There is no denying that Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny has proven to the world how effortlessly and mythical his career peaked in becoming one of the hottest global superstars of the decade.
With Spanish hit records like “Dakiti,” “Moscow Mule,” Titi Me Pregunto,” Bad Bunny has conquered the U.S. market without the need to erase and dismiss the Latino culture.
This year’s Grammy’s 2023 Bad Bunny became the first Latino to be nominated in the category “Album of the Year ” being the first Spanish-language album in the category competing with big artists like Adele, Harry Styles, and Beyonce.
Despite his latest release having an English title “Where She Goes” the song is in Spanish and with a few English words.
“I like to make people wonder and make them think I am releasing a song in English because people are “jodiendo” (bugging),” said Bad Bunny in a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone.
However, making music history for Latinos is not the only thing that makes him visible as an artist but the way he speaks out on the social issues Puerto Rico faces too.
In 2019, he and other Puerto Rican artists like Ricky Martin and Residente also known as stage name “Calle 13” joined other protesters in the streets of Puerto Rico to get Ricardo Rossello to resign.
In The Tonight Show Feb. 2020, he paid tribute to a Trans Woman killed in Puerto Rico by wearing a shirt with the words “They killed Alexa, not a man in a skirt,” during his performance.
The same year he brought a lot of controversy when dressing as a woman for the music video “Yo Perreo Sola” (I Twerk Alone).
Bad Bunny has also openly encouraged the importance younger people play when they vote on his social media Instagram.
In 2018 he created the Good Bunny Foundation which focuses on music, art, and sports for youth in Puerto Rico.
In his latest album “Un Verano Sin Ti” (A Summer Without You) in the song “El Apagon” you can hear Bad Bunny say in the middle of the song “Maldita sea otro apagon” (Damn another black out). This refers to the blackouts Puerto Rico has continued to face since Hurricane Maria in 2017.
However, one of my favorite songs from him, “Andrea” has powerful lyrics that other women can relate to wanting to feel able to dream free while still being understood and respected.
The song talks about a woman who does not want to leave Puerto Rico despite the environment not being the best and dangerous for her and feels like she is being judged and still dreams of finding love too.
“Mucho la critican sin conocerla, calle como civic, inteligente como un tesla,” (A lot of people judge her without knowing her, in the street like civic but intelligent like a Tesla). “Como si fuera mujer un pecado,” (Like if being a woman is a sin). “Ella no quiere una flor solo quiere que no la marchiten que cuando compre pan no le piten y en un futor lindo le inviten que le den respeto que nunca se lo quiten,” (She does not want a flower she just wants them not to wilt her or not beep at her when she goes buy bread and someone to invite her to a beautiful future but to give her respect and never take it from her).
But who is Bad Bunny?
Benito Antonio Ocasio Martinez, better known by his stage name “Bad Bunny,” is a 29-year-old rapper and singer who was born and raised in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.
Bad Bunny lived a pretty relatable Latino adolescent life by going to college and working a minimum job for 5 years before peaking globally in his career.
In 2016 he started making Urban, Trap Latino, and Reggaeton music and uploading them on SoundCloud.
During this time of his career, he worked a minimum wage job at a market and attended the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo where he attempted to earn a degree in audiovisual communications.
In the same year with his song “Diles,” Bad Bunny was discovered in SoundCloud by artist DJ Luian who signed him to his record label “HearThisMusic.”
“I come from a “barrio” hood neighborhood in Puerto Rico from a hard-working family. I was not born in a wealthy environment or anything, I had a job. I had to take my resume and work minimum wage. I know how it is to get on time at work or you can get fired. I have my discipline,” said Bad Bunny in a Spanish interview with Billboard in December 2022.
Bad Bunny gained drastic popularity when he became the first artist to break the record with 18.5 billion streams on Spotify for three years in a row according to Rolling Stone 2022.
According to Billboard Records, he currently holds 11 Top Hits, 73 songs on Billboard, and one hit No.1 song with “I Like It” with Cardi B and J Balvin.
So far also he has won three Grammys for “Best Latin Pop or Urban Album” in 2021 with his album “YHLQMDLG” (“Yo Hago Lo Que Se Me Da La Gana” (I Do Whatever The F* I Want) and “Best Musica Urbana Album” for “El Último Tour Del Mundo” (The Last Tour of The World” album in 2022, with both albums being released in 2020. “Un Verano Sin Ti,” released in 2022, took “Best Musica Urbana Album.”
Also in 2022 “El Último Tour Del Mundo” became the fastest-selling tour since 2018 Beyonce and Jay Z’s “On the Run Tour 2” grossed $116.8 million and made it the highest-grossing Latin tour of all time. “World’s Hottest Tour ” 2022 earned $314.1 million according to Billboard and sold 1.9 million tickets, setting the record for the biggest Latin tour ever.
Bad Bunny has also mentioned WWE wrestling in a few songs for the love he has had since childhood and this has gained him recognition and a new audience for a different category of entertainment.
In 2017, WWE wrestler, Rick Flair appeared in his music video “Chambea,” and in 2019, Stone Cold Steve Austin appeared in “Quien Tu Eres.” In 2021 he released a song called “Booker T” where he was the special guest performer in the 2021 Royal Rumble.
In the same year for Wrestlemania 37, he fought in a tag team match partner with Puerto Rican wrestler Damian Priest and both won the match. And in 2023 Bad Bunny won his first solo match in a “Street Fight in San Juan” against Priest which took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
He has cast roles in movies like “Bullet Train” “My Spy” “F9:Fst Saga” and the Netflix series “Narcos: Mexico.” According to this year’s ‘Sony Pictures presentation at CineCon Bad Bunny will be joining the Marvel Universe to play the superhero “Luchador el Muerto,” where it will be released in 2024.
Since early in his career he also has been recognized for his style of fashion with his crazy hairstyle to painting nails, Bad Bunny does not see sex as gender when it comes to fashion.
He has attended two Met Gala’s so far. In 2022 he wore a Burberry Skirt and this year he also attended this year dress by Jacquemus, where magazines like “Sharp Magazine” ranked under the best Top 19 men’s dresses for Met Gala 2023 other magazines like “GQ-Magazine UK” added him as one of the best dress of that night too.
He has also been featured in front cover magazines like Vogue, Harper Bazaar, GQ, Time Magazine, and many more.