Gavin
booty bass intellectual
so i am not the only one thinking this.
I like your observations re: latin influence and where it may take US dance music... I am happy to see this evolution.
I think it's also got to do with the increasing power of producers vs. rappers in hip hop: you see more influence of "producer-centric" urban genres like house and freestyle -- I think a good half the new Amerie is straight-up freestyle/electro.
80% of what I hear in my neighborhood is norteno... haven't heard that incorporated into any rap, though it does get the people moving! Actually I think I would love to hear some nu-norteno, as long as it keeps that cheesy high-energy about-to-fly-off-the-tracks feel -- none of that tasteful nortech stuff.