dembow
what it is
When Shabba Ranks released "Dem Bow" in 1990, it did not take long for the dembow genre to form. Riddims were built from the song and the sound became a popular part of reggaeton. From the original song of "Dem Bow" originating in Jamaica, it then reached New York and the genre of dembow moved next to Latin America thanks to the Panamanian artist Nando Boom who released a Spanish version of Dem Bow by Shabba Ranks, the rhythm eventually reached the Dominican Republic.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make dembow a playlist
turn these 25 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is dembow?
When Shabba Ranks released "Dem Bow" in 1990, it did not take long for the dembow genre to form. Riddims were built from the song and the sound became a popular part of reggaeton. From the original song of "Dem Bow" originating in Jamaica, it then reached New York and the genre of dembow moved next to Latin America thanks to the Panamanian artist Nando Boom who released a Spanish version of Dem Bow by Shabba Ranks, the rhythm eventually reached the Dominican Republic.
What are good dembow albums to start with?
Try AREA 69 by Six Sex, Bajale 2 by Huan62, Trayectoria by La Materialista, and DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS by Bad Bunny.
Who are some women making dembow?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/dembow/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making dembow, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20