Bad Bunny, the world renowned, three time Grammy award winning Puerto Rican artist, turned part time professional wrestler, is back.
Becoming Spotify’s Most Streamed Artist for three consecutive years is no easy feat. Pumping out five albums in the span of half a decade, each going on to become arguably more commercially successful than the last, is even harder.
Bringing latin urban to the mainstream while waving the flag of Puerto Rico has made Benito a household name, breaking all kinds of language and ethnic barriers.
This time around, Benito leaves us with more questions than answers.
How often do we get the chance to stop and appreciate a moment as it’s happening? To be conscious of an experience and truly cherish the impact it’s making in our lives, going on to mark an era, is so rare.
Unfortunately, the reality is, more often than not, when we look back we reach the same damn conclusion, “I should have taken more pictures.”
Album opener NUEVAYoL is a love letter to summers in New York sampling El Gran Combo’s 1975 hit “Un Verano en Nueva York” before unleashing a burst of dembow that will literally leave you questioning what exactly is going on.
We’re then taken on a four track run, including album highlight BAILE INoLVIDABLE, weaving salsa, reggaeton, dembow and latin pop to deliver songs that will inevitably make everyone’s Summer 2025 playlists. All before slowing the tempo down with WELTITA whose tropical beach theme could have easily found a home in UVST.
Releasing a short film to accompany the album, Bad Bunny set out to deliver a message to anyone listening. A message that all those native to their country of origin will resonate with; the inhabitants of the island of Puerto Rico, through its major gentrification process and many attempts to cater solely to tourism, will bow down to no one.
In the film, we get a glimpse of a day in the life of an elderly Don going on about his day in the gentrified land that Puerto Rico has become. It culminates in a scene where the gentleman can’t pay for his meal using the cash in his pocket because the bakery he’s dined at for years is under new ownership and no longer accepts cash payments.
Seeing him in distress, a younger gentleman approaches and offers to pay for his meal. Hearing someone finally speak Spanish, who understands the culture shock leaves the Don in awe and the younger man then leaves him with two words, “Seguimos aqui” (“We’re still here”).
This theme carries on into the album with songs like CAFe CON RON and LO QUE LE PASO A HAWAii that take a closer look at the island’s ongoing struggle with colonization and maintaining it’s indigenous identity.
Benito sings his compelling political stance, talking about losing rivers, beaches, homes and entire neighborhoods to colonizers who have taken it all away. While privatizing the island’s electrical grid, leaving thousands at the mercy of people who don’t care for their wellbeing. He reminds his compatriots to never forget their history and never let go of the flag they’ve always waved.
While a theme of resisting colonization is explored, we’re treated to sounds a new generation of artists is pioneering through Benito’s use of student musicians from the Escuela Libre de Musica de San Juan, a musical talent school who plays every instrument used in the album’s songs in salsa.
Melancholic undertones are felt throughout the album, helping the listener relate in some way to the experiences Benito shares. What our exes could be doing in EL CLuB. Not wanting to compete for someone’s affection in BOKeTE. Not knowing how to deal with a situationship in KLOuFRENS. All while perreando to songs that set the bar for the genre going forward like VeLDA and EoO, the latter being produced by generational mastermind producer Tainy.
Anyone hating must be asking themselves the same question, “How can Bad Bunny be the king of pop with reggaeton and dembow?”
By the end, amidst Pokemon references, we’re left with probably the only answer that he offers: “I’m the best of the new because I was raised in the old school. Lugia, Ho-oh, cabron, I’m legendary! A millionaire without leaving el barrio.”
His message is clear, he was born where reggaeton was birthed, he has no intention of getting kicked out of his own land and anyone who understands has realized that life is a party that one day might have to end.
So take pictures to remind yourself of the moments you never want to forget.
Staff rating 8.8
