Review Summary: A bold album that forges new ground for Latin music.
Bad Bunny is a Puertorican trap and reggaeton artist who blends some pop elements as well. He is widely known in his country as well as in Latin America. This is his second album, much more ambitious than his debut. So...what sets him apart from the current wave of latin trap and reggaeton?
Bad Bunny has a great personality that is delivered in different moments across the album. He raps about relationships, money, fashion, drugs, the typical things, but it's his elegance and poise in his delivery that really sell these themes, as well as his lyrics. The album also has some of the best beats ever made for this type of music. They range from bossa nova influenced beats, like the opener, to reggae themed ones, like on "A Tu Merced", but mostly they are reggaeton/trap type bangers.
On tracks like "Ella Perrea Sola", Bad Bunny croons over a dusty reggaeton beat and turns misogyny on its head by having the lyrics be about a young woman who wants to party and that it doesn't necessarily mean she wants to have sex. This is noteworthy because misogyny is everywhere in the trap/reggaeton scene and to see someone make such a great song with a message like that is definitely a good thing. That's not to say in later songs he doesn't have more controversial moments but those are more of a joke than anything.
"La Dificil" is another interesting take on the aforementioned objectification of women in the scene by basically showing how people in the music world sometimes take advantage of women and why that is just horrible. Bad Bunny's take on relationships in this album range from good messages, to the hardships that can come from them on songs like "Vete", to more playful sexual moments on songs like "Safaera". Perhaps the most controversial song is "Safaera" as well because it does objectify women but honestly it seems they are just kidding.
Of course, Bad Bunny's strength is also in his street life raps. On songs like "P FKN R", "Esta Cabrón Ser Yo", and "25/8" he absolutely crushes it with hard bars. Arcangel's feature on "P FKN R" is also one of his best, talking about the crack dealers in "Barrio Obrero" (a really dangerous place). Benito does a great job of portraying many of the hardships Puertoricans experience, from things like political oppression (from our own leaders as well as US), to drug dealers, to the closing of schools and uneducated masses.
In short if you like reggaeton you are going to love "Safaera", "Yo Perreo Sola" and "Que Malo". For those who want a trap experience "Esta Cabrón Ser Yo" and "25/8" might be your thing. Finally, the highs far outweigh the lows. Songs like "A Tu Merced" and the opener might not be the best but this album is definitely worth listening to. Also, how good is "Safaera"?
