Latin

29 Oct 2024

DannyLux Expands Management Team With VPS & D Luna Music Partnership

DannyLux is expanding his management team, Billboard can confirm. The Mexican American singer-songwriter adds D Luna Music to VPS Music — his home label since launching his career in 2020 — in a new partnership.

Under the leadership of José Luis Aguilar (VPS) Daniel Luna (D Luna), the deal “aims to elevate the artist to new heights with a comprehensive 360-degree management approach, covering all aspects of his career,” including touring, brand partnerships, A&R and global marketing strategies.

“José Luis Aguilar and Daniel Luna have been part of my career from the beginning, and it’s very important for me to have their support on this journey,” DannyLux (real name Daniel Balderrama Espinoza) said about the partnership in a statement.

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Aguilar is credited for discovering DannyLux and will continue to “play a key role” in managing him alongside Luna, who was previously the senior director of Mexican Music at Warner Music. On the legal side, DannyLux will now be represented by John Ingram.

DannyLux, born in Palm Springs, Calif., released his breakout album Las Dos Caras del Amor in 2021, contributing to the ever-growing sierreño scene led by Mexican American artists. That same year he landed at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Latin Songwriters chart with “Jugando Y Sufri,” one of his many collaborations with fellow hitmakers Eslabon Armado.

In 2022, Warner Music Latina signed DannyLux in a partnership with VPS Music. Most recently, DannyLux scored his first Latin Grammy nomination. His Evoluxion album is up for best contemporary Mexican music album, a brand new category for the Latin Recording Academy.

29 Oct 2024

Bad Bunny Hits Back at Tony Hinchcliffe’s ‘Garbage’ Comment With a Passionate Tribute to Puerto Rico

Bad Bunny has released a stirring video tribute to Puerto Rico after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referred to the U.S. commonwealth as a “floating island of garbage” during Donald Trump’s Oct. 27 rally in New York’s Madison Square Garden. The racist statement sparked widespread criticism, prompting Bad Bunny to respond not with words, but with a powerful eight-minute video he posted on his Instagram Tuesday (Oct. 29) — with the caption ironically saying “garbage” — that celebrates the resilience and rich culture of his native island.

Narrated by Oscar-winning Puerto Rican actor Benicio del Toro, the video was first showcased at Bad Bunny’s P FKN R stadium concert held at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Dec. 10 and 11, 2021. The video has not been released to the public until now.

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The short film portrays the historical and contemporary achievements of Puerto Rico, from its sports legends to its global musical influence, highlighting notables such as Roberto Clemente, the popular music group Menudo and international superstar Ricky Martin. It showcases a range of genres birthed in Puerto Rico, from bomba and plena to salsa and reggaetón, celebrating artists such as Hector Lavoe, Daddy Yankee and Residente, whose sounds and rhythms have transcended local boundaries to captivate audiences worldwide.

The finale sees a telling quote from Benito: “We are fighting since day one of our existence, we are the definition of heart and resistance. Here we continue, here we are, and for those who forget who we are … rest assured, we proudly remind you.”

One poignant moment comes when the narrator describes the communal and familial spirit of the island: “This is the story of the race that knows what last night was like, following what I lived, resilient and peak. And hand in hand with those who came before, we defend our beach, our university and our childhood. Because it is that the legends that beat in these latitudes do not let themselves be subdued.”

Bad Bunny’s response to the derogatory remarks is a testament not only to his pride in his heritage, but also to the resilience of the Puerto Rican people.

Watch the video below:

29 Oct 2024

Oscar Maydon’s Fuerza Regida Collab ‘Tu Boda’ Earns Him His First No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs

Mexican singer Oscar Maydon claims his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs thanks to his Fuerza Regida collab, “Tu Boda,” which surges 8-1 on the list dated Nov. 2. As the song climbs seven spots, it marks the largest jump on the multimetric tally in almost two years.

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“Tu Boda” lands at the summit on Hot Latin Songs mainly on the strength of streaming data and sales. For the Oct. 18-24 tracking week, the song generated 15.2 million official U.S. streams according to Luminate, up 157% from the week prior. The growth pushes the song to a No. 14 debut on the overall Streaming Songs chart, for Maydon’s first appearance there. Fuerza Regida logs its sixth visit, where the group previously logged a No. 10 high with “Tu Name,” with Grupo Frontera, in October 2023.

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“Tu Boda” also registers enough streams in the U.S. for a 6-1 climb on Latin Streaming Songs where Maydon picks up his first visit and No. 1, while Regida secures its second champ.

Sales too, assist “Tu Boda’s” swell on Hot Latin Songs, which combines, airplay, streaming activity and downloads. The song sold 1,000 downloads in the tracking week, yielding a No. 1 debut on Latin Digital Song Sales.

As the song crowns Hot Latin Songs, it dethrones Karol G’s “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” from the lead after the latter’s 14 consecutive week atop (a three-way tie with Xavi’s “La Diabla,” and FloyyMenor and Cris Mj’s “Gata Only,” for the longest-leading songs in 2024). “Si Antes” also adds a 15th week at No. 1 on the overall Latin Airplay, where it enters a tie with Don Omar and Lucenzo’s “Danza Kuduro” and Daddy Yankee’s “Rompe” for the 10th most weeks at No. 1 since the tally launched in 1994. There, Karol extends her record for the most weeks at the summit by a woman soloist, unaccompanied by any other act. (Among all women, Shakira holds the record, with 25 weeks atop through “La Tortura,” featuring Alejandro Sanz.)

Back to “Tu Boda,” which was released Sept. 26 on Rancho Humilde/Sony Music Latin, the song’s 8-1 surge marks the biggest climb to No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs in a year and 10 months, after Shakira’s “Bzrp: Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” with Bizarrap, rallied 16-1 in its second week (Jan. 28, 2023-dated list).

On a global level, “Tu Boda” takes the Greatest Gainer trophy on both global charts: rushes to No. 4 (from No. 22) on the Billboard Global 200 with 75.1million streams worldwide. The song shows a similar success outside the U.S. where it blasts 17-5 on the Global Excl. U.S. tally with 60 million clicks. Thanks to the streaming splash, both Maydon and Regida pick up their first top 10 on both rankings.

Lastly, “Tu Boda” takes both collaborators to their highest charting performance yet on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where it opens at No. 23.

29 Oct 2024

Olivia Rodrigo & Justin Timberlake to Headline Tecate Pa’l Norte, Mexico’s Biggest Festival

Pop superstars Olivia Rodrigo and Justin Timberlake are set to headline the 14th edition of the Pa’l Norte festival, the massive music party held annually in the Mexican city of Monterrey. The lineup, announced on Tuesday morning (Oct. 29), includes other major international acts such as Charli XCX, Green Day, Massive Attack, Kings of Leon, Black Keys and Caifanes.

This will be the first time that Rodrigo and Timberlake, who have previously visited Mexico, will participate in a Mexican festival. Timberlake has already performed in the country and has two upcoming shows scheduled at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City on Feb. 7-8. Rodrigo — who recently completed the 2024 dates of her Guts World Tour, which did not include Mexico — had not previously performed in concert in the country.

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The acclaimed festival will take place April 4-6 in Parque Fundidora in this city bordering the U.S.

SEVENTEEN, Garbage, Fall Out Boy, Benson Boone and electronic music stars Gesaffelstein, The Chainsmokers, Claptone, Sasha & John Digweed, and Deep Dish are also part of the Tecate Pa’l Norte 2025 lineup.

The 14th edition of the festival, one of the most acclaimed in Latin America, will feature more than 180 musical acts across nine stages, according to the organizers. The three-day event draws about 100,000 people per day, a few thousand more than the EDC electronic music festival, one of the most populous in the country.

In partnership with promoter Ocesa, acquired by Live Nation in 2021, Tecate Pa’l Norte has become one of the largest and most diverse festivals in Mexico. It annually attracts thousands of fans from around the world, with a capacity greater than other mega-festivals in the Mexican capital such as Vive Latino and Corona Capital, which gather about 80,000 people per day, according to their organizers.

Situated in Parque Fundidora, the festival’s lineup celebrates a rich fusion of genres ranging from rock and indie to regional Mexican music, reggaeton and electronic music, featuring some of the biggest international acts.

Its stages include Tecate Light, which hosts the main acts; Tecate Original stage, which embraces a mix of musical genres; Oasis Stage, dedicated to the popular genres of reggaeton, hip-hop, and trap; while Villa Maravilla offers the best in techno, afro house, and house music. The Club Social stage brings conventional sounds and EDM.

The Fusión stage is designated for Latin acts, and the Acústico stage offers a unique show with “unplugged” sets throughout the weekend, while the Sorpresa stage offers surprise performances and the Pilos stage, named after a legendary bar in Monterrey, has hosted the biggest stars of northern music since its inception.

In its 14 years of existence, Pa’l Norte has established itself as the “most important musical entertainment event in northern Mexico,” according to the Ministry of Tourism of Nuevo León.

In previous editions, the festival featured artists such as Billie Eilish, Foo Fighters, Caifanes, Maná, Tame Impala, The Killers, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, and 50 Cent. The 2024 edition was headlined by Peso Pluma, Blink-182, Imagine Dragons, Maná, and Fuerza Regida.

29 Oct 2024

Kali Uchis, Anitta, Becky G, Pitbull & More to Perform at 2024 Latin Grammys

Anitta, Edgar Barrera, Becky G, Eladio Carrión, Darumas, Emilia, Leonel García, Grupo Frontera, Danny Ocean, Silvia Pérez Cruz, Carlos Rivera, Pitbull, Reik, and Kali Uchis are expected to perform at the 25th annual Latin Grammy Awards. The Latin Recording Academy announced the new round of performers on Tuesday (Oct. 28) for the upcoming ceremony, which will broadcast from the Kaseya Center in Miami on Thursday, Nov. 14.

The newly announced artists join previously unveiled performers, including David Bisbal, Alejandro Fernández, Luis Fonsi, Juan Luis Guerra, Carín León, Elena Rose, and Ela Taubert, in addition to the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, Carlos Vives.

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For the second consecutive year, Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees for the Latin Grammy Awards, with nine nominations, including songwriter of the year and producer of the year. Brazilian superstar Anitta is nominated for record of the year for “Mil Veces,” and best Portuguese language urban performance for “Joga Pra Lua,” featuring Dennis & Pedro Sampaio. Becky G received a nod for best regional song for “Por El Contrario,” with songwriters Barrera, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz & Elena Rose, performed by her with Ángela Aguilar and Leonardo Aguilar.

Other mentions include Kali Uchis, who garnered four nominations, including record of the year for “Igual Que Un Ángel” with Peso Pluma; and Danny Ocean earned two for song of the year (“Caracas En El 2000,” written by Marvin Hawkins Rodriguez, Jerry Di, La Pichu, Danny Ocean and Elena Rose) and best pop song (“Amor” penned by José Andrés Benitez, Christian Bermudez, Richard Bermudez, Rodney Kumbirayi Hwingwiri, Juan Diego Linares, Luis Alejandro Márquez, Anibal Morin Diaz, Danny Ocean and Rafael Salcedo.

For the complete list of Latin Grammy nominations, click here.

The three-hour telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision, and will air live on Univision, UniMás, Galavisión and ViX beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

28 Oct 2024

From Corridos to Ballads: Latin Songs Penned for Presidential Candidates

Just days before the Nov. 5 presidential elections in the United States, La Original Banda El Limón released a corrido inspired by and dedicated to Vice President Kamala Harris.

As is tradition, the corrido, titled “Señora Presidenta” (or Madame President in English), narrates the life story of Harris, who is the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee. In the three-minute song, powered by banda instruments like trumpets and clarinets, the group sings about Harris’ humble background and the force she’s become as a political leader. “She comes from a humble place to fight for her people,” the song begins. “She was born in Oakland, daughter to immigrant parents. Madame President. Her name is Kamala Harris.”

Juan Barboza Lizárraga, leader of La Original Banda El Limón, explained in a statement about their decision to release a song for Harris and officially endorse a candidate for president: “Our culture, traditions and music are beautiful and powerful just like our community. We hope that in these final moments, the song inspires our community to embrace our strength and together to show up in a critical moment. This song reflects the values of our community and our vision for a future where people matter.”

It’s not the first time that a regional Mexican act has released a corrido in support of a U.S. presidential candidate. In 2016, ranchera icon Vicente Fernández endorsed then Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton through song. In “El Corrido de Hillary Clinton,” Fernández sings about Latin pride and urges the Latin community to vote for Clinton. “I remind you, brother, that we have to work hand in hand, until we assure the victory for Hillary Clinton.”

Even Donald Trump, who has in the past insulted the Latin community, launching his 2016 presidential run with racist remarks toward the Mexican community calling them “rapists” and “criminals,” got his own corrido. The accordion-powered song was released over the summer after Trump’s assassination attempt in July.

And it’s not just in the States that artists have been compelled to release songs for specific presidential candidates. In Mexico, Vivir Quintana released “Compañera Presidenta,” dedicated to candidates Xóchitl Gálvez and Claudia Sheinbaum, the latter won the presidency and became the first-ever female president of the country.

Whether these songs can help swing an election or inspire undecided voters to cast a ballot, that’s unclear. But as the race for president in the U.S. — one of the most consequential elections in recent memory — comes to an end, a number of Latin acts have been using their platforms to amplify candidates.

Below, a handful of Spanish-language songs that have been released over the past few years for presidential candidates in the U.S. and beyond.

28 Oct 2024

The Weeknd and Anitta Appear to Tease Upcoming Collaboration With Devilish Ultrasound Pic: ‘Isn’t He Beautiful?’

The Weeknd and Anitta aren’t pulling punches with the promo for their upcoming collaborative single. In an Instagram post on Sunday (Oct. 27) Queen of Brazilian pop Anitta wrote “Isn’t he beautiful?” alongside an image of what appeared to be an ultrasound of a baby with razor-sharp teeth and a forked tail.

Weeknd (who now goes by his birth name, Abel Tesfaey), responded “WOW! HE LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL [crying face emoji].” While the post didn’t offer much more information, eagle-eyed fans noticed that the date on the image was Wednesday morning (Oct. 30), which appeared to indicate when their pair’s anticipated collaborative single will drop. Abel’s label, Republic Records commented, “sweet baby angel,” while a number of other artists also weighed in, including Saweetie (“Good bye”) and Ryan Tedder (“Whoaaaa”), among others.

The pregnancy promo came two days after Anitta posted a pic of herself in a black bikini rocking a giant baby belly and an infrared light face mask with the caption, “It was meant to be kept a secret…,” which Tesfaye responded to with, “OMG… CONGRATS [crying laughing emoji]; on X, Tesfaye reposted the pregnant pic and wrote, “@Anitta you hid it so well in São Paulo.”

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At press time, spokespeople for Tesfaye and Anitta had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment on the posts or a confirmed release date for the song.

The dynamic duo performed their as-yet-unreleased uptempo new song “São Paulo” during a massive show by Weeknd in Brazil on Sept. 7 and Abel spoke to Billboard Brazil about collaborating with Anitta for his upcoming Hurry Up Tomorrow album. After Abel visited São Paulo, Brazil in Oct. 2023 on his After Hours Til Dawn tour, producer Mike Dean asked Anitta for a vocal track to complement the “Blinding Lights” singer’s special performance set.

“Anitta is a great friend. What she sent was so awesome that we created the song,” said Tesfaye of the vocal bits that were so far beyond his expectations that he composed a song that became the centerpiece of the new live show. “We knew it was too special to just play on stage. We saw great potential in the song and found the beat, which is the heart of the show,” he said.

Anitta was equally excited by the team-up, saying, “I wrote some verses as a joke and never imagined they would become serious. Suddenly, I received the finished song. I loved it! I felt very honored and flattered. I’ve always been a big fan of his and his work. I never imagined this would happen, and now it’s a dream come true. It’s a little more Brazilian funk, as promised, around the world.”

Check out Anitta’s post below.

28 Oct 2024

Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Ricky Martin & More Amplify Kamala Harris After Trump Rally Comedian Trashes Puerto Rico

Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin were among the prominent artists who showed support for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign on Sunday (Oct. 27) after a speaker at a Donald Trump rally made a racist joke about Puerto Rico. All three boosted a video from the Democratic candidate pledging to do her best for the citizens of the island nation following what CNN described as a Trump rally brimming with “blistering anti-migrant rhetoric [that] ranks alongside the most flagrant demagoguery by a major figure in any Western nation since World War II.”

Their show of support for Harris came after comedian/podcaster Tony Hinchcliffe opened for convicted felon Trump at a rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden by offering up the racist jibe, “There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”

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In addition, Hinchcliffe — one of nearly 30 speakers who warmed up the crowd for twice impeached former Pres. Trump — also made other racist and sexist jokes about Latinos (“they love making babies… there’s no pulling out. They don’t do that. They come inside, just like they did to our country”) as well as racist jibes about his Black “buddies” who he “carved watermelons” with and an antisemitic joke about how “Jews have a hard time throwing that paper.”

According to reports, the attempts at humor did not go over well inside the room, where they were met with tepid applause. And in an unusual apology from the Trump campaign, a senior advisor said in a statement afterwards that “this joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” seemingly in reference to the Puerto Rico joke. The Harris campaign referred to the Hinchcliffe set as “a vile racist tirade against Latinos.”

The racist comment immediately galvanized the trio of Puerto Rican artists, with Bad Bunny re-posting a video message from Harris in which she discussed the importance of the election for the citizens of the U.S. territory, reminding them what Trump “did and did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader” after the nation was hit with devastating damage after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017; a new report revealed that the Trump administration obstructed an investigation into why officials withheld $20 billion in hurricane relief from P.R. following Maria.

In addition to Bad Bunny sharing the message with his 45 million Instagram followers, Martin also boosted the Harris video to his nearly 19 million followers on his Instagram Stories, adding the message, “I remember @kamalaharris,” as did Lopez, whose re-post to her 250 million Instagram followers included links to Harris’ socials as well as a hands clapping emoji. Martin also claimed that his posts on X with similar content were being suppressed on the platform owned by Trump financial backer Elon Musk.

“Despacito” star and P.R. native Luis Fonsi reposted the Hinchcliffe video on his Stories with the message “Are you serious?,” as well as a portion of the Harris video and a lengthy personal note responding to the hate speech. “I understand comedy, I’m a big fan of it,” he wrote. I love roasts, trust me I get it. BUT… this is far from comedy. Not now, not against my island [Puerto Rico flag emoji], my people. Hell nah!”

Fonsi said it’s okay to have different views, but racism is not acceptable. ““We are not OK with this constant hate. It’s been abundantly clear that these people have no respect for us and yet they want our vote,” Fonsi wrote. “I purposely wrote this in English cause yes we’re American too.”

The shocking comments from Hinchcliffe at the Trump rally where CNN reported Republican candidate Trump and his MAGA surrogates spewed “racist, vulgar attacks at Harris and Democrats” came nine days before Americans go to the polls, and just a few after Trump’s former chief of staff, retired Marine General John Kelly, said the former reality TV star fits into the “general definition of a fascist” and frequently praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. It also comes as both Harris and Trump are spending precious time and money in the waning hours of the campaign to win over voters in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, where nearly 500,000 Puerto Ricans live, representing the third-largest P.R. diaspora in the U.S.

While the quartet of P.R.-born superstars did not explicitly endorse the Harris campaign in their posts, the show of support for the Democrat vying to the the first woman and person of Asian American descent to become President comes as both campaigns have been laser-focused on trying to win over crucial voting blocks including Black and Hispanic men.

27 Oct 2024

Fans Choose A.Chal’s ‘LMKK’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music Latin

A.Chal’s new single “LMKK” has topped this week’s new music Latin poll.

In a poll published on Friday (Oct. 25) — in support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — music fans voted for the Peruvian-American artist’s new track as their favorite music release of the week.

The Spanglish “LMKK” generated more than 89 percent of the vote, beating out other new releases that dropped this week including Alejandro Sanz’s “Palmeras en el Jardín,” Sech’s comeback tune “Toy Perdio,” Carín León & Gabito Ballesteros’ “Ese Vato No Te Queda” and Latin Mafia’s debut album, Todos Los Días Todo El Día, to name a few. Sanz’s single — which he previewed during 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week earlier this month — came in at second place.

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Composed and produced by A.Chal himself during a trip to Milan, “LMKK” masterfully intertwines the nostalgic charm of reggaetón with contemporary alt-R&B, sampling the iconic “Yo Voy” by Zion & Lenox, featuring Daddy Yankee. “Yo te tengo all over my mind, and you know, I don’t care if tú no eres mine,” he chants in the elusive and chic track.

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“On my last tour when I looked into the crowd, I saw different types of characters coming to see me that usually wouldn’t be in the same room,” he said in a press statement. “They all had their own distinct vibe, and championed different songs. That inspired me to make songs that all those groups could connect with and move to together equally. ‘LMKK’ is a small hint of that direction I’m leaning in to.”

In the previous New Music Latin poll, music fans crowned Greeicy and Jay Wheeler’s collaborative effort “¿Qué Te Pasó?” as the winner, with the song bringing in more than 99% of the vote.

See the final results of this week’s new music Latin poll below:

27 Oct 2024

Bad Bunny Supports Kamala Harris, Shares Her ‘I Will Never Forget What Donald Trump Did’ Message to Puerto Rican Voters

Bad Bunny, who supports Kamala Harris, a source close to the artist tells Billboard, is getting the Democratic presidential candidate’s latest message for Puerto Rican voters out to his 45 million followers on Instagram.

“There’s so much at stake in this election for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico. And this election is not just a choice between Donald Trump and me. It is a choice between two very different visions for our nation,” Harris says in a campaign video posted on Sunday (Oct. 27), which Benito shared clips of on Instagram Stories not just once, but four times. “One, his, focused on the past and on himself, and the other ours, that is focused on the future and on you. Puerto Rico is home to some of the most talented, innovative and ambitious people in our nation, and Puerto Ricans deserve a president who sees and invests in that strength.”

In the video, Harris tells voters: “As president, I will bring down the cost of housing, invest in small businesses and entrepreneurs and fight to finally secure equal access to programs that strengthen the healthcare system and support children, seniors and working people. I will create a new Puerto Rico economy task force where the federal government will work with the private sector, with non-profits and community leaders to foster economic growth and create thousands of new, good-paying jobs in Puerto Rico, including for our young people.”

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“I know that Puerto Rico’s economic future depends on urgently rebuilding and modernizing the island’s energy grid. That’s why I will cut red tape, ensure disaster recovery funds are used quickly and effectively, and work with leaders across the island to ensure all Puerto Ricans have access to reliable, affordable electricity. I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader. He abandoned the island, tried to block aid after back-to-back, devastating hurricanes, and offered nothing more than paper towels and insults. Puerto Ricans deserve better,” Harris says.

Bad Bunny emphasized Harris’ “I will never forget what Donald Trump did” line in his reposts of the speech.

Harris’ message to Puerto Rican voters on Sunday arrived the same day Trump was set to appear at a rally at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, where Tony Hinchcliffe, a podcast host/roast comedian, spewed racist jokes in an opening slot. He referred to Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean.” Later, he made a remark that Latinos “love making babies” in a lead up to a crude joke. Vice President Harris’ campaign headquarters called it a “vile racist tirade against Latinos” on X (formerly Twitter).

Benito, who was born and raised in Vega Baja, has a history of being vocal about social-political issues affecting the Puerto Rican community.

In September he placed billboards across San Juan in protest of the Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party), a major political party that holds the seat of governor and resident commissioner in Puerto Rico, soon after releasing the song “Una Velita.” The billboards displayed messages including “To vote for PNP is to vote for corruption,” “Who votes for PNP doesn’t love Puerto Rico” and “Voting for PNP is voting for LUMA” (the private energy company responsible for power distribution and transmission on the island). In an Instagram post showing the billboards, the star said, “Announcements paid by Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. A Puerto Rican who does love Puerto Rico.”

“Una Velita,” released on Sept. 19, has Bad Bunny reflecting on Puerto Rico’s response to the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017. “There were five thousand that they let die, and we will never forget that,” he chants on the track that addresses what happened in the wake of the Category 5 hurricane that devastated the island.

In 2022, he released a documentary-style video for Un Verano Sin Ti‘s “El Apagón.” With a runtime of almost 23 minutes, the short film takes aim at local government for its inaction in addressing blackouts, gentrification and other issues affecting Puerto Ricans.