Music has no language barriers when it comes to feeling a rhythm. Bad bunny’s new album is a great example of this as it has reached new audiences including those who are not spanish speakers. The singer released his album “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos” on January 5th and just after four days it had received over 152 million streams. This album was created to pay homage to Puerto Rico as the current issue of gentrification surrounding the country worsens. Gentrification according to dictionary.com, “is the process where houses and other locations in a neighborhood are bought and renovated by upper or middle income families, raising property values.” Oftentimes, residents become displaced leading to a change of not only businesses but also the people who live in the area.
The people of Puerto Rico are losing their culture and their roots due to the influx of wealthier people to the area and their ideas of improving and profiting off of the paradisiacal island. Along with the album, Bad Bunny released a short film to bring attention to the gentrification that is currently happening in Puerto Rico. It shows a Puerto Rican man and his frog friend Concho, who as they look at older pictures start to reminisce about how much Puerto Rico has changed over the years and how they wish they had taken more pictures to remember the ‘magic’ of the country. As he walks through his neighborhood he starts to notice the new inhabitants of the area. They are playing country and rock music where typical Puerto Rican music is reggaeton and salsa further showing the disappointing change. The main character then encounters challenges when trying to order food because the waitress did not understand what he was saying.
Following the release of the short film and his album there is even further awareness of the current issues the island is facing. Bad Bunny is giving a face and a voice to the issues that many people face when they are staring at the loss of tradition and culture. Debi Tirar Mas Fotos is reminding people to take a moment and enjoy the things you take for granted. If you do not stop and pay attention the things you were once used to could disappear forever.
