Forthcoming from Bloomsbury Publishing (2027)
From Ivy Queen to Bad Bunny:
The Sonic Travels of Reggaetón
Behind global sensations like Bad Bunny and Karol G lies a history of migration and powerful expressions of resistance and liberation.
From Ivy Queen to Bad Bunny: The Sonic Travels of Reggaetón explores the musical phenomenon’s journey from underground Caribbean party music to its catapult into mainstream popularity and success. Exploring historic locales and artifacts central to reggaetón’s history, Ilah Raleigh tracks the dembow rhythm’s deep roots in West Africa and its many migrations throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. Political struggles, economic realities, and technological innovations influenced reggaetón’s spread and successful crossover to the mainstream and its later resurgence thanks to international variations on the genre.
Incorporating interviews with artists, producers, superfans, and cultural insiders, this book reveals a wide range and breadth of talent, from originators like Daddy Yankee, Ivy Queen, Tego Calderón, and Don Omar to the newcomers like La Doña and Gego y Nony, culminating in the endlessly surprising work of Bad Bunny, who leads a new generation of tech savvy, politically astute, and dedicated young artists.
This is not just a book; it is an exploration of the resilient communities and vibrant artists who created this movement. I seek to reveal how reggaetón fulfills many purposes: artistic self-expression, political resistance, cultural reflection, and social catalyst.
About the Author
Dr. Ilah Raleigh is an interdisciplinary scholar and arts education leader whose work explores the intersection of music, migration, and identity. With a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and a career spanning the opera stage and arts administration, she brings a unique, multi-hyphenate perspective to the study of contemporary global genres.
Scholarship & Publications
Bridging pedagogy and cultural studies, Dr. Raleigh’s research focuses on innovative curricula and the intersection of identity and musical genre.
Forthcoming: My English-language, general interest book on the cultural forces behind reggaetón, From Ivy Queen to Bad Bunny: The Sonic Travels of Reggaetón, is slated for publication in Spring 2027.
Book Chapter: Contributed a chapter to Pedagogies for Diverse Learners (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023). Dr. Raleigh’s chapter, "My American Story: A Storytelling and Songwriting Project for Social Change," introduces a general music curriculum by Dr. Raleigh that explores the final projects of college students telling their American story in song.
Dissertation:"Mixed People, Mixed Music: Hybrid Contemporary Commercial Music Genres and the Multiethnic Artists Who Create Them" (2022, Honors Dissertation).
Beyond the Page
One of the former sites of the Noise on #203 Calle Tanca . Image captured by the author, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2025.
Global Reach
Published internationally by Bloomsbury, reaching scholars, historians, and music enthusiasts across six continents.
La Doña performing at The Parkway Theater. Image captured by the author, Minneapolis, MN, 2024.
Authentic Narrative
Centering 'culture bearers'—prioritizing the lived experiences of the movement's pioneers and the musical narratives they use to reclaim their history.
Ivy Queen at Carnegie Hall. Image captured by the author, New York City, 2024.
Radical Respect
Bridging the gap between the street and the academy to validate Reggaetón as a key record of migration, resistance, and modern identity.
Dr. Raleigh is available for lectures, keynote addresses, and panel discussions on the history of Reggaetón, the evolution of global music genres, and the intersections of race and the creative economy.
Project Inquiry
Don Omar in concert at the Greensboro Coliseum. Image captured by the author, Greensboro, NC, 2025.
Media & Artist Inquiries
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