On January 5, 2025, Puerto Rican artist, actor, wrestler, and activist Bad Bunny released his album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, which means, “I should've taken more photos.” His album features a variety of styles, such as reggaeton, salsa, urbano, Latin trap, and bomba y plena. Additionally, the collaborators on the album are all Puerto Rican, including RaiNao, Omar Courtz, DeiV, Planeros de la Cresta, and Chuwi. Bad Bunny hoped that this album would help remind his listeners to appreciate the moments with the people around them.
After spending time away from home in LA and NY, Bad Bunny recognized the need to reconnect with his heritage and was inspired to create an album that reflects both the new and old sounds of Puerto Rico. In his song “NUEVAYoL,” he samples “Un Verano en Nueva York” by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, a song originally released in 1975. “NUEVAYoL” features a mix of salsa and dembow, combining the old and new generations. Music styles such as salsa and bomba y plena that originate from Puerto Rico go back centuries. Bad Bunny describes how over time, he has grown to appreciate the older styles of music, no longer dismissing these genres as just his “abuela’s music” (his grandma’s music).
In addition to creating the music for this album, Bad Bunny also released a short film, starring Jacobo Morales and Kenneth Canales. Morales is considered to be one of the most influential filmmakers in Puerto Rico. In the short film, Jacobo Morales and Concho the Coqui (voiced over by Kenneth Canales) reflect on their lives while looking through old photos. Concho is a coqui, the national animal of Puerto Rico. The short film shows Americans who have bought homes and businesses in Puerto Rico, leaving less space for the Puerto Rican community. In conclusion, although Bad Bunny is a worldwide artist, he is able to both gain widespread popularity and stay true to his Puerto Rican roots.
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