Bad Bunny’s new album, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” has become an artistic phenomenon about gentrification in Puerto Rico and advocating for the preservation of its native traditions.
Despite being released only three weeks ago on Jan. 5, the album charts number one on the Billboard 200 through its display of authenticity, musical diversity, and relatability, according to Billboard.
“I DEDICATE THIS TO PUERTO RICO!!! I DEDICATE THIS TO ALL MY FAMILY & FRIENDS!!! I DEDICATE THIS TO LATINA AMERICA!!!,” Bad Bunny said in an Instagram post that’s been translated from Spanish to English.
In English, “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos,” translates to “I should have taken more photos,” referencing the rapid changes taking place in Puerto Rico as a result of gentrification. From 2021 to 2023, more than 16,000 housing units were sold in Puerto Rico, with United States mainlanders making up a large portion of the sales, according to Business Insider.
With increasing amounts of gentrification in Puerto Rico the album, pulling in 152.16 million streams, serves as a nostalgic gesture of appreciation to the nation and its origin, according to NPR.
U.S. mainlanders are flocking to take advantage of the island’s lower home prices that have come as a result of the Puerto Rican government granting wealthy mainlanders the opportunity to live on the island without “paying taxes on interest, capital gains or crypto assets,” according to the Harvard Review of Latin America.
Consequently, this offer is ousting native Puerto Ricans from their homes due to the increased cost of living because of settler spending and real estate development.
“It’s a new form of genocide,” said Roberto Perez, a Nicaraguan-born Spanish professor. “Make a poor neighborhood rich, kick the locals out in hidden but ‘legal’ ways and sell the masses the idea of ‘progress.’”
The album’s accompanying short film starring Puerto Rican actor and poet Jacabo Morales displays this phenomenon in detail.
When Morales walks to his local bakery, he sees white American settlers barbecuing while listening to country music, and the receptionist at his local bakery takes his order in English.
Shortly after, the protagonist is told that he cannot use cash to pay, and a fellow Puerto Rican native offers to pay for him before whispering the words “Seguimos Aqui!” which translates to “We’re still here,” in English.
Taino Moreno, a freshman honors political science major from Los Angeles California, personally resonates with the need for cultural preservation amidst changes.
“My name, ‘Taino’ comes from the Indigenous people of Puerto Rico who were living peaceful, vibrant lives until they were colonized and nearly brought to extinction. However, even with my people having their voices taken away, the culture has still remained,” Moreno said.
Fans of Bad Bunny’s recent album and short film believe that he has managed to not only raise awareness to an important issue but also to champion Puerto Rico’s rich culture in a time when the island and its people face social and economic challenges.
Kayla Cason, a Puerto Rican Howard University graduate of 2023 said, “Bad Bunny has created a body of music that brings generations of our people together to call for cultural and political resistance.”
Puerto Rican Senior Business Management major from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, Isaac Alicea, believes that Bad Bunny’s message couldn’t have come at a better time.
“There is no time like the present to make the world a better place and the longer you wait in matters such as gentrification, the more difficult it is to undo damage that’s already been dealt,” Alicea said.
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
