Bad Bunnyone of the most influential artists on the world music scene, has just released his sixth studio album, You need to take more photosa work that goes far beyond its reggaeton and trap roots, mixing tradition and innovation.
With this work, the artist carries his own forward homage to his homeland, Puerto Ricoexploring deep social themes and a wide variety of musical genres. The album, which marks a milestone in Benito Martínez’s career, was released on January 6, coinciding with the Day of Kings, and immediately won the hearts of fans and streaming platforms.
You need to take more photos stands out for the fusion of traditional Puerto Rican soundssuch as salsa, plena and bolero, with the modern sounds of dembow and electronics. Songs like Nuevayol And Voy a llevarte pa PR they tell stories of migration and identity, linking musical narration to the cultural resistance of Puerto Rico, an island threatened by gentrification and socio-political changes.
The Concho toad, an endemic species in danger of extinction
A particularly significant element of his work is the inclusion of a symbolic character: the toad Concho. The Concho toad, one endemic species of Puerto Rico and in danger of extinctionappears in short film of the same namewhich explores a futuristic Puerto Rico marked by the loss of its cultural identity. The film, written and directed by Benito together with Arí Maniel Cruz Suárez, exceeded 8 million views in a few days, becoming a powerful symbol of the fight for preservation of Puerto Rico’s culture and environment.
The narrative is intertwined with a criticism of the gentrification of the island, showing how local traditions come supplanted by the dominant culture and how native people come progressively marginalized. The story highlights the contrast between Puerto Rico’s natural and cultural past and the external forces that seek to transform it, much like the Concho toad, whose natural habitat is vanishing.
This creature represents not only the unique biodiversity of the island, but also the deep connection between nature and Puerto Rican identity. The toad breeds in puddles that form after heavy rains, and males emit songs to attract females, a scene that embodies the vitality and fragility of Puerto Rico. However, the species is threatened by environmental change and habitat loss, with predictions pointing to a possible decline of the toad in the coming decades.
Collaboration with artists who preserve traditional music
Even the track What happened to her in Hawaii approach it critically the transformation that the island is experiencinghighlighting the issues resulting from the loss of cultural identity by comparing the situation in Puerto Rico to that of Hawaii. Both islands have in fact suffered processes of colonization and loss of identity under US rule.
Bad Bunny denounces the displacement of local communities, the invasion of mass tourism and the takeover of resources by large companies. The song includes cultural and historical references, such as the “lelolai” and the symbolism of the “jíbaros”, to highlight the importance of cultural and identity resistance. The silences in the melody symbolize blackouts and censorship. Bad Bunny’s message has also been echoed in other regions, such as the Canary Islands, which face similar problems.
The album also includes collaborations with prominent Puerto Rican artists known for their commitment to preserving traditional musicsuch as RaiNao, Omar Courtz, and the Pleneros de la Cresta. In terms of impact, the album quickly climbed the global charts, with tracks such as Nuevayol And Voy a llevarte pa PR already between most listened to songs on Spotify.
