All of a sudden, a song that made him shiver came on: Mama Borinquen Me Llama.
I kept saying,Cabron, where is that song from?
Because the lyrics are incredible.
CHRISTOPHER GREGORY-RIVERA for Rolling Stone
So, I went to look for it.
He went down a rabbit hole.
Now, the first thing listeners hear when they start the album is that wail of Nueva York!
You see things differently when youve spent time away from them, he says.
When youre looking at them from afar, you appreciate them more.
So New York would be like shorthand for I went outside of the island back in the day.
It was the easiest, and its also the most street.
When I say its more street, people think Im coming through with a gun.
But street is much more than delinquency or what people think of.
For Voy a LLevarte Pa PR, he opted for simplicity.
Its basicreggaeton, he explains.
Sometimes I think that unconsciously thats what people like the most in Puerto Rico.
Sometimes you kill yourself like, I need to make this new sound and add this reverb!
Andcabron, what people want isperreo jibaro the most basic.
He starts to beatbox a reggaeton beat to show what he means.
To me, salsa is a street rhythm, and you have to feel it, he says.
Bad Bunny had the idea while working onUn Verano Sin Tibut didnt start making it until 2024.
But ultimately, it turned out exactly how he wanted.
Those guys are out of ideas,cabron.
There are so many kids who want to make music.
These kids, theyd thank me and be like, You have no idea, were so happy.
When the song begins at theRSoffice playback, Bad Bunny starts grinding on a wall.
Afterward, he notes Courtzs unique flow.
(He also chose Courtz aspart ofRolling Stones Future 25in 2023.)
Its Boricua R&B … he says, trailing off with a mischievous smile on his face.
Should I talk shit here?
The album is loaded with more Puerto Rican rhythms.
On the tender title track.
Bad Bunny says he wanted to experiment with plena and a heart-swelling choir of voices.
After he plays CAFe CON RON, he screams out, Thats bomba, everyone.
Hes thoughtful for a second before breaking into a smile.
But my mom liked the first song.
Hes referring to the single PIToRRO DE COCO, which he released on Dec. 31.
The song is an ode to Puerto Rican Christmas celebrations, Bad Bunnys favorite time of year at home.
I think this is my favorite one, he says.
Theres something here that makes me feel free.
The day that the song came out, he continues, his mom sent him a text message.
My mom wrote to me that she cried listening to it.
And I said, Ay, no.
But this wasnt one of them!
Im crying, but out of happiness.
This makes me so emotional.
From trap to jibaro music!
This fills my heart right now.
That message is all the validation he needs right now.
I dont care about anything anymore, he says.
This is more valuable than any award.
