Bad Bunny has once again fascinated the world with his latest album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, released on Jan. 5, 2025. This project, already surpassing charts and opening deep conversations, is way more than just music. It is a tribute to his homeland, Puerto Rico and a critique of the island’s changing landscape. Through the lyrics, collaborations and a documentary he released alongside the album, Bad Bunny explains the struggles and beauty of Puerto Rican culture to the public eye, ensuring his place as a global artist with a deep, personal mission.
The album’s title, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (“I Should Have Taken More Photos”), conveys a universal message about not taking anything for granted. But, the project dives deeper. Bad Bunny’s expiration of gentrification, cultural erosion and resilience is visible throughout the album and its documentary, directed by legendary Puerto Rican filmmaker Jacobo Morales.
The documentary follows an older Puerto Rican man and his friend, Concho, a sapo concho puertorriqueño, a native frog species that was thought to be extinct but was rediscovered. This moving storyline reflects Puerto Rico’s own struggles for survival against threatening its cultural and natural identity. As the man mourns the loss of the past, he struggles with the fast modernization of his neighborhood, illustrated in a scene at a local bakery where the simple act of buying quesito (a pastry) becomes a confrontation with cultural change. The film ends with a powerful phrase “Seguimos aquí” (We’re still here), this was said by a younger Puerto Rican man who steps in to help the older man. Its message of toughness and hope highlights the younger generation’s commitment to save Puerto Rico’s heritage.
Musically, the album blends modern beats with traditional Puerto Rican sounds, such as bomba and plena which showcases Bad Bunny’s dedication to honoring the island’s African and indigenous influences. ‘BAILE INoLVIDABLE’ is a track that shows this come into place. It began with a modern beat before transforming into vibrant salsa arrangements. An innovative choice that made the song the first salsa song to top Apple Music’s global charts. Other tracks like ‘LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii’ tackles gentrification directly. In this powerful and defiant song, Bad Bunny sings about the exploitation of Puerto Rico’s natural resources and the displacement of its people, calling out wealthy investors who treat the island as a playground while forcing locals out of their homes.
While the album has been widely appreciated by fans around the globe, some listeners have expressed disappointment with its orientation. Unlike Bad Bunny’s earlier work, which has combined Puerto Rican culture with global appeal, this album is solidly based on his personal experience. For others, the lack of English tracks or popular pop hits feels alienating. But, this is precisely the point. In interviews, Bad Bunny has emphasized that his art is not about appeasing global expectations but about expressing his identity truthfully.
Bad Bunnys refusal to weaken his message for mainstream appeal is proof of his artistry. By collaborating with young Puerto Rican musicians and independent artists like RaiNao, he reinforces the album’s themes of legacy and community. He even worked with a music school for musicians between the ages of 18 and 21, really showing us what it means to be in his shoes, to be Puerto Rican and to understand his lived experience.
In this album, he was able to craft a project that resonates with Puerto Ricans while letting in the world to witness the beauty and challenges of his homeland, giving us a reminder that art can be both personal and political, a love letter as well as a call to action. It’s clear that Bad Bunny isn’t just documenting Puerto Rico’s past but instead he is fighting for its future.
Coming from a Hispanic background and having the opportunity to visit various Spanish-speaking countries, I’ve seen firsthand how things are evolving in ways that sometimes feel like a shift from the past. When my parents tell me stories of their experiences growing up, their nostalgia for a simpler way of life resonates deeply with the themes Bad Bunny explores in this album.
I found *DeBÍ Tirar Más FOToS* very meaningful. It’s more than just music. It is a reminder of the importance of remembering where we come from. Although some might not appreciate it because it’s “not like his previous ones,” I think it’s one of his most powerful projects. The way he incorporates the history of Puerto Rico into this album, mixing modern and traditional sounds, was great. Songs like ‘BAILE INoLVIDABLE’ and ‘LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii’ aren’t just catchy, they’re educational and emotional. These tracks allow listeners to reflect on what it means to preserve culture while things are changing.
Bad Bunny was able to create something that feels personal to Puerto Ricans but also relatable to anyone who values their heritage. For me, it was a connection between my parents’ stories of the past and the reality I see now in Hispanic countries. As Bad Bunny would say, art like this doesn’t need to appeal to everyone’s tastes, it’s meant to challenge, preserve, and start conversation. *DeBÍ Tirar Más FOToS* does that and it does it in an amazing way.
