Reggaeton icon Bad Bunny is more than a musician—he’s a cultural juggernaut. His last tour, aptly titled World’s Hottest Tour, spanned 14 countries, 43 shows, and raked in over $300 million. The tour supported Un Verano Sin Ti (2022), Spotify’s most-streamed album of all time with 15.177 billion streams as of December 19, 2023. We must not forget El Conejo Malo’s fashion sense. Benito has graced magazine covers like Vogue Italia (as its first solo male cover star) and Harper’s Bazaar.

But enough about then. Let’s talk about now.

I think he delivered. The album cleared 36.95 million streams on its first day. Benito is in his bag.

A Love Letter to Puerto Rico

You’d miss the heart of this album if you only focused on its commercial success. Debí Tirar Más Fotos is Bad Bunny’s self-proclaimed "most Puerto Rican" project yet. It’s takes traditional Puerto Rican sounds—nuyorican salsa, bomba, and plena—weaves them into modern reggaeton. Think of it as your favorite rapper digging into the crates to sample an all-time classic. (Kendrick, are you listening?) Except here, Benito didn’t just sample—he handed the mic to tradition, letting the boricua music and culture shine.

For mis amigos que no hablan español, don’t worry—this album will still keep your hips swiveling all night. Trust me, the stank face will come naturally.

But the real gems are in the lyrics.

The Lyrics: Is It That Obvious?

Bad Bunny’s love for Puerto Rico pulses through every track. Take CAFÉ CON RON, which paints a vibrant picture of partying across the island. Or DtMF, where Benito sighs over Puerto Rico’s beauty the way you do when you finally get your home back to yourself after a long weekend with houseguests.

“Another beautiful sunset I see in San Juan
Enjoying everything the departed are missing out on.”

Even heartbreak can’t distract Bad Bunny. The phrase “I hope my people never move away” punctuates Bunny’s pining for his lost lover. He’s speaking to the trend of Puerto Ricans leaving for the mainland U.S., commonly because of economic hardship, healthcare challenges, and natural disasters.

On LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAIi, Bad Bunny delivers a warning:

While the singer officially declined to elaborate, we can read quite clearly between these lines. Hawaii and Puerto Rico both became U.S. territories in 1898. Hawaii eventually became the 50th state and has experienced a significant amount of assimilation to U.S. culture. Puerto Rico, on the other hand, has remained a territory and has mostly retained its own language and culture. Here’s where my church kids go, “don’t let the salt lose its saltiness!” Point taken.

Bad Bunny wraps up with LA MUDANZA, a 3:33 anthem celebrating his Puerto Rican identity:

• Thanking his parents for his Puerto Rican roots.

• Defending his art and slang: “The whole world already knows my dialect.”

• Explaining the importance of the Puerto Rican Flag: “People were killed for raising the flag. That’s why I carry it everywhere…”

• Declaring his refusal to leave Puerto Rico, the land of his ancestors.

It seems pretty clear he won’t be moving anywhere anytime soon.

El Conejo Malo vs. The Status Quo

This isn’t Benito’s first foray into politics. He’s backed third-party candidates in Puerto Rico, challenging a 70-year-old political status quo in the process.

But why does this matter? Am I just another disoriented superfan? Possibly. Kidding! 

Artists like Edwin Starr, Marvin Gaye, and John Lennon were once revered for the social commentary in their art. Athletes like Muhammad Ali and Jim Brown confronted systemic racism head-on. These individuals spoke directly to the issues impacting their communities and emphatically against the root causes.

Today's artists usually stop short of addressing issues directly. More broadly, America’s largest influencers (athletes, musicians, entertainers) have effectively gone mute with respect to substantive social commentary. They used to be important participants in the conversation, despite having significantly less financial resources (read: autonomy) than celebrities do today.

I’ll address the elephant in the room. There are sometimes massive repercussions for speaking up. Muhammad Ali was spied on by the FBI. Colin Kaepernick had a lucrative NFL career cut short for taking a knee. Even LeBron James was told ‘shut up and dribble.’ 

Bad Bunny, however, seems untouchable. Is it because fewer bigots speak Spanish? Probably not. Do musicians get a pass that athletes don’t? Is that another outworking of slavery’s dark legacy?

Whatever the reason, our society has become quite intolerant of entertainers with a conscience.

Time for Change

Bad Bunny’s ability to speak without blowback could reflect progress—or luck. Puerto Rico, after all, is geographically and politically distant. U.S. powers might view his critiques as a NIMBY issue: “Not in My Backyard.”

We can’t forget that social change requires voices willing to make us uncomfortable.

It’s time for more public figures to follow Bad Bunny’s example and participate in social discourse. And I mean more than league-issued apparel and Pride sunglasses. No one will be perfect. Some will shock us. But their ability to start conversations about important issues is invaluable. The fans will take it from there.

What do you think? Are you ready for celebrities to join the conversation again?

Sources:

• NPR

• Billboard

• Hypebeast

• Cafe Con Ron (English Lyrics)

• DtMF (English Lyrics)

• La Mudanza (English Lyrics)

• Lo Que Le Pasó A Hawaii (English Lyrics)