4 Key Takeaways From Bad Bunny’s New Album ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, unveiled his fifth studio album Debí Tirar Más Fotos on Sunday, January 5th after a thoughtful rollout beginning last December. Released one day prior to Three Kings Day (January 6th), the LP translates to “I should have taken more photos.”

The Grammy-Award winner kicked off the new year with a deeply impactful body of art, paying tribute to his Puerto Rican roots through the utilization of moving lyrics and a fusion of multiple genres.

The 17-set initially launched with the first single “El Clúb,” a song that marries the style of plena with house music, and continued on with “Pitorro de Coco” — a reference to a coconut holiday rum beverage. Not only did he drop visuals for both tracks, but he also gifted fans with a short film (also named after the record) that depicted the consequences of gentrification in Puerto Rico.

“I’ve been dreaming about this album for years, and seeing it come to life has brought me immense happiness,” the 30-year-old artist said in an official press statement. “I’ve always been honest with my followers, and through this new production, they’ll continue to learn more about me as I, too, discover more about myself.”

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It’s apparent that this record is a step towards a new era — deviating from his typical hip-hop sound and proving that he can reinvent himself time and time again with each project’s varying sonics and tempos.

Here are the key takeaways from the vibrant Debí Tirar Más Fotos album.

Bad Bunny’s love letter to Puerto Rico is thoughtfully presented.

Bad Bunny effortlessly blends the classics genres of Puerto Rico, including plena, música jíbara and salsa, with more modern sounds like house and reggaeton — ultimately reintroducing conventional genres in a new light. He gracefully bestows an intentional ode to the genres, providing a new flair that is energizing to hear. In doing so, he sheds direct light on Puerto Rico and all its beauty in Afro-Puerto Rican sounds and culture.

Bad Bunny elevates Puerto Rican talent, inspired by the music he listened to while on tour.

Benito worked with various artists from his homeland, continuing to display his commitment to uplifting artists from the community. Chuwi (featured on “WeLTiTA”), Dei V and Omar Courtz (featured on “VeLDÁ”), Pleneros de la Cresta (featured on “cAFÉ CON RON”) and rising urbano musician RaiNao (featured on “PERFuMITO NUEVO”) are among the Puerto Rican artists that the superstar tapped for the album.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Bad Bunny also reveals that the salsa components of the album were a collaboration with Escuela Libre de Música, a group of Puerto Rican musicians between the ages of 18 to 21, in partnership with rising Puerto Rican producer, Big Jay.

Bad Bunny utilizes his platform to make social and political statements.

Originally featured on Benito’s Un Verano Sin Ti, the musician released a powerful documentary utilizing his song “El Apagón” to address socioeconomic issues in his country after Hurricane María.

Now, he’s back with similar sentiments. “TURiSTA” is an emotionally-charged track about a brief romantic encounter, in which he compares to a tourist who metaphorically only visits Puerto Rico for a short amount of time. He expresses the disappointing nature of a fleeting moment that doesn’t fully portray the larger picture of who he is (and what Puerto Rico represents) — failing to show the distress that often accompanies beauty.

“LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii” is another powerful song desperately calling to protect Puerto Rico from becoming a U.S. state — the way Hawaii did. He proclaims, “They want to take my river and my beach too / They want my neighborhood and for grandma to leave / No, don't let go of the flag nor forget the lelolai '/ Cause I don't want them to do to you what they did to Hawaii.”

Debí Tirar Más Fotos is one of Bad Bunny’s best albums in his discography.

Bad Bunny continues to evolve in every musical sense. In the very country that popularized reggaeton, Benito continues to pay tribute to the country that influenced his identity and artistry. In doing so, he creates a masterful piece of art that celebrates his culture’s history and the people who have inspired him throughout the entirety of his life.

Though Un Verano Sin Ti is his most streamed album on Spotify, only time will reveal how this new record will land on the charts and on DSPs. As it stands now, it’s one of his most eclectic and vibrant albums to date.

As one of the most influential artists in the world, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, which serves as a love letter to his homeland, is a potent way to put his country at the forefront at a time where it is undergoing severe challenges.