Bad Bunny

Who Is Bad Bunny?

Bad Bunny is one of the biggest names in music today. He was born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio on March 10, 1994, in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. He is a rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and cultural icon.

His sound is bold. It is genre-defying. It belongs entirely to him.

His music style, called música urbana, incorporates reggaeton, trap, rock, punk, and soul. He has also recorded songs incorporating salsa and has showcased the bomba — a traditional Puerto Rican dance and music genre — in his music and concerts.

He has repeated the feat with his successive albums, and his 2025 release Debí Tirar Más Fotos became the first Spanish-language album to win a Grammy for Album of the Year in 2026. In short, Bad Bunny is not just a musician. He is a movement.

Early Life: A Humble Barrio, a Church Choir, and a Dream

Vega Baja: Where It All Began

Bad Bunny was born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio on March 10, 1994, in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, approximately 30 miles west of San Juan. He was raised in a lower middle-class household in Vega Baja’s Almirante Sur neighborhood.

Life in Almirante Sur was simple. It was hard-working. It was full of community. Benito lived a quiet yet somewhat-rebellious life with his younger brothers Bernie and Bysael, plus his truck driver father Tito and mother Lysaurie, a school teacher. The reggaetonero described his barrio as full of humble, hard-working people.

He has always been proud of where he comes from. Furthermore, that pride is woven into every song he has ever made.

A Family Soundtrack

Music was everywhere in the Martínez household. He sang in his church’s children’s choir, would take part in freestyle rap battles in middle school, and would listen to his dad’s salsa collection, his mom’s merengue, his grandpa’s boleros, and all kinds of reggaeton and rock with friends.

At five years old, he unwrapped a Christmas gift — a Vico C rap album — and something sparked in him. That spark never went out.

He was not a street kid. He described himself as a “lanky wallflower with a booming voice” who said, “I wasn’t the kid who got involved in the streets. I liked to be at home with my family.”

The Name Behind the Mask

The stage name Bad Bunny originated from a childhood photograph taken during a school event in which he was forced to wear a bunny costume while visibly angry. The image’s ironic contrast between innocence and aggression later became a defining symbol of his artistic identity and public persona.

Education and the Grocery Store Years

Bad Bunny attended the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo and studied audiovisual communication. However, he dropped out of university to focus solely on his musical career. In order to take care of his expenses, he started working as a bagger at a local supermarket.

During this period, he worked as a grocery bagger and courier at Supermercados Econo in Vega Baja, continuing to produce music while holding a regular job.

He wrote songs between shifts. He recorded in spare moments. He refused to let the mundane kill the dream.

In a 2018 interview, he described his life as an aspiring musician: “All I wanted was for my shift to end so I could go home. It was really motivating because you never really want to be doing that. All you want is to reach your dreams and earn money doing what you like.”

Career Journey: From SoundCloud to the World’s Biggest Stage

The SoundCloud Days and the Breakthrough (2016)

Bad Bunny began recording music in his teens and gained early attention by uploading songs to SoundCloud.

Then came the moment that changed everything. He gained prominence as a trap singer when his song “Diles” caught the attention of DJ Luian of Hear This Music. Through Hear This Music, Bad Bunny started collaborating with other popular musicians and soon became a well-known artist.

He recalled in a Rolling Stone interview, “In one week I got 1 million plays. Producers started calling me at work. I would go to the bathroom to respond to them!”

Going Global: Collaborations With Drake, Cardi B, and More (2018)

By 2018, Bad Bunny was no longer underground. He was everywhere.

He collaborated with Cardi B and Drake on the singles “I Like It” and “Mia.” These collaborations introduced him to mainstream global audiences. Moreover, they proved that reggaeton and Latin trap could dominate the English-speaking world.

He is also one of the top collaborators in the música urbana movement, working regularly with contemporaries like J Balvin, Daddy Yankee, Rosalía, and Jhay Cortez.

X 100PRE — The Debut Album (2018)

Bad Bunny released his debut studio album X 100PRE in December 2018. It arrived without warning. It arrived with no prior announcement. That surprise drop became a signature of his career. The album won Best Urban Album at the Latin Grammys.

YHLQMDLG — “I Do Whatever I Want” (2020)

Bad Bunny surprised fans with the unexpected release of his sophomore full-length YHLQMDLG (“Yo hago lo que me da la gana” — “I do whatever I want”) at the end of February in 2020.

The album reached number two on the Billboard 200. It was another milestone. It was another statement.

El Último Tour Del Mundo — Making Billboard History (2020)

Later in 2020, Bad Bunny released his third album El Último Tour Del Mundo. It hit number one — the first all-Spanish-language album to manage the feat on the Billboard 200. This was a historic moment. Not just for Bad Bunny. But for Latin music worldwide.

Un Verano Sin Ti — The Defining Album (2022)

In 2022, Bad Bunny released Un Verano Sin Ti — and the music world stopped.

The album topped the all-genre chart for 13 weeks, becoming the top Billboard 200 album of 2022. The blockbuster album also made Grammys history in 2022 when it was nominated for Album of the Year, becoming the first Spanish-language set to receive a nod in that category.

Though he did not win that year, the nomination alone was seismic. It proved that Latin music belonged at the very top table of global music.

Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana and the Most Wanted Tour (2023–2024)

In 2023, he released his fifth studio album Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana. Bad Bunny notched his fifth consecutive number one album with this release.

The Most Wanted Tour promoted this album, beginning on February 21, 2024, in Salt Lake City and concluding on June 9 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, comprising 48 dates over 31 cities throughout North America. The tour drew 753,000 attendees and grossed US$211.4 million.

Debí Tirar Más Fotos — A Love Letter to Puerto Rico (2025)

January 2025 brought Bad Bunny’s most personal and celebrated work yet.

In January 2025, he returned to Puerto Rico on his sixth studio album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, a cosmopolitan set that celebrated his homeland’s culture and warned against its exploitation.

After releasing his sixth solo album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, in January — which topped the Billboard 200, becoming his fourth number one on the chart — each of its 17 songs reached the Billboard Hot 100, giving him more than 100 Hot 100 hits in his career.

Furthermore, the singles “DTMF” and “Baile Inolvidable” broke into the top 5 of the Hot 100.

Historic Achievements: Awards and Records

Grammy History at the 2026 Ceremony

Bad Bunny’s album Debí Tirar Más Fotos won two Grammy Awards — for Album of the Year and Best Música Urbana Album. It was the first Spanish-language album in the awards’ history to take home the prize for Album of the Year.

In his acceptance speech, he said, “I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams.”

That speech silenced the room. It moved millions. It was Bad Bunny at his most powerful.

Dominance at the 2025 Latin Grammys

The 2025 Latin Grammy Awards were, as widely anticipated, a triumph for Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, who clinched the coveted Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos. The artist secured the first award of the night for Música Urbana Album. His dominance continued when he returned to the stage to accept the Música Urbana Song trophy for “DTmF.”

The 2026 Super Bowl LX Halftime Show

Bad Bunny headlined the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California — a landmark moment for the genre-bending Puerto Rican superstar’s ascent.

The Grammy-winning star was joined on stage by Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Pedro Pascal, and more. He danced through mock sugarcanes, climbed a faux utility pole, and spiked a football that read “Together, We Are America.”

Bad Bunny said in a statement, “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history.”

The Puerto Rico Residency (2025)

He launched an ambitious and hugely successful monthlong residency in Puerto Rico, which was so big that it boosted the island’s economy and attracted numerous high-profile guests.

The Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour (2025–2026)

His Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour kicked off on November 21, 2025, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and concludes on July 22, 2026, in Brussels, Belgium.

The tour features 57 stadium shows worldwide across Latin and South America, Asia, and Europe. However, the tour notably avoids the United States.

Bad Bunny cited concerns that his concerts might be targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “But there was the issue of — like, fucking ICE could be outside my concert,” he told i-D. “And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”

Therefore, the Super Bowl became his one and only U.S. show — and he made it count.

Acting Career: From Bullet Train to Happy Gilmore 2

Bad Bunny is not just a musician. He is also a rising Hollywood force.

Bad Bunny has had acting roles in films such as Bullet Train (2022), Cassandro (2023), and Happy Gilmore 2 (2025), and he directed a short film to accompany the album Debí Tirar Más Fotos.

He also appeared in Caught Stealing in 2025, further expanding his acting portfolio.

Additionally, Bad Bunny has frequently appeared on Saturday Night Live, beginning with a cameo in a 2020 episode, followed by his first gig as musical guest in 2021. Two years later, he made his debut as the show’s host, showing off solid comedic chops.

Fashion and Cultural Impact

Bad Bunny’s style is as bold as his music. He is known for painted nails. He is known for eccentric fashion. He is known for wearing skirts and challenging gender norms — without apology.

Bad Bunny is known for his arresting looks on the red carpet. This made him a fitting choice to co-chair — alongside Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, and Zendaya — the 2024 Met Gala, the annual benefit for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Furthermore, he is passionate about Puerto Rican identity, immigration rights, and social justice. These themes run through his music. They define his public persona. They are inseparable from his art.

Personal Life

Bad Bunny was in a long-term relationship with Carliz De La Cruz Hernández from 2011 to 2017. They met as students at the University of Puerto Rico. In 2017, he began dating jewelry designer Gabriela Berlingeri. Their relationship ended in late 2022.

By late 2024, he was no longer officially in a confirmed relationship. Today, Bad Bunny focuses on his music, career, and personal growth.

He also loves professional wrestling. His love of watching wrestling at home with his family in Vega Baja influences his music to this day, saying, “In wrestling, the fans love getting caught off guard. I like to create that same emotion with my music.”

Discography: A Record-Breaking Catalogue

Year	Album	Billboard 200 Peak	Notable Achievement
2018	X 100PRE	—	Best Urban Album — Latin Grammys
2020	YHLQMDLG	#2	Best Latin Pop/Urban Album — Grammys
2020	El Último Tour Del Mundo	#1	First all-Spanish LP to hit #1 Billboard 200
2022	Un Verano Sin Ti	#1 (13 weeks)	First Spanish-language Grammy AOTY nominee
2023	Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana	#1	Most-streamed album in a single day (2023, Spotify)
2025	Debí Tirar Más Fotos	#1	2026 Grammy Album of the Year; first Spanish-language winner