rumba.
- Song
- Dichavate” is by Ya Ice Dilan, Rey Tony and Helabusador.
- YouTube views
- More than 141 million for “Dichavate.
- TikTok posts
- 18.4 million for “Dichavate.
- Peru Songs peak
- No. 1.
- Spain Songs peak
- No. 5
What people are saying
Back then, we didn’t have nightclubs and the internet didn’t exist
We didn’t have the opportunity to run advertising campaigns on Spotify or YouTube due to the explicit lyrics … We tried, but we couldn’t. We didn’t even have the chance to invest in the song.
Back in Cuba, it just really took off.
The song has magic.
Sources
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