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Music of Costa Rica
Mariachi and son jarocho, marimba ensembles of Guatemala, Garifuna punta, Panamanian tamborito and the corrido ballad tradition.
Sung and searched in Spanish. The YouTube button above can run your search in that language.
Roots and traditions
Folk music
The Caribbean coast shows a strong African influence in the complex percussion rhythms such as sinkit. Like its northerly neighbors in Central America, the marimba is a very popular instrument, and Costa Rican marimba music is popular. In modern times, groups such as Cantares have helped to popularize Costa Rican folk music, and were a leading part of the New Costa Rican Song movement. Costa Rica's pre-Columbian population has contributed a large part of the country's folk heritage, include rare musical scales, certain ceremonial songs and ocarinas. The Guanacaste region, in the Nicoya Peninsula, is home to the best-known folk traditions. Along the Atlantic coast, the African musical heritage is more pronounced, and Afro-Caribbean music including rumba, calypso and reggae are popular. In most of Costa Rica, ancient instruments such as ocarinas are being replaced by international instruments such as accordions and guitars. There are still folk styles, even outside of Guanacaste, such as the Talamanca (canton)'s Danza de los Huelos and the Boruca people's Danza de los Diablitos.
Popular music
Costa Rica urban music
Costa Rica's music also includes hip hop, reggae, dancehall and electronic. Such artists as Toledo, Crypy 626, Tiko305, Huba, Gtermis (Ragga by Roots), Tapon, Shel, Gonin, Banton y Ghetto, Kike, Tinez, Original Warrior Street Reggae Artist, Poeta, Mr Pray, Jahricio, Rude Boy, Talawa Reggae Army, DJ P, Zion [Producer], Killa [Producer], aRNine [Producer], Chino Artavia, Rooper Francheschi, Kastro305 [Producer], Bloke, DJ Arturo Morales, DJ Cole, DJ accion, DJ Juan, DJ Gerarld, DJ action, Marfil (group), Moonlight Dub Xperiment (group) have a hip hop, reggae, electronic influence in their music. Starting in the mid-1990s Costa Rican hip hop and reggae culture has grown. Artist Tapon and group Ragga by Roots were the most famous artists in the late 1990s with hits such as "Creada a mi manera" by Tapon and "Jump to the sound" by Ragga by Roots.
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Live radio
Radio from Costa Rica
Music only, no news or talk. Stations that play the local tradition come first, then the most listened. They play in the corner of the page.
Station directory by Radio Browser Streams come from each station's own server.