In the heart of the Caribbean’s largest mall, a small bookstore was packed for the launch of a surprising item: a slim dictionary titled The ABC of DtMF, short for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, the title of Bad Bunny’s latest album. Unlike a typical album launch, this event drew an older crowd eager to decode the phrases, places, and cultural references embedded in the music of Puerto Rican artist Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, widely known as Bad Bunny.
The dictionary serves more than just lyrical context; it’s a gateway to understanding the soul of an island often overlooked, one battling gentrification, rising living costs, power outages, and the effects of colonial status. Now, Puerto Ricans see Bad Bunny’s album and his 30-concert series as a platform to finally be heard.
Colonial Reality on Center Stage
Before the first concert kicked off, a massive billboard above the stage proclaimed: “Puerto Rico is a colony since Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ the island during his second trip to the New World in 1493.” The crowd erupted. For the 3.2 million U.S. citizens on the island who cannot vote in presidential elections and have limited representation in Congress, the moment was a declaration, not just of music, but of identity.
Bad Bunny’s lyrics dive deep into these realities. In “What happened to Hawaii”, he laments those forced to leave due to economic hardship. One such listener, Andrea Figueroa, a 24-year-old athlete, connected personally, her own father had to leave Puerto Rico for work.
Fighting for Home and Heritage
The issue of displacement runs deep. A 2012 law allowed Americans to move to Puerto Rico and pay no capital gains tax, leading to a flood of property buyers. After Hurricane Maria in 2017, over 100,000 Puerto Ricans left, and housing prices surged by nearly 60% between 2018 and 2024.
During a concert, Bad Bunny sang from the rooftop of a traditional Puerto Rican home, questioning if it had become an Airbnb. As the crowd booed in recognition of their shared reality, the music became protest. For Carmen Lourdes López Rivera of La Perla, a neighborhood targeted by investors, the message was clear: “We’re going to fight for what belongs to us.”
Cultural Renaissance Through Music
Bad Bunny’s impact extends far beyond concerts. His use of traditional styles like bomba and plena has reignited interest in Puerto Rico’s musical heritage. Teachers and classes are in demand. Even universities like Yale and Princeton have launched courses on his influence. On stage, traditional outfits, live chickens, and folkloric dance gave audiences a full cultural experience.
His influence has even reached the island’s environment. A video featuring the endangered Puerto Rican crested toad sparked a wave of public interest. According to environmentalist Abel Vale Nieves, people are now sending photos of potential sightings, a rare and hopeful outcome.
A Global Spotlight on Puerto Rico
With over 600,000 concertgoers expected, 35,000 hotel nights booked, and $186 million in revenue projected, Bad Bunny is doing more than entertaining, he’s educating the world about Puerto Rico. As Yale professor Albert Laguna put it, “Instead of me going to the world, I’m going to start here.”
From colonial critique to cultural pride, his work is not just an album, it’s a movement.
