As its name implies, Bad Bunny’s new album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (I Should Have Taken More Photos) is full of nostalgia. The album, which came out on January 6, is a return to the Boricua’s roots. Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, he said this is his “most Puerto Rican” album yet, inspired by the traditional music of a bygone era.
While away from the island on his arena tour that grossed over $200 million, Bad Bunny listened to old-school Puerto Rican music and was motivated to integrate it into his new work upon returning home. The 30-year-old singer incorporated many genres, including reggaeton, música jíbara, salsa, plena, bomba, house, and dembow into 17 tracks. “I am Puerto Rican, I am Caribbean, and my music, my culture, my country’s history run through my veins, from plena to reggaeton,” Benito shared in a press statement.
The album is the Grammy Award winner’s love letter to Puerto Rico. He recorded it entirely on the island, where he exclusively collaborated with local talent, including many young students from the music school Libre de Música San Juan. The new album isn’t just full of Latin music hits; it also serves as a platform for his activism.
The lyrics of many songs continue his efforts to bring awareness to some of the most significant issues facing the island. In recent years, Puerto Rico has faced the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, earthquakes, ongoing power grid failures, one of the highest poverty rates in the US, and an economic crisis. The superstar’s album (and subsequent 13-minute short film) have impactful verses that touch on themes of tourism, gentrification, and the island’s status as it relates to the US. “Bokete” is a love song that Bad Bunny told The New York Times was inspired by the many potholes in Puerto Rico.
