By Matija Šerić
If anyone is going to remember February 2026 for the right reasons, it’s Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny. On February 1st, at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, he won three awards, including the Grammy for Album of the Year. This made him the first artist whose Spanish-language album (Debí Tirar Más Fotos) won the award for overall Best Album. Until now, this award had only gone to artists who sing in English. Just a week later, he performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in Santa Clara, wowing both American and global audiences with his creative performance. At one point, Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin joined him on the field, further igniting the crowd’s imagination. These two events marked the peak of the “King of Latin Trap’s” career.
A Model Boy from Puerto Rico
Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio on March 10, 1994, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny came from a Caribbean archipelago controlled by the U.S., though it is not an official state. Few could have predicted that this outsider from Puerto Rico would become one of the most popular musicians not only in Latin America but worldwide. His environment offered few guarantees, making talent and determination crucial. His mother was a retired teacher, and his father a truck driver. Although his parents were not musicians, they loved music, and their home was filled with pop and Latin genres like merengue and reggaeton. He was not a street kid, which steered him in a positive direction.
As a child, he sang in the church choir until age 13. By 14, he began writing his own rap lyrics. While studying audiovisual communications, he aimed to become a radio host and worked at a store, but he realized he could achieve more success if he left school and pursued music full-time.
The Breakthrough Single Diles
He got the stage name Bad Bunny because he once wore a bunny costume as a child, which later proved to be a perfect marketing choice. Success came relatively quickly. In 2016, the song Diles brought him his first major attention, particularly from DJ Luian on SoundCloud, who soon signed him to his label Hear This Music. By the end of the same year, the single Soy Peor became a significant hit, reaching #19 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. His international breakthrough was further cemented in May 2017 with a collaboration with Colombian singer Karol G on Ahora Me Llama, which climbed to #10 on the same chart and became one of the most popular Latin songs of 2017. He continued collaborating with industry giants like Drake, Ozuna, Nicky Jam, and Cardi B.
A Perfect Debut Album
Bad Bunny’s first album, X 100pre, was released on Christmas Eve 2018, blending hip hop, rap, trap, alternative reggaeton, and other genres. The album ranked #41 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time and #447 on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. With the release of his debut album, his rise to superstardom was complete. Bad Bunny had already entered the realm of legend. He would go on to release five more albums, each breaking new records.
The Pandemic Accelerates Success
His second studio album, YHLQMDLG (2020), became the most-streamed album globally on Spotify that year, with all 11 songs simultaneously appearing on the Billboard Hot 100. Released in late February 2020, just as the coronavirus crisis began, the pandemic helped amplify Bad Bunny’s success, though it likely would have happened regardless. Musically, he continued in reggaeton, Latin trap, and hip hop, featuring numerous guest artists such as Daddy Yankee and Anuel AA.
During quarantine, he wrote and produced his third album, El Último Tour Del Mundo, released in late November 2020, created in just nine months. In addition to his usual Latin pop-trap sounds, he added rock elements. The album became the first entirely Spanish-language album to top the U.S. Billboard 200, while its lead single, Dakiti, reached #1 on the Billboard Global 200.
Records Fall, Awards Follow
His fourth album, Un Verano Sin Ti (2022), was the world’s most successful album of the year, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). The fifth album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana (October 2023), broke further records, including the most streams in a single day on Spotify in 2023, and was soon followed by Debí Tirar Más Fotos. The hit DtMF has over 1.5 billion streams on Spotify, and BAILE INoLVIDABLE over 1.2 billion.
To date, Bad Bunny has won six Grammys and 17 Latin Grammys, and Billboard named him the biggest pop star in 2022 and 2025. His 17 music videos on YouTube have more than a billion views, surpassing any other artist.
Singing in Spanish – A Winning Formula
Although Latin music in Spanish has not been unknown in the U.S. and globally for over a decade, many wonder why Bad Bunny is the most popular Latin music representative. Simply put, he is authentic and has charisma that captivates the masses. Unlike almost all Latin artists who eventually succumb to pressure and sing in English (e.g., Shakira, Luis Fonsi, Ricky Martin), Bad Bunny categorically refused to sing in English. He decided the American and global audience would accept him in Spanish—or reject him. The gamble paid off. Audiences embraced the Spanish language and his Puerto Rican identity, which he openly emphasizes through his music.
Puerto Rican Identity – A Magnet for the Masses
On his latest album, he sings about resisting forced evictions caused by gentrification in Puerto Rico and holding on to the island as it once was and should be. He publicly advocates for Puerto Rican independence, which he emphasized even during his Super Bowl performance. He has become a symbolic figure in the independence movement. He also publicly criticized Donald Trump and his policies toward Latin American immigrants (ICE enforcement) when receiving his latest Grammy. Out of concern for raids and deportations, he even excluded the U.S. from his current world tour Debí Tirar Más Fotos.
An Exceptional Singer-Songwriter
Many of his international listeners may not understand the lyrics, but they still become fans. The reason is the melodic hooks that quickly catch the ear. Bad Bunny’s Latin charisma and infectious stage energy convey the emotion of his songs even without understanding every word. His songs are easy to listen to and sing along with. He has a great, warm voice. In another era, he might have been known as a bolero singer, as his singing resembles classic romantic performers.
An Unconventional Romantic Charmer
Women adore him as a true Latin charmer who is not the classic macho type but shows vulnerability and emotions. He is loved by men and children alike. He introduced hip hop to women and exposed men to serious social themes. Through his lyrics and public appearances, he supports women, the LGBTQ+ community, minorities, and other disadvantaged groups—once unimaginable for a Latino artist. Of course, love lyrics dominate, along with family nostalgia, but he also celebrates partying and hedonism, creating a well-rounded artistic identity.
His ability to blend different musical genres attracts a broad audience worldwide. Mixing reggaeton, trap, salsa, bachata, and other styles, he creates music that appeals to listeners of diverse tastes and cultural backgrounds.
The Best Is Yet to Come
He is currently on the aforementioned world tour in Brazil, then heading to Australia and Japan, and in spring and summer, he will tour Europe. Bad Bunny is a unique singer, rapper, songwriter, producer, and occasionally a wrestler. Above all, he is a top-class artist. We can expect to be treated to new Latin megahits in the coming years, as he will soon turn 32.
