According to the 2023-2024 census approximately 67 million people in the U.S. are Latino. So it is not any surprise that art is used as a tool to express love for a culture and society. Bad Bunny has used his songs to spread awareness about Puerto Rico’s history of imperialism with Spain and the United States.
On Jan. 5, 2025, Bad Bunny released his new album DtMF (DeBí TiRaR MáS FOToS) an album that has recently made history by being the first Spanish album to win the Album of the Year for the 2026 Grammys.
DtMF is an album that reflects not only the challenging status and experience of Puerto Ricans, but the history and culture of Latin America. Despite being part of the Americas they are not referred to as Americans because they are a culture that the U.S. has annexed due to racism and corporate greed. Much like Hawaii and Cuba, Puerto Rico became a protectorate. However, unlike Hawaii, Puerto Rico was only annexed, and not formally made into a state.
In 1493 Christopher Columbus “found” and “claimed” Puerto Rico, which was known at the time as Boriken and inhabited by the native people known as Boricuas.
According to the Hispanic Federation, the Taíno who were also referred to as “Indio” by Columbus changed their identity to Boricuas when they found what is now known as Puerto Rico. The colonization of Puerto Rico by the Spanish led to the enslavement and eventual decline of the Taíno people. They exploited the Taíno by using their labor to farm sugar cane which is a cash crop that Bad Bunny showcased during his Super Bowl performance.
Pitorro de coco is a traditional Puerto Rican moonshine made from fermented sugarcane, fruits, spices and coffee. The sugarcane in this traditional drink is a non-native plant to Puerto Rico as it was brought during Spanish colonization. It’s a symbol of heritage often seen during the holidays. “PIToRRO DE COCO” tells a story of missing an ex-lover during New Year’s and covering sadness with the drink that showcases sugarcane in Puerto Rico’s history.
Today, Hawaii is known as a playground for tourists, where corporations have taken land from Native Hawaiians and turned it into hotels for tourists, while native Hawaiians take on customer service jobs. This information is shared by Bad Bunny in his song “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii” when he sings about love and how corporations, tourists and foreigners are taking land from Puerto Rico like they did to Hawaii.
“Quieren quitarme el río y también la playa Quieren al barrio mío y que tus hijos se vayan” (Ocasio, 2025, Track 14)
A similar situation has occurred in Puerto Rico which Bad Bunny has highlighted in his song “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii”, as living expenses have risen to the point where Puerto Ricans are leaving their home for New York and other parts of the United States, while businesses are moving to Puerto Rico because of tax benefits, causing the rampant gentrification of Puerto Rico.
“No, no suelte’ la bandera ni olvide’ el lelolai” (Ocasio, 2025, Track 14)
The lelolai is a cultural resistance that is featured in Bad Bunny’s song to protest the gentrification of Puerto Rico or it will have the same fate of Hawaii leading to people leaving Puerto Rico causing situations that led his father to help a loved one leave their home. His song “TURiSTA” highlights his heartbreak that his hometown is becoming a theme park in the eyes of tourists. He uses the metaphor of an ephemeral relationship to communicate the idealistic belief that Puerto Rico is trouble-free and the ideal place for a vacation.
“LA MuDANZA” highlights the resistance against Puerto Rico’s gentrification. He shares his parents’ experience, giving up their dreams to get by, and the pride he holds for his Puerto Rican roots. This song is a personal tribute to his parents that pushed him and led him to where he is now, an experience children of undocumented immigrants can relate to.
He feels immense pride to resist modern-day U.S. colonialism as he sings, “Aquí mataron gente por sacar la bandera. Por eso es que ahora yo la llevo donde quiera.”(Ocasio, 2025, Track 17).
“NUEVAYoL” pays homage to his hometown of Puerto Rico and their most populated area in the U.S. He expresses the Borinquen presence in New York by titling his song in a Puerto Rican accent. There is a strong Puerto Rican presence in New York because of better economic opportunities.
One specific borough in New York has a high population of Puerto Ricans, “Los mío’ en el Bronx saben la que hay”. (Ocasio, 2025, Track 1).
Finally, Benito’s most streamed song, “DtMF” is about nostalgia and how people should be cherished before all we have of them is pictures. This song is one that does not pertain to a specific culture; the ache and sadness that one feels when missing someone is felt by many.
He uses photos as memories, something that anyone from any culture can relate to, “Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve, Debí darte más besos y abrazos las veces que pude.”(Ocasio, 2025, Track 16).
Throughout many cultures, we can see the impact imperialism has had on societies, preventing them from being economically independent, taking their culture, and eventually forcing natives to leave their homes in search of affordable living conditions. This is highlighted throughout Bad Bunny’s newest album, DtMF, where he uses music to spread awareness of American imperialism and how it has affected Puerto Rico and its people, while also making it known how Latin American countries and the Pacific islands have also suffered from American imperialism both in the past and present.
