Makano never dreamed of singing romantic style reggae.

As a teenager in Panamá, Ernán Enrique Jiménez grew up wanting to be like '70s and '80s balladeers José José, Camilo Sesto and Dyango. But times have changed. "It's very hard to sing ballads [these days]," laments Makano, before adding: "But now I only want to do romantic style." And with good reason. The 26-year-old's single, Te Amo, which is all over pop radio and ringtones, could become this year's "Te Quiero" by Flex.

Makano's debut album, also titled Te Amo, has remained on Billboard's Top 10 Latin Rhythm Albums chart for nearly a month. It features two romantikeo tracks that made him a star in his native Panamá: Te Va Doler and Si Tu No Le Dices. His newest single, Dejame Entrar, combines the dem bow of R.K.M y Ken-Y and the romanticism of Eddy Lover. It's "more intimate," explains Makano, "my music allows you to think, feel and reflect."

Although he's not singing old-school ballads anymore, Makano says he wants to reach listeners the same way his idols did: "My dream is that if someone does not know how to express what he or she has inside, that person can do it through my songs."

See: myspace.com/makanospace

Last year, Panamanian singer Eddy Lover teamed up with La Factoría to drop the surprise romantic reggae hit Perdoname. Along with Flex and El Roockie, the 23-year-old with a winning smile is leading a new wave of Panamanian reggae to the top of the charts.

La Factoría and Flex are putting Panamá on the map. Would you say Panamanian music is finally getting its due?

I wouldn't say we're "getting our due." Although the roots of reggae lie in Panamá, los Boricuas took a huge step forward with the commercialization of reggaetón. We feel a certain amount of gratitude because they've opened doors and thanks to them, our music has been able to evolve.

Do you think artists from other countries steal their style from Panamá?

I think the influence of Panamá in what's currently happening in reggaetón around the world is obvious. But I don't want to take any credit away from anyone who decides to become a reggae or reggaetón artist.

What's the scene like in Panamá? In Puerto Rico, artists united, helping reggaetón to grow. Why hasn't that happened in Panamá?

Since the beginnings of reggae in Panamá there were many talented artists who either were only in it for fame or who didn't take their careers seriously enough – almost as if it was a hobby. As I mentioned earlier, in Puerto Rico, the artists approached their music with more maturity. Besides, a few years ago our music didn't have credibility and for that same reason, there weren't producers or people who were willing to invest and take a risk on it. Now, our music has evolved. It's never too late to make one's mark. I think Panamanian artists will have a shot at showing our talent.

What do you think about the controversy between Nando Boom and Don Omar/Wisin y Yandel?

All I can say is that if it happened to me, if someone else covered one of my songs, I wouldn't be bothered by it as long as my rights as a songwriter weren't violated.

How did "Vete," your collaboration with Flex, happen?

We've never collaborated on a song together. That's just some confusion caused by an unofficial remix on YouTube. Someone out there wishes we could collaborate. "Vete" is my song and I'm the only one who performs it.

Reggaetón or reggae? Which do you prefer?

I prefer reggae. The roots of reggaetón.

What's next for Eddy Lover?

There's a lot on the way. Right now, I'm a newcomer to the music industry. After the success of "Perdóname" I decided to give my debut album the same title. It has 12 songs and it'll be out very soon. The lead single is called "No Debiste Volver" and I hope everyone likes the video.

(image by Tragik)

In the last year, artists like Flex, Eddy Lover and La Factoría have exported Panamanian music to the top of the charts in the U.S. and Mexico. Now Los Rakas are hoping to plant the roots of reggaetón in a stronghold of West Coast rap: Oakland, California.

Born and raised in Panamá, cousins Abdull Dominguez (DunDun) and Ricardo Guillam Bethancourt (Rico AKA Filthy Rich) settled in Oakland, California as teens. Taking their name from "raka," Panamanian slang for "ghetto," Los Rakas debuted in 2006 with the Panabay Twist mix-tape.

The album's first single, Mi Barrio, is a pounding bilingual track that's a bit more reggae than hip hop; imagine El General gliding between English and Spanish over a modern dancehall beat. The song has become an anthem in their native Panamá.

Oakland, home to political hip hop like The Coup and Zion I, is a fitting backdrop for a straight-up polemic track like "Invasion of Panamá '89" in which Los Rakas explore the recent history of their motherland: "Killing with no purpose at all, I can't believe [George H.] Bush would do this to y'all, attacking unexpectedly, bombing in the presence of Jesus."

See: myspace.com/losrakas1

While Flex pwns pop radio with "Te Quiero," another romantic Panamanian is waiting in the wings.

Reggae singer-rapper Ivan Vladimir Bautista, El Roockie, made his debut nearly a decade ago with Revelations and has followed with almost an album a year since: Máquina De Lírica (2001), Fórmula Cruda (2002), En Tus Manos (2003) and Humanidad (2005). Popular in his native Panamá, the self-described “máquina de lírica” (lyrical machine) extended his reach to Puerto Rico, where he caught the eye of reggaetón icon Vico C, who has touted El Roockie has having "the most potential of any of his peers." Producing duo Luny Tunes agree. They signed El Roockie to their Más Flow Inc. imprint and let him showcase his flow on "No Te Quiere," an El General-meets-reggaetón joint from Los Benjamins.

El Roockie's latest solo release, Semblante Urbano, is produced by Luny Tunes, Predicador, Tainy and Sensei and has spawned three singles. Parece Sincera is a dancehall ditty with synth zaps and healthy chunks of acoustic guitar. Martes De Galería, featuring De La Ghetto, flips the bassline from Barrington Levy's Black Roses and adds dramatic strings while Sigue Bailando is a romantic reggae track similar to, well, something you'd hear from Flex.

Prompted by the success of fellow Panamanians Eddy Lover and Flex, El Roockie argues his countrymen should unite and conquer: “I think to become successful, we have to repeat the formula that was used in Puerto Rico – producers working together and helping out the artists, making some good music."

See: myspace.com/theroockie