The foundation of contemporary Cuban music is son popular style of Cuban music born in the early 20th century. It combines elements of Spanish guitar and Spanish cancion with African music and percussion instruments of Arara and Bantu origin. This music style is represented by time-honoured ensembles: Septeto Nacional , Orquesta Ritmo Oriental, Orquesta Aragon . Later son was supplemented by hip hop, funk, and jazz tanks to such bands as NG La Banda, Son 14, Orishas .

In 1990 Cuba as the whole and Cuban music in particular became more open for the rest of the world. Charanga Habanera, Orquesta Aragon Candido Fabre y su Banda appeared in the scene; these bands and musicians facilitated development of timba music genre also called Cuban salsa, though the Cuban doesnt like this name as they have a claim on fact that timba is something absolutely different and original.

Important event in modern Cuban is foundation of Buena Vista Social Club directed by Ry Cooder. Its member club in Havana involved in dance and music. Their main brainchild is album Buena Vista Social Club which became popular all over the world.

Especial meaning in Cuban music and at the same time politics has rap and hip-hop. These music genres are called "revolution in a revolution as they have developed as a sort of protest against economical and political collapse in Cuba in 1990s. In the beginning this new musical predilection of the Cubans was negatively taken by the government and even prohibited but later they decided that its better to let this music exist under governmental control as authentic expression of culture of Cuba. Cuban rap cannot be called indigenous music style (like salsa, for example), it rather has overseas origin. One more music style prohibited by the government is reggaeton (urban Cuban music genre). Its also possible to distinct rockoson music style mixing rock and roll, timba, and nueva trova.