Interesting Topic
Awesome, 1 Question: Do you live in DR or abroad?
On to the topic:
I do not believe this topic is race related, I think that is an ignorant statement. I believe a person choices are more related to location and economics.
Economics: A Dominican that has more money has more buying power therefore can afford to watch (MTV, VH1, etc. ) or listen to rock music from the States, Europe or Latin America. Therefore the "rich" kids can appreciate a Greenday, Heroes del Silencio, etc. while the door just listen to tradional music.
Location: What I mean is not just the place you live but school and other social factors. Most Dominican-Yorks probably listen to rap music because of the neighborhoods their parents emigrated to, if they were to live in the suburbs they would be listening to whatever is heard in that particular suburb. People in the "ghetto" tend to be close minded, therefore if is not surprising most Dominicans listen to rap exclusively, these Dominicans transfer the music to their cousins, friends, etc. in DR and the cycle repeats because the ones in DR want to emulate those that live abroad. Now some of you will say location does not play a role because kids in the suburbs listen to rap music as well but those just like their Dominican counterparts have the money to purchase more than just one genre. In DR the upper-middle to "elite" economic class live in the same neighborhood, attend the same schools and therefore share common interests.
Why race plays a miniscule role:
The Dominican Republic's greatest band (Toque Profundo) is fronted by a 6'5 Black Dominican, most of DR's rock bands have alot of dark skinned Dominicans so therefore I believe it is foolish to make this topic into a race issue. Johnny Ventura's merengue style incorporated alot of rock n' roll. Also everybody know it was "African-Americans" that invented rock n' roll.
Now to answer "Awesome":
Alot of Dominicans like rock n' roll especially in DR, again it is mostly the upper-middle to elite class. I actually started a thread a while back cause I was shock at how some of my Dominican friends prefer SCR"emo" music to our national music (I hate emo). I really dislike emo some singles are okay but albums suck no creativity, MCR "Helena" is good but the rest is over dramatic, Hawthrone Heights "The Transition" is a good song until the idiot starts screaming like a banshee, it does not add anything to the song.
"Dominican Rock":
There are a couple of Dominican bands, I do not know if I would consider all of them rock music.
Toque Profundo is by far the best Dominican rock band and one of the oldest, they definitely know what they are doing.
Al-Jadaqui, is a newer band on the scene, mostly supported by the jevito crowd, they are very commercial, I do not really know if they are "rock" but I would categorize them as tropical-rock. I like them, they produce feel good, laid back music.
Calor Urbano, again can not really categorize as rock but some people would, at least in DR, another commercial band.
Another band I've heard of but have not heard is Entrenos (Dominican band not the Venezolano band).
I've heard harder rock Dominican bands but can't remember their names, hard to find.
Peace,
Capo