Peak Time – DJ Nelson of the Noise and Rosa Pistola

The Puerto Rican DJ and producer DJ Nelson (AKA Nelson Díaz Martinez) is often credited as the inventor of the word reggaeton. Whether he did in fact coin the term or not, his legacy in the history of the genre is unquestionable. As part of the Noise — a club-centered collective composed of DJs, MCs, producers and club coordinators — Nelson was imperative to the development and popularization of reggaeton in San Juan. Since the Noise's inception, Nelson has gone to produce for numerous artists (including Ivy Queen and Wisin & Yandel), he's founded his own label Flow Music, released compilation albums and hosted a variety of radio shows dedicated to reggaeton and beyond. Repping the newer generation of reggaeton pioneers is Mexico City-based Rosa Pistola. Originally from Colombia, the transplant champions her adopted home and its relatively unknown scene.