The Noise

Emerging from the vibrant underground scene of San Juan in the early 1990s, The Noise began as a nightclub founded by DJ Negro (Félix Rodríguez) in 1985, providing a platform for freestyle sessions over hip-hop and reggae beats. By 1994, it had evolved into a pioneering collective of DJs, rappers, and producers, instrumental in shaping the early reggaeton sound. The group's influential discography includes The Noise 1: Underground (1994), The Noise 5: Back to the Top (1995), and The Noise 6: The Creation (1996), which featured Ivy Queen's debut track "Somos Raperos Pero No Delincuentes," marking a significant moment for female representation in the genre. Their 1997 releases, The Noise 7: Bring the Noise and The Noise 8: The Real Noise, achieved commercial success, charting on Billboard's Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums charts. The collective's final studio album, The Noise 10: The Last Noise, was released in 2004. In 2018, The Noise reunited for a performance at New York's Red Bull Music Festival, with proceeds supporting Hurricane Maria relief efforts in Puerto Rico. This event underscored their enduring legacy and influence on the global reggaeton movement.