If you fall into the category of listeners that have no idea what Bad Bunny is saying, but are still here for the vibes — Welcome. And let us introduce you to his latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, a musical love letter to Puerto Rico, which loosely translates to "I should’ve taken more photos."
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As he recounted to TIME during a recent chat, Bad Bunny -- also fondly referred to by his real name, Benito -- spent last summer driving through the streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico, feeling sad “about a lot of things.” Gazing out his window at the city’s beaches filled with blissed-out tourists, which somehow made him feel even worse, he began to think about Puerto Rico’s external perception and its sometimes harsh realities and how that relates to his personal life.
“Tourists come here to enjoy the beautiful places, and then they leave and they don't have to deal with the problems that Puerto Ricans have to deal with day-to-day,” he explained to TIME in a Manhattan hotel room in late December, days before yet another blackout blanketed Puerto Rico in darkness. “Translating that analogy to a romance, there are also people who arrive to share [memories with you] and only see the best part of you, the most beautiful part of you,” he says. “And they leave. They couldn't see that part of each one of us: the defects, the trauma, the worries, the pains, the wounds of the past. It's like they were a tourist in your life.”
So after a whirlwind 2024 which included wrapping up an arena tour, co-chairing the Met Gala alongside the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Zendaya, performing at Vogue World 2024 in Paris, being on-again and-off with Kendall Jenner, and filming Happy Gilmore 2 with Adam Sandler. With those ideas of his city in mind, Benito embarked on the follow-up to his 2023 album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.
Debí Tirar Más Fotos, his sixth studio album, which arrived January 5, sees Bad Bunny at his most culturally authentic and emotionally vulnerable. Tethered together with a baseline of Puerto Rico’s musical history, the 17-track project, illuminates on his identity, sense of self, and his search for solace from heartbreak, politics, and stardom.
Throughout the album, he seamlessly blends traditional Afro-Puerto Rican styles like plena and jíbara with contemporary reggaetón and synths, and surprisingly, no trap. “This is an album of Puerto Rican music, and a completely different vibe from what any other artist has done,” he says. “I found what my roots are: the sound that represents me.”
In a press release announcing the project's arrival, Bad Bunny additionally expressed, “I’ve been dreaming about this album for years, and seeing it come to life has brought me immense happiness.” He continued, “I’ve always been honest with my followers, and through this new production, they’ll continue to learn more about me as I, too, discover more about myself. This album is the result of the experiences that have led me to get to know myself better, even getting to know the rhythms I enjoy most — the ones I truly enjoy singing and creating.”
“I am Puerto Rican, I am Caribbean, and my music, my culture, my country’s history run through my veins, from plena to reggaetón,” Benito added. “At the peak of my career and popularity, I want to show the world who I am, who BENITO ANTONIO is, and who PUERTO RICO is.”
Listen to Debí Tirar Más Fotos below.