Bad Bunny's album 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS' introduces traditional Puerto Rican sounds to the world

Bad Bunny is a three-time GRAMMY and 11-time Latin GRAMMY award-winner, yet his most precious winning is being able to start 2025 with a bold musical statement: a heartfelt return to his Puerto Rican roots. His sixth studio album, "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" (I Should Have Taken More Photos), released to commemorate the Hispanic tradition of Three Kings Day, showcases a deep dive into traditional Puerto Rican music while maintaining his signature flair for blending genres. Available now on all streaming platforms, the 17-track production bridges the old and the new, combining música jíbara (Puerto Rican folk music), plena, and salsa with elements of house and reggaeton. 

This album marks a departure from Bad Bunny's reggaeton-heavy past, emphasizing live instrumentation, emotional storytelling, and cultural homage. "I've been dreaming about this album for years," Bad Bunny shared in a statement. "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."

A Love Letter to Puerto Rico 

"DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" is more than an album; it's a cultural celebration. Bad Bunny collaborated with a roster of Puerto Rican talent, from rising stars like Chuwi, Dei V, and Omar Courtz to celebrated groups such as Pleneros de la Cresta. Notably, he worked with young musicians from Puerto Rico's Escuela Libre de Música on tracks like "BAILE INoLVIDABLE" and "LA MuDANZA," highlighting the next generation of Puerto Rican artists and their role in keeping traditional sounds alive. 

The album also reunites him with renowned producers like Tainy, La Paciencia, and MAG while introducing fresh collaborators such as Big Jay and Saox. Together, they seamlessly fuse Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms with modern production techniques, showcasing the island's rich musical legacy freshly and timelessly. Tracks like "LA MEJOR FOTO" and "SOÑANDO EN PLENAS" weave together synthesizers and traditional hand-played instruments, creating a soundscape that honors Puerto Rico's past while pushing its music into the future.

An Album Cover That Tells a Story

The album cover features two white plastic chairs set against a backyard scene with a plantain tree—a quintessential image of Caribbean life. For many Latino fans, the cover evokes fond memories of family gatherings, making and eating pasteles, playing dominoes, or children's birthday games like "la sillita." This understated yet evocative image captures the heart of the album: a celebration of the simple, beautiful moments that define Puerto Rican culture.

Innovative Rollout and Fan Engagement

In true Bad Bunny fashion, a creative and interactive marketing campaign accompanied the album's release. In late 2024, a cryptic Apple Music Instagram post with the caption "estamos listos" (we're ready) sparked rumors of new music. Building on the hype, Bad Bunny partnered with Google Maps and Spotify to unveil "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" in a groundbreaking way. Each song on the tracklist was teased through coordinates on Spotify, leading fans to hidden clues on Google Maps. These clues revealed track names within new Puerto Rico View imagery, immersing fans in the island's landscapes and culture while ramping up anticipation.

A Bold New Chapter  

With "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOTo," " Bad Bunny has delivered a personal, authentic, and groundbreaking project. It's a love letter to Puerto Rico and its music, an opportunity to elevate the island's culture on the global stage, and a reminder of the beauty in staying connected to one's roots. As the artist himself said, "The best is yet to come."