For the last three years, Puerto Rican artist Benito Martínez Ocasio, also known as Bad Bunny, has been the most streamed artist on Spotify. It comes as no surprise his newest album, “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana,” released on Friday, Oct. 13, has been greatly anticipated since its announcement.
Bad Bunny uses his fifth album to send a message to the music industry and his fans. While his name is everywhere, only a few know the real him. He’s alone — even in a room full of his fans. On the album, he also goes back to his roots and his love for his island of Puerto Rico.
The first track, “NADIE SABE,” sets the tone for what message this album is going to send — this song is for his real fans.
Bad Bunny even goes as far as to address a recent controversy that occurred back in Jan. 2023, where a video of him throwing a fan’s phone into water trended for hours on end.
In the song, he reveals the fan had entered his personal space and shoved her phone in his face — he also adds she was not a real fan. The song touches on how his rise to stardom has affected his mental health and how others are praying for him to crash.
“2023 is for me. For my physical health, my emotional health, to breathe, enjoy my achievements. We’re going to celebrate. Let’s go here, let’s go there, let’s go on the boat. I have a couple of sporadic commitments, and I’ll go to the studio, but there’s no pressure,” Bad Bunny said in a 2022 interview with Billboard.
While discussing this same theme and a break up on the track “GRACIAS POR NADA,” Bad Bunny defaults back to his most well-known genre: Latino trap. This is a major win for those like me, who first heard of Bad Bunny from his album, “X 100PRE.”
He brings back his humorous and boisterous lyrical writing style for hits such as “MONACO” and, my personal favorite, “MR. OCTOBER.”
This album is also a love letter to Puerto Rico and the people from his barrio. His song, “ACHO PR,” is a reminder that throughout his fame and travels, his home is forever on his island.
“When I write and I do music, my spirit is always in Puerto Rico, and I try for the music that I do to be liked by people there,” Bad Bunny said in an interview with Time magazine.
Overall, the entire album was written with a witty tone but also tackled some beautiful topics. As a boricua myself, I was overjoyed for the release and was not left disappointed.
For those who missed trap Bad Bunny, this album is a perfect reminder he is still here and can continue making the type of music he first gained recognition for.
Bad Bunny announced he will go on a North American tour in 2024. He will be making his way to Detroit on April 6, 2024. Tickets go on sale Oct. 25, 2023.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
