When youreBad Bunny, elevators are a careful maneuver.
She has, like, a Lady Gaga, Lana, Sia vibe, he says.
Hes almost vibrating with joy as he talks about everything he learned from making this music.
Photograph by Christopher Gregory-Rivera
Thats why I think Im going to keep recording songs I dont have to release them.
Id go to the studio every single day to make a new song.
Last time we talked, you were living in L.A.
So, compare the two New York or L.A.?Puerto Rico.
If you had to choose …I like New York because its closer to home.
L.A. feels very far away.
Although, L.A. has more Mexican culture.
I started eatingtacos birria,which are the best.
Im Too Busy
Your new album is calledDebi Tirar Mas Fotos[I Should Have Taken More Photos].
Where did that name come from?It comes from me hating photos [laughs].
It has a lot of meaning in terms of wishing I had seized certain moments.
Thats the idea: enjoying the moment when I could and valuing memories.
I remember my mom was always taking photos.
They were for something special.
When you revealed them, it was an event.
It was about reliving those moments.
I could sing in whatever flow, but I want people to say, This is Bad Bunny.
I think its a question of the times, too.
In another era, I would have practiced and taken vocal lessons.
Because I know how to adapt to any time.
I know the old people are going to be like, He ruined salsa!
But if I dont put that in, its like Im imitating [someone].
Its a dream come true, because Ive had this song in my head for such a long time.
I spent almost this entire year making it.
And I kept being like, How am I going to make this song a reality?
Ive never made salsa.
Who do I look for?
I didnt want to go to the same composers, I wanted to go to someone new.
And in the most random way, we found this kid whos starting to work as a reggaeton producer.
Hes 24, but he comes from music school, and what he likes to do is musical arrangements.
Ha, ha, ha?
This is better than the original.
When I started working on the album, I was like, Lets invite that kid.
He was super quiet.
His name is Big Jay because hes super tall.
I was here in New York, and I kept being like, Do we have the musicians?
I need to get [to Puerto Rico] and start working because were short on time.
And then on TikTok, I see this kid who was about 14.
He was with this band of kids playing, and he was dancing and playing bongos.
I was like, Damn, he looks like a baby Roberto Roena!
Find me this kid.
And they were like, We cant find this kid.
We found this guy whos good.
Plus, I think you sent a TikTok of this kid.
I was like, Nooo!
He turned 19 when we were making the song.
They all knew each other.
And when we started making the song, it was the coolest experience.
It was fullySchool of Rock.Exactly!
WHEN YOURE FAR AWAY, YOU APPRECIATE THINGS MORE AND YOU UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER.
To you, whats the best old-school reggaeton?
But that Hector Y TitoA la Reconquista,too.
Just like Willie Colonwent crazy, and he made badass music.
You cant take that away.
But that era of reggaeton, 2001, 2002, that was the sweet spot.
Or at least, its what you said what I go back to.
But it also depends on the season and my mood.
Sometimes I want to hear stuff from when I was in high school, like 2008, 2010.
Youve been exploring film, too.
What have those film experiences been like?Badass.
I worked a lot too much.
I was on set for 40 days, and then I went to Puerto Rico.
So, I basically just had the 24th and 25th [of December] off.
Those last two movies couldnt have been more different.[Laughs.]
Yeah, one is here, and the other is here [points in two different directions].
But I enjoyed that I like that they were so different.
And I cant wait for them to come out for people to say, Whoa.
I think with the projects coming up, I can focus more on only making movies.
Would you ever just be an actor?Id do it.
Because its two different movies, two different parts, two different people.
WithBullet Train,when I come out, its like, Oh, Bad Bunny is coming.
It was like, Bad Bunny stepped out of the studio to drop by [the film].
You played more of a character inCassandro.Thats true.
In that one, it was more of a role.
Its like, Damn, this is a character.
This isnt Bad Bunny.
What do you like about acting?
How do you see it fitting into your career?Ive loved it since I was a kid.
She was like, You have no idea how glad it makes me to hear these things.
When you were little, even though you loved music, I never imagined youd be a musical artist.
I always imagined you as an actor.
When you were little, I used to say, This boy is going to be an actor.
I never said, This boy is going to be a singer.
And to see you doing these things makes me so happy.
So, its something Ive loved since I was a kid, even though I was pretty timid.
Yeah, youve said in the past that you were shy as a kid.Yeah.
When I was little, I couldnt explore those things as much.
I didnt sing in public.
I sang, like, twice in school, but I was dying of fear.
And I never did a lot of performances, just maybe a few things at church.
I was never in a play at school or anything like that.
But I did like it.
When I was alone in my room, Id act by myself.
Everything that I would play, Id always imagine I was acting.
Did you vibe with Adam Sandler when you were on set together?Pshhh.Thats my uncle.
Adam Sandler is my uncle.
Look [shows text-message inbox, where Adam Sandler is listed under Tio Sandler].
Another side of your career has been participating inWWEevents.
You started making appearances in those back in 2021.
Would you do it again?I want to do it one more time.
I want to put my life at risk in the ring.
I felt like I didnt risk it enough in the ring, and I want to do it.
I want to scare my mother.
We stay in contact with the people at WWE, were always paying attention to whats going on.
But when, I dont know.
I hope theres a time where I can really get ready, like I did the last few times.
And Id love to take more time to get ready physically.
But man, just like in music, I do this to get better and to do something different.
Sometimes, I say, Im going to quit everything and just do wrestling full time.
I feel like in wrestling, I just go sporadically as a celebrity.
Im going to go full time and be a heel.
Thats what Id love.
I was always a fan of the villains more than the good guys.
What was it like to bring WWEs Backlash event to Puerto Rico?What can I tell you?
We were there until we could bring WWE to Puerto Rico.
They saw that it worked.
As youve gotten more famous, your love life has become more public.
The truth is, it doesnt bother me.
I know thats part of the process.
I think its funny when theyre completely wrong.
Im like, Man, why would you even think of that?
Sometimes, theres zero reasoning for the things they come up with.
No, its not for you.
Itsaboutyou, but its notforyou.
But sometimes it is [laughs].
Has fame affected you as a songwriter?
Are you thinking about these things when youre writing?Honestly, no.
I dont think about it too much.
I prefer that over making stuff up.
Theres a lot of nostalgia and sadness in your music sometimes.Theres nostalgia and sadness.
People are going to complain about me and be like, This guy cries too much!
In that moment, I was so sad.
I was crying, and I had so many things on my mind.
Why were you crying?
You alsospoke at a rallyto support the third-party pro-independence candidate Juan Dalmau.
But the more pissed I am, the more Im going to yell.
Ive always made it clear to people that Im a real person, and my music reflects that.
Its not like were always just hanging out Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
On Monday, you have to go to work.
So thats how I express myself.
When its time to party and talk about ass and pussy and all that, you do that.
When Im sad about love, I say that.
But when something makes me mad … That happens a lot.
So thats how I work.
The elections are every four years, but its not something we only talk about every four years.
Weve always been vocal when we need to be.
But thats what makes me human.
But Im going to talk, and whoever doesnt like it doesnt have to listen to me.
And Ive never been scared to express myself, because thats who I am,cabron.
Once Im comfortable with people, Im a crazy person.
If its my concert, if its my stage, I do whatever I want.
But if I have to go somewhere else and speak, its really hard.
Its hard for me to even make a toast.
Im like, [voice shakes] Blessings, everyone!
I was super nervous, but I also felt great after I did it.
How do you stay hopeful?
At the end of the day, in an election, theres someone who wins and someone who loses.
But this is not the first time or something new.
IN THAT MOMENT, I WAS SO SAD.
I WAS CRYING, AND I HAD SO MANY THINGS ON MY MIND.
The situation doesnt change, but that keeps creating social consciousness and strength.
Youve always represented Puerto Rico, no matter the stage youre on.
At the2023 Grammys, for example, you had bomba and plena dancers join you onstage.
I love doing this.
I love making music.
So I started asking myself, Whats next?
What do you keep doing?
With [each album], Im not trying to do better thanUn Verano Sin TiorYHLQMDLG nothing.
I want to create something new.
Different memories, different records something different than what I made before.
So what else do I want to do?
Whats the point in being here?
Whats the point of being at this level?
What do I win?
Ill die and thats it Im not going to take anything with me.
How do those projects change once you start working on them?Yeah, it changes.
It started picking up its own personality and energy, its own flow.
I want to work on a new album.
I was like, I want to release an album thats only trap and this throw in of music.
Theres a moment when you go on these head trips, like, This is what people want.
My album is nothing, Im nothing.
So, who the hell is listening?
And whats the pressure Im giving myself?
You learn from things.
I love that album, but I learned where I want to be and where I want to go.
Im going to be where Im comfortable and happy and where I feel like Im adding something.
Un Verano Sin Tibroke a bunch of records.
I think you make these projects hoping theyll be a success, and that people will like them.
But to that extreme magnitude, no.
I thought it would be a little less [laughs].
just work it well.
I dont repeat formulas.
I can repeat certain things, but not a whole formula, no.
So I knew I was making an album that was rich in terms of everyone liking it.
I said, Take advantage, because after this one, Im not making another one like it.
I knew it would have success, but I didnt think it would happen the way it did.
I also wasnt looking for that.
I always said that [aboutUn Verano Sin Ti]: Theres a song for everyone.
But I never guessed it would get to the level it did.
But nowUn Verano Sin Tiis there, and Im never looking to surpassUn Verano Sin Ti.
My next projects arent about getting it to the same level or surpassing it, no.
Thats there and I made it.
Its time to make other things, and Im happy with that.
Do you see yourself doing this until youre an old man?Bro, yes, from the heart.
Ive always said I love percussion drums, conga, bongos.
Theres something in me thats always loved that.
I think theres something in my DNA thats calling me.
And I loved making [Debi Tirar Mas Fotos].
The album I enjoyed making the most, out of all of them, was this one.
Styling assistance byMARVIN LINARES.
Set design byANDREA GANDARILLAS PEREZ.
Photographic assistance bySANGWOO SUH.
Digital tech:BEN HOSTE.
Set dresser:JAFET MARQUEZART.
