Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Wisin announced on Tuesday the official creation of the Universidad Del Perreo, an institution dedicated to the study, preservation, and promotion of reggaeton history. The announcement was made from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Writing on social media, the urban music star stated that he launched the project with great pride and commitment. He explained that he felt a personal responsibility to exalt Puerto Rican culture and protect the legacy of a musical movement that transformed the global music industry forever.
The artist, whose real name is Juan Luis Morera, noted that he has spent more than three decades in the music industry. Having witnessed the sound originate on street corners before expanding to conquer every corner of the world, he concluded that reggaeton history is too vast to remain confined to concert stages.
Morera, who has performed hit tracks including Pegao, Rakata, Pam Pam, Paleta, Sexy Movimiento, and Mírala Bien, said the mission of the institution, abbreviated as UDP, is to give reggaeton the academic rigor and respect it deserves. He indicated that he will share additional information regarding the project in the coming days.
Website Countdown and Evolution of Reggaeton
The institution has already launched its official website, which currently features a 15-day countdown timer leading up to its next major update.
The establishment of the project comes as reggaeton continues its global dominance. When the genre first emerged in Puerto Rico in the late 1980s, it faced widespread censorship and opposition. Over the subsequent decades, however, reggaeton evolved into a dominant global force through high-profile collaborations between leading recording artists and creative fusions with other musical genres.
Pioneer of the Urban Genre
Known in the music industry by his moniker El Sobreviviente, or The Survivor, Wisin gained worldwide fame as part of the Latin Grammy-winning duo Wisin & Yandel alongside fellow artist Yandel. Together and as a solo performer, he has played a pivotal role in bringing Latin urban music to international audiences.
The term perreo refers to the rhythm-driven dance style that became synonymous with reggaeton during its formative years in Puerto Rico. By establishing the Universidad Del Perreo, Morera aims to document how an underground movement in San Juan developed into one of the most influential genres in contemporary popular culture.
