Twenty years ago, four men from The Bronx broke the rules and changed the course of Bachata music. The Kings of Bachata, Aventura, are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their legendary sophomore album, We Broke the Rules.
In July 2002, with the release of We Broke The Rules, the band modernized the Dominican-developed genre of Bachata by adding influences from hip-hop, pop, and R&B. Not only did the quartet evolve the genre stylistically, they broke societal and international boundaries. Prior to the 1990s, Bachata was largely rejected by institutions and the upper class, as the genre was associated with “lower class and crime,” according to Billboard. The ’90s marked a new era of acceptance for Bachata, and by 2002, Aventura further expanded the music’s reach.
Aventura “made Bachata cool,” lead singer Romeo Santos once said. With We Broke The Rules, Aventura became the first Bachata act to make a significant impact in Europe. The album sold over 1.5 million units internationally and earned spots on album charts in the U.S., Italy, France, Austria, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Portugal, Spain, and more. The album’s hit single “Obsesión” landed at No.1 in seven countries.
Join the Anniversary Fun!
Now for the fun part. In honor of this groundbreaking album’s 20th anniversary, listen to Aventura’s official playlists ‘We Broke The Rules’ and Summer x Mix on YouTube. Also, check out Radial’s Obsessión Tropical playlist on Spotify.
Head to Aventura’s YouTube Community tab to test your trivia knowledge every Wednesday for the next four weeks. Plus, share your favorite pics or memories featuring Aventura on YouTube Shorts and socials with the hashtag #webroketherules.
Subscribe to Aventura on YouTube, follow the group on Instagram and TikTok, and sign up for their mailing list to enjoy more We Broke The Rules 20th Anniversary content over the summer.
