After Hip-Hop flourished in the late '80s and became more popular throughout the '90s, we saw the emergence of powerful artists like Kid Frost, Big Noyd, AZ, Hurricane G, Frankie Cutlass and other beatmakers like DJ Laz and The Diaz Brothers who put artists of Latin descent in the limelight. Outside of North America, you had other pioneers in Panama and Puerto Rico like Tego Calderon and DJ Nelson who helped popularize reggaetón and spread it around the world.

Today, both rap and reggaetón are the leading genres in the music industry. Artists like Jim Jones, Termanology, Snow Tha Product, Emilio Rojas, Bodega Bamz, Anuel AA, J Balvin and newer acts like Eladio Carrion have done well to blend Latin and Hip-Hop cultures together. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we take a look at the Latin artists who not only impacted Hip-Hop but also helped build the bridge between English and Spanish-speaking MC's that will last forever.

Christina Martinez