‘Gasolina,’ a worldwide hit by Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee, is the first reggaeton song to be added to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. The well-known performer, whose real name is Ramón Luis Ayala Rodriguez, popularised the Latin urban music genre of reggaeton.
The song is one of the 25 recordings and albums chosen for preservation at the audio history repository. It was released in 2004 and quickly rose to international acclaim, popularising the reggaeton genre. Gasolina made the cut this year, making history as the first reggaeton song to be included in the registry’s annual list of 25 records deserving of preservation.
Yankee’s third studio album, Barrio Fino, which debuted at the top of the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, made history when the single Gasolina was released as the album’s lead single. Gasolina was the first reggaeton single to be nominated for a Latin Grammy the same year that he won one for the album, making 2005 a historic year.
Only 26 Latino artists’ recordings have been included among the 625 that have been added to the National Recording Registry since 2002. “By preserving our history through recorded sound, the National Recording Registry also shows the cultural diversity of our country, and the national library is pleased to play a part in ensuring that these recordings are preserved for future generations,” says Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress.
Gasolina ranked ninth on Billboard’s list of the 50 Greatest Latin Songs of All Time in 2015. The song then came in at number eight on Billboard’s 2017 list of the top dancehall and reggaeton choruses. The song is ranked thirty-eighth on Rolling Stone’s list of the 50 Greatest Latin Pop Songs of 2018. Gasolina debuted at number one on the list of the 100 Greatest Reggaeton Songs of All Time in 2022 after reaching number 50 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2021.
One of the most well-known and successful Latin music performers in the world, Yankee, announced his retirement in March 2022. “Today, I’m offering you my finest production and my best performance tour as I announce my retirement from music. With this brand-new collector’s item, the album Legendaddy, I will bid you farewell after 32 years of experience,” he announced.
