For his sixth studio album, “DEBí TiRAR MáS FOToS,” Bad Bunny embraced his roots to create an album for Puerto Ricans around the globe. A mix of traditional rhythms and modern notes, the album is both a celebration of the island he grew up in and a cautionary tale.
The album is accompanied by a 12-minute short film written and directed by Bad Bunny, which stars Puerto Rican entertainment legend Jacobo Morales and co-stars Puerto Rican artist and humorist Boricua Drips, as Concho, an endangered crested toad from Puerto Rico. It takes the music a step further, illustrating the gentrification, colonization and abusive leadership in Puerto Rico.
The album has evoked a sensitive emotional response from Latinos and cultures around the world. It has been described as “a project that unifies generations” by the artist REYE$ and “album of the decade’” by producer Zmoll.
Rising, hispanic talent can agree. Omar ‘DREILU’ Ruiz, music industry graduate student and ‘Cane Records artist calls it, “the most genuine album I’ve seen.”
Bad Bunny is known for his creative and methodical marketing schemes. Prior to the album’s release, the tracklist was rolled out through geographical coordinates in Puerto Rico where fans could find the name of the respective song on Google map’s street view, inspiring fans around the world to digitally visit the island.
The album features Bad Bunny’s reggaeton, but we also hear him on other typical Puerto Rican rhythms that he hadn’t done until now. That’s where the soul and magic of the album lie.
As a Puerto Rican born and raised on the island, this album struck me emotionally, serving as both a celebration and a warning. Each song feels like a familiar conversation with family or a cherished memory from growing up there, making it clear that this is more than just music — it’s our story being told to the world.
The first track “NUEVAYoL,” is a salsa inspired by “Un Verano en Nueva York,” by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and Andy Montañez, a Puerto Rican salsa hit from the 1970s. It then transforms into a dembow, giving it a more urban touch. This mixture of salsa and dembow helps me appreciate both my Puerto Rican heritage and Dominican Heritage.
In the popular track “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” Benito sings to a past lover, highlighting her as the most important of all his love stories. I think I speak for everyone when I say Bad Bunny on a salsa beat is something we didn’t know we needed.
In his interview with Apple Music, Bad Bunny regarded this song as his favorite in the album and one of songs he has most enjoyed creating in his career. The instrumentation was provided by students of the Ernesto Ramos Antonini Libre de Música school in San Juan, Puerto Rico and composed mainly by people between 17 and 20 years old.
Bad Bunny continues to spotlight young Puerto Rican talent, giving space for emerging artists across tracks. “PERFuMITO NUEVO” features Rainao’s unique style, which blends seamlessly with Bad Bunny’s flow, creating a fusion of reggaetón and R&B, while “WELTiTa” brings playful rhythms and catchy hooks to create a beachy, danceable vibe that brings out Chuwi’s charm.
“VeLDÁ” highlights the rising stars Omar Courtz and Dei V in a high-energy reggaetón track marked by strong beats and loose lyricism.
The next few tracks, “EL CLúB,” “BOKeTE” and “KLOuFRENS,” all have a common theme of heartbreak, melancholy and sadness.
Additionally, in “TURiSTA,” Benito tells the story of a relationship with a person who was in his life for a short while and didn’t get to really know him. Benito said in an interview on the podcast “El Búho Loco” that the love story and title of the song allude to a double meaning.
It compares that brief relationship to tourists who visit Puerto Rico for a good time but do not delve deeper into the island’s suffering, leaving all the problems behind when they return home.
Bad Bunny continues to showcase traditional Puerto Rican rhythms by blending them with modern sounds to appeal to younger generations. In “CAFé CON RON,” with the help of Los Pleneros de la Cresta and producers Tainy and La Paciencia, Benito creates a vibrant track that captures the spirit of traditional Puerto Rican parties.
Similarly, “PIToRRO DE COCO” draws from traditional jíbaro music, using instruments like guitars, cuatros and tambourines, while keeping its festive theme of partying, drinking and heartbreak alive. These songs reflect Bad Bunny’s commitment to preserving and reinterpreting Puerto Rican musical heritage for today’s audience.
“LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii” stands as a powerful protest anthem that resonates deeply with Puerto Ricans fighting to preserve our identity and culture. Bad Bunny reflects on the loss of identity experienced by Hawaiians due to American colonization, where their native language and cultural practices were marginalized.
He draws a parallel between Hawaii and Puerto Rico, both colonized by the U.S., with Puerto Ricans also facing cultural diminishment, a history of displacement and decades of corrupt government. For example, a private chat with former Puerto Rican governor Ricardo Roselló in 2019 revealed a chilling statement from government contractor Edwin Miranda, “I saw the future and it was wonderful: there were no Puerto Ricans.”
Bad Bunny highlights the fight for natural resources and access to beaches, as wealthy foreigners with tax incentives try to buy and privatize the land, further displacing locals. He stresses the need to protect Puerto Rico’s identity and culture, emphasizing the importance of preserving traditions like “le-lo-lai” to safeguard the island from external forces that threaten its essence, like what happened in Hawaii.
“EoO” is a classic reggaetón track written by Bad Bunny and produced by Tainy, capturing the raw, unapologetic vibes of 2000s reggaetón. As Bad Bunny emphasizes perreo as a quintessential Puerto Rican rhythm, and part of the island’s musical legacy – Tainy’s production captures the soul of an era when reggaetón was our voice, our rebellion, our joy.
Meanwhile, “DtMF” reflects on the passage of time and the regret of not capturing more memories with special people. Its soft, nostalgic melody has sparked a trend of revisiting old photos, uniting generations with its message to preserve stories, connections, and essence as a people.
The last track on the album, “LA MuDANZA”, is dedicated to Benito’s parents and Puerto Rico. He then mentions Eugenio María de Hostos, a deceased advocate of Puerto Rican independence, referring to his dying wish of his remains being moved to Puerto Rico when the island is freed.
As I reflect on “DEBí TiRAR MáS FOToS,” I find myself overwhelmed by the way Bad Bunny has captured the bittersweet reality of being Puerto Rican these days. Each track feels like a snapshot of our collective experience — the joy of our traditions, the pain of watching our island change and the complicated emotions of those who’ve had to leave.
The album has become a mirror for my own experiences and those of countless other young Puerto Ricans who grapple with the decision to stay or go, who feel the weight of preserving our culture while facing modern challenges.
As Bad Bunny sells out his historic 30-show residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot from July to September 2025, it feels like a powerful statement of commitment – a reminder that no matter how far we may roam, our roots remain in Puerto Rico.
Through this album and these upcoming shows, Bad Bunny has given us more than music – he’s given us a document of who we are, a battle cry for what we need to protect, and most importantly, a reminder to capture and cherish every moment of our Puerto Rican story.