DeBí TiRaR Más FOTOS

An 'instant classic' called by Rolling Stone, is the album that reached one billion streams in just 13 days: Bad Bunny's new and sixth studio album DeBí TiRaR Más FOTOS has a stronger Puerto Rican essence than ever. This special, cohesive piece of work has touched hearts across generations and countries; everyone feels the album's call to dance together to its dembow and reggaeton rhythm. In Apple Music's Zane Lowe Show, Bad Bunny (real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) opened up about feeling more like himself than ever and prioritising loving the music he makes and who he makes it with over standards, expectations, and numbers—which, in my opinion, is what makes this album his best work yet.

While showing incredible variability in its rhythms and lyrics, the album's overarching theme is beautifully entangled in every song: Bad Bunny's home, Puerto Rico. The album reflects the gentrification of the Puerto Rican community and the rich culture and background the Puerto Ricans have built and continue to embrace. One of the most special ways Bad Bunny ties Puerto Rico to the album concept is by using a classic symbol: Concho, an endemic toad. The sapo concho (Puerto Rican crested toad) became endangered upon the invasion of the archipelago by the United States, much like the language, music and culture of the Puerto Rican nation. Bad Bunny cleverly uses this toad throughout the album's music videos, short film and marketing as a symbol for the resistance of the Puerto Rican nation, using his art as a vehicle to embrace the spirit of his community and its long-lived characteristic sound. "This past week I have seen how the album unites families, generations, even people who reconnect with their own roots because they admire our community", says Bad Bunny on a podcast with Puerto Rican Chente Ydrach. This is a key factor that explains this album's success: it connects the listener to the purest, most human sentiment; that special type of pride we feel for a community we belong to.

This intense, emotionally vulnerable topic is masterfully contrasted with a wide variety of quick rhythm and genre changes throughout the album. A clear example is 'BAILE INOLVIDABLE' ('unforgettable dance') which has quickly become a fan favourite. A 6-minute song with piano and trumpet solos, salsa and dembow elements, and Bad Bunny's unique manner of telling a heartbreak story is not exactly what was anticipated. However, it is now the third most streamed song on the album, and when asked why, Bad Bunny replied with "...I always knew this song was going to be popular, because it goes against everything the industry expects from an artist like me". This speaks to another side of this album's success: it defies expectations and assumptions regarding the depth, complexity and sound of current Latin music. Bad Bunny has brought back Puerto Rican melodies while combining them with his own innovative ideas, resulting in an original, different sound that stands out and entices whoever thoroughly listens to it, whether Spanish-speaking or not.

Completely surpassing language barriers, despite it being so lyric heavy—both in the number of lyrics and in their depth—is quite unusual. In my opinion, the reason behind this album becoming so global is rooted in the passion and love with which it was made. 'LA MUDANZA' ('the move') depicts Bad Bunny's family history, which he revealed he learnt through casual conversations with his loved ones back in Puerto Rico. The album is also full of collaborations with young emerging Puerto Rican artists from the national art institutions, which he revealed was chosen very carefully: "I know many big artists, superstars, but no matter how big I can be, I connect more with these people, I relate to them more". This true love for his family, his heritage and his culture is directly reflected on the album. Listeners feel the emotions behind the songs, making each song slightly abstract and allowing each listener's interpretation.

The album title 'DeBÍ TiRaR Más FOTOS' translates to 'I should have taken more pictures': when pictures could only be taken on cameras, each one was a special memory, a moment worth having an imperishable physicality of. Making this the title of such an emotionally honest album perfectly encapsulates the core of this work: Bad Bunny is showing his true self, Benito, those photos he's taken and those he wishes he had, that Puerto Rican spirit he hopes will remain as powerful and united. It is precisely this mindset of prioritising what matters most in his life that has led to Bad Bunny's best work, which speaks to a simple concept that we all sometimes need a reminder of: the best things in life are done with love.