There’s a running online joke about multicultural dating. For the ‘I don’t see color’ crowd, you might be inclined to brush it off. However, that is precisely the musical embodiment of Bad Bunny’s sixth studio album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.
DTMF feels like you stepped out on your long-time girlfriend for an out-of-touch white girl. Then, you return shell-shocked with nothing but jarring regrets and brutal lessons. Full of idioms and “iykyk” moments, DTMF is a sonic wake-up call for anyone who has strayed too far from home but possesses a deep ancestral inspiration to understand where they come from. To be clear, DTMF was made for the natives: that simultaneously means the ‘yo no sabo,’ kids, the “ni de aqui, ni de alla” crowd. Despite the long-emphasized differences, Benito’s message is consistent: preserve your culture and what you know of it.
Bad Bunny has no interest in grabbing big names to secure fast streams; instead, on DTMF, his collaborations dig deeper and explore history through authenticity. Mixing the old-school sounds of salsa, Plena, and Bomba with the new sounds of today’s dembow makes DTMF a nostalgic message of hope and caution.
The album opener, “Nueba Yol,” demonstrates that booty-shaking music is indeed traditional. Starting with the sample of El Gran Combo’s “Un Verano En Nueva York” leading into Dominican-inspired dembow, Benito has a way of capturing the mid-90s and quantum leaping us there. This song instantly unlocks a core memory for Latinx folks visiting any family, getting together, and leaving early to meet with some friends. “EOo” is a blatant nod to elder millennials who would slip out for a night of debauchery dressed in business casual but still report to work at 9 am sharp (hungover and all). Who better to capture the golden era reggaeton sounds than mega-producer Tainy? The sampling of “Perreo Baby” from Hector & Tito on “Eoo” is yet another ode to the generation who bore witness to the coming of age of reggaeton.
Forever the rebel, for “Perfumito Nuevo,” Bad Bunny teamed up with alternative urbano artist Rai Nao, gifting listeners one smooth pop track. In “Weltita,” Benito gave us his version of folklore by teaming up with dreamy singer Loren Aldorando (of the band Chuwi). On DTMF’s more intense tracks, Bad Bunny unapologetically tackles gentrification and over-tourism. Puerto Rico’s long history of political controversies (from corruption to its current debt crisis) is a sore spot for natives. However, that does not stop Benito from taking a stance that sparks tangible change. For example, throughout the beautifully haunting song “Lo Que Le Pasó” A Hawaii,” Bad Bunny warns his fellow Puerto Ricans about the island’s potential future. Hawaii and Puerto Rico share the same plight: wealthy Americans take over indigenous land, which results in the decimation of its original culture.
With the help of TikTok, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS has been transformed into a love letter to the Latinx community and their lineage, inclusive of their grandparents, parents, and loved ones. In real-time, lyrics such as:“ Debi tirar mas fotos de cuando te tuve / debi darte mas beso y abrazo las vece que pude,” which translates to “I should have taken more photos when I should have / I should have given more hugs and kisses when I could have” has inspired listeners to physically dust-off throwback pictures of their parents and reflect on what their love created. In a digital era, where phone flicks are the new normal, rummaging through relics to explore your past gave this generation a sense of satisfaction and curiosity that Google can’t answer.
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is special not just because it is a product of Bad Bunny but because of its multilayered insider intentionality. Bad Bunny delivered sounds that only those who know can identify. This is more than a love letter to the Island of Puerto Rico, it’s a warm embrace and warning bell to the Diasporicans of New York City (and the Tristate area). From the project’s spelling, mimicking “el español urbano con la L Como la R,” to its supporting historic visuals on YouTube, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS’ message has been clear: save what makes Puerto Rico special… before it’s too late, Which now falls squarely on the laps of this generation’s new Tías and Tíos.
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is out now via Rimas Entertainment. To stream or download, click here.
