Since the 2018 release of his breakthrough album, “X 100pre”, it’s fair to say that Bad Bunny’s infectious blend of reggaeton, trap, hip-hop and Latin pop has taken the world by storm. After a string of awards, spots at the top of end-of-year streaming lists, and a host of collaborations with some of the world’s biggest stars, the Puerto Rican singer can rightly claim to be one of the hottest acts in music right now. In this article, we’ll look at the famous vocalist’s life and share our list of what we think are the best Bad Bunny songs.
Who is Bad Bunny?
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, AKA Bad Bunny, was born on March 10, 1994. He grew up in the Almirante Sur district of Vega Baja, a coastal town in north-central Puerto Rico. After developing his singing talents in a church choir, he began writing his own songs at 14, publishing them on Soundcloud. One of these early tracks, 2016’s “Diles”, would first attract attention to the singer’s fledgeling career.
Bad Bunny might not be the most obvious choice of name for a Latin reggaeton and trap artist, but in a 2020 interview with E!, the singer shared a delightful story as to the origin of his alias. “Bad Bunny, that name comes from a picture when I was a kid. I think that I was six years old,” It turns out that the young Benito, against his will, was called upon by his teacher to be the Easter Bunny during Easter festivities. “I was so mad. That was Easter day in the school, and the teacher picked me to dress up.”
How Did Bad Bunny Get Famous?
Following the attention-grabbing release of “Diles”, Bad Bunny got his first record deal before releasing “Soy Peor”. The track, produced by DJ Luian, reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, further gaining attention for the up-and-coming singer. After releasing several singles in 2017, Bad Bunny got his first taste of international success the following year, featuring alongside fellow Latin rapper J Balvin on Cardi B’s Latin trap-infused hit “I Like It”. The track reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and gathered top ten positions in Canada, the UK and several European countries.
Later that same year, Bad Bunny collaborated with rapper Drake on “Mia”, the second single from his Billboard Latin Albums chart-topping debut album “X 100pre”. Peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, the release gave the Puerto Rican his first top-ten single as a lead artist, further cementing his status as a rising star.
Bad Bunny’s Rise to the Top
Following the breakout success of “X 100pre”, Bad Bunny has gone from strength to strength. Oasis, his collaborative album with J Balvin, reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, paving the way for Bad Bunny’s second solo effort, 2020’s “YHLQMDLG”. The album became the highest-charting all-Spanish album to ever appear on the Billboard 200, only to be bettered by his third release, the chart-topping “El Último Tour Del Mundo”. Both albums earned Grammy wins for Bad Bunny, while “El Último Tour Del Mundo” was also awarded Best Urban Music Album at the Latin Grammy Awards.
In 2022 alone, Bad Bunny received 4.2 billion streams, with 3.4 million equivalent album consumptions. His 2022 US tour was the highest-grossing of the year, while his worldwide tours saw a combined annual revenue of almost $400 million. And with a headline slot at Coachella 2023 to look forward to, the first time a Latin American or Spanish-language artist will headline the festival, the future looks bright.
Our Pick of the Best Bad Bunny Songs
With so many irresistible melodies, earworm beats and bonafide hits to choose from, creating a list of the best Bad Bunny songs is no mean feat. Nevertheless, here’s our pick of the tracks that best capture all the flavours of the Latin singer’s superstar career to date.
Soy Peor
Bad Bunny’s breakthrough Single, “Soy Peor”, or “I’m Worse”, is an anthem for anyone who has ever felt like they weren’t good enough. The song chronicles a failed romance and how the experience changed the singer for the worse. Its lyrics are raw, honest, and exposing in a way that few urban artists would ever risk. This early effort, combining sparse synths and an infectious half-time trap beat, firmly laid the foundations for the megahits to come.
Mia
2018 saw Bad Bunny collaborate with Canadian rapper Drake on the bouncy and upbeat “Mia”. The track is a romantic offering to the girl the artists love, reminding her that they’ll never stop loving her or let her slip away and be with anyone else.
“Mia” became an international success shortly after its release, reaching number five on the US Billboard Hot 100. The track also topped the charts in Spain and earned Bad Bunny’s top ten positions in ten countries. In 2020, the official music video passed a staggering one billion views. The energetic, reggaeton-inspired song has also become a classic Bad Bunny banger and a staple of his live shows.
Estamos Bien
“Estamos Bien” (“We’re Good”) is Bad Bunny’s cheery ode to extravagance and his own success, appearing on his 2018 debut “X 100pre”. The tune features a solid Latin trap beat and swirling synths before ending things with a light reggaeton finish. Lyrically, the track sees the singer discussing how he is enjoying the finer things in life since making a name for himself, offering the opinion that “if I die tomorrow, I’m already used to always being in Heaven”.
Yo Perreo Sola
Released on 2020’s “YHLQMDLG”, “Yo Perreo Sola”, or “I Twerk Alone”, is an anthem dedicated to independent women who dance alone in clubs. The song features a driving reggaeton beat, energetic build-ups, and hooky synths and samples that all combine to create the perfect soundtrack for shaking what you’ve got on the dancefloor.
The song was a smash in Spanish-language countries, gaining top ten chart positions in 15 countries and featuring in song of the year lists from publications such as Time, Rolling Stone, and Pitchfork.
Sensualidad
2017’s “Sensualidad” is a collaboration with J Balvin and Prince Royce and one of Bad Bunny’s early singles. The smooth and sensual jam features seductive lyrics over a gentle beat that blends Latin trap and reggaeton. Perfect for getting in the mood.
The track was one of Bad Bunny’s first forays into international markets. As well as topping the charts in Spain, it gained the top 20 positions in Bolivia and Colombia.
The Future of Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny’s meteoric rise to stardom has been as swift as it has been massive. That said, the singer is still going from strength to strength and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.
His position as an icon of Latin music is already more than secure, but if the master of Latin trap can continue to follow the path he’s already carved, Bad Bunny will be well on the way to being one of the greats of 21st-Century music.
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