Bad Bunny releases “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” with criticism of gentrification and a deep tribute to Puerto Rican culture

“They want to take away the river and also the beach, they want my neighborhood and my grandmother to leave,” Bad Bunny sings in his song ‘Lo que le pasó a Hawái,’ where he expresses his fear that Puerto Rico will be Americanized as happened to Hawaii in 1898.

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A musical tribute with a profound message

Reggaeton icon Bad Bunny kicked off 2025 with the release of his seventh studio album, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS”. This album is not only a tribute to the rich musical rhythms of Puerto Rico, but also a denunciation of the social and political problems affecting the island. Corruption, forced displacement and gentrification are the main themes of this work.

With 17 songs that blend plena, salsa, jíbara, boleros and classic reguetón, Benito shows his love for Puerto Rico and his commitment to its history and culture.

While the “Visualizer” video for each song shows educational slides about the history of Puerto Rico, the song titles reflect Puerto Rican slang.

Link to the short film: https://youtu.be/gLSzEYVDads?si=2FQXLnytJlibTpS8

Pre-documentary: A Story of Resistance

Prior to the release of the album, Bad Bunny made his directorial debut with the short film that bears the same name of the album, where he denounces the transformation of Puerto Rico due to gentrification and uncontrolled modernization.

The short film stars renowned Puerto Rican filmmaker, actor and poet, Jacobo Morales, who plays a Puerto Rican who experiences how his culture and traditions are being diluted by foreign influence. Between scenes, he visits a bakery where Spanish is no longer spoken and reflects on the loss of identity. In the short film he also talks to Concho, a coqui frog, native to Puerto Rico, known for its loud singing, which is an integral part of the Puerto Rican cultural identity and is on the verge of extinction.

Criticism of colonization and gentrification

One of the central themes of the album is the criticism of gentrification, which deeply affects Puerto Rico. In songs such as “Lo que le pasó a Hawái” and “La mudanza”, Bad Bunny criticizes the displacement of Puerto Ricans due to the arrival of foreigners who benefit from lax tax laws. These rules have increased the cost of living, forcing many families to leave their homes.

In what happened to Hawaii he sings “They want to take away my river and also the beach, They want my neighborhood and grandma to leave. No, don’t drop the flag or forget the lelolai. I don’t want them to do with you what happened to Hawaii”.

While in “La mudanza” he affirms: “From here, nobody takes me out, from here, I don’t move. Tell him this is my house, where my grandfather was born. I’m from P fuckin’ R”.

This is not the first time Benito uses his fame and his music to denounce this issue, he did it in 2022 with the blackout and in 2024 in “una velita” where he questions corruption and the lack of governmental support in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

Listen to the album here: https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/album/5K79FLRUCSysQnVESLcTdb?si=TuZaapgdQxOiDk2VKVsfAg

The situation in Puerto Rico is reminiscent of what is happening in Medellin, Colombia. In the Antioquian capital, real estate speculation and the tourism boom have transformed traditional neighborhoods, displacing local residents. Neighborhoods such as El Poblado and Laureles have gone from being stable communities to areas dominated by temporary rentals and businesses targeting foreigners.

Corruption and the Puerto Rican exodus

Bad Bunny also uses his album to point out the corruption that has pushed thousands of Puerto Ricans to leave the island.

Songs like “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” reflect on the pain of forced migration and loss of cultural identity.” Ojalá que los mío’ nunca se muden.” Singer Bad Bunny in “Lo que le pasó a Hawaii” states: “Here, no one wanted to leave, and those who left, dream of returning. If someday it’s my turn, how much it will hurt…”, reaffirming his commitment to stay on the island.

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100% PR

The album is also a tribute to the traditional sounds of Puerto Rico. From jíbara music to plena, each track celebrates the island’s musical heritage. Collaborations include artists such as Los Pleneros de la Cresta, RaiNao and Chuwi reaffirming the pride in their own. Both the production of the album and the launching short film were produced by 100% Puerto Rican talent.

The songs “Café con ron” (Coffee with rum), which mixes full with modern elements, and “Pitorro de coco” (Coconut spout), which captures the festive and nostalgic spirit of Puerto Rican traditions, stand out.

Education through music

Each song on the album is accompanied by a video slide show that tells the history of Puerto Rico from 1508 to the present. To make these visualizers Bad Bunny had the support of Jorel Meléndez-Badillo, a Puerto Rican professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who wrote more than 70 pages of historical content for the project.

From the Grito de Lares to the creation of the Puerto Rican flag, these videos seek to educate new generations about the island’s most significant moments. It is an effort that transcends the aesthetic and becomes a political and educational tool.

Medellin: the drama of gentrification in Colombia

The phenomenon of gentrification also affects Medellin, known as the birthplace of reggaeton in Colombia. Traditional neighborhoods are being replaced by tourist accommodations, and rent prices have risen to unaffordable levels for many local residents.

Cases like El Poblado and Laureles show how the influx of foreigners has transformed these areas into tourist hubs, leaving the original inhabitants with few options. Meanwhile, Colombian artists remain oblivious to this problem, despite its impact on local culture and identity.

Where are the voices of Colombian artists?

Bad Bunny’s courage in raising his voice against gentrification and colonization raises a question for Colombia: why are local artists not denouncing these issues?

In Medellin, considered the reggaeton capital of Colombia, popular neighborhoods are threatened by real estate speculation and uncontrolled tourism. Artists have a powerful platform to make these problems visible and protect local culture, but so far, their silence is deafening.

With “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” Bad Bunny proves once again that art can be a powerful tool to educate, denounce and preserve cultural identity. His commitment to Puerto Rico serves as an example for artists around the world, especially in countries like Colombia, where the phenomenon of gentrification and colonization also leaves deep scars.

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