Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican native, has become one of the most prominent musicians among Puerto Ricans around the world. Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio began his musical career on Soundcloud with his Latin trap, Reggaeton and traditional Puerto Rican melodies like salsa bomba and merengue. Bad Bunny continues to tremendously amplify Puerto Rican voices, identity and culture bringing new meaning to red, white and blue.
Bad Bunny has never been shy to advocate for Latino voices along with his own political views. As a statement, he purposefully excluded the United States on his tour. Given that the majority of his fans are Latinos, he was concerned about ICE raids outside of his concerts and possible deportation. Furthermore, it allowed him to maintain residency in his home country, Puerto Rico.
During his residency in Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny featured notable Puerto Rican musicians such as Jowell y Randy, Chuwi, Ricky Martin, Los Pleneros de la Cresta and Ivy Queen. Bad Bunny has become an inspiration to Latin culture, including other artists. Through his residence and previous collaborations with other Boricua artists, he shed new light on Puerto Rican culture and livelihood.
Bad Bunny’s sixth solo studio album, “DeBI TiRAR MaS FOToS,” features classic Puerto Rican melodies including jibaro, plena and salsa. This record is unlike any other, blending every genre possible while exhibiting authenticity: it serves as a love letter, a postcard and an act of political activism. The album cover depicts two Monobloc chairs next to each other, and while many believe it is simply for the cover, it signifies a traditional chair in the Latino community: a spot where memories are created. Furthermore, it depicts two empty chairs, representing the loss of loved ones forced to seek refuge away from home due to gentrification, politics or their livelihood. While Bad Bunny’s image and music celebrate Puerto Rican culture, he never forgets to address the ongoing changes in the country he loves.
Bad Bunny has made an enormous impact on Puerto Rico’s local economy, bringing in millions of dollars through his record-setting residency, political activism and the usage of his songs to inspire other Latin musicians and communities. His lyrics, while beautiful, are a reality for Puerto Ricans. In the song “LO QUE LE PASO A HAWAii,” Bad Bunny personifies Puerto Rico, giving “her” a beautiful yet sorrowful expression. He sings “Quieren quitarme el rio y tambien la playa” along with the lyrics “No, no suelte la bandera ni olvide el lelolai” The lyrics, similar to the song “LA MuDANZA,” highlight Puerto Rico’s problems with gentrification and displacement of locals.
Puerto Rico was experiencing an economic downturn as a result of a severe hurricane and subsequent COVID-19. From CNN: “Over the past three months, Bad Bunny has drawn an estimated $200 million into the economy so far, according to local economists, and Perez expects that after the residency ends on Sept. 14, the final tally will be far higher.” According to CNN, the island is now booming, with “people who come for Bad Bunny staying in local hotels, eating at local restaurants and even spending money on Bad Bunny-themed tours.”
The album’s most infamous song, “DtMF,” encapsulates the experience of losing a beloved island or loved one. The track is structured around a slow, hypnotic and dark trap rhythm, which is typical of the album’s vibe. It is not a club tune, but rather a song for late-night thought. Teen Vogue claims that the tune was encouraging listeners “to treasure memories with those who left us too soon on social media, but the song also features lines which serve as an ode for those forced to move out of Puerto Rico for the aforementioned reasons.”
Bad Bunny’s residency, tour and album paid homage to the island of Puerto Rico and its rich heritage. Through his songs, he has brought people together, instilling nostalgia and providing a home away from the island. Bad Bunny’s influence is based on an authentic portrayal. He broke the barriers worldwide for Latin music by openly embracing Spanish and Caribbean rhythms such as reggaeton, dembow and Boricua culture and presenting them to the world stage. He demonstrates that the world’s most famous artist may simultaneously be the most human, and that a simple remark about capturing photos can elicit as strong an emotional response as the loudest party album.