Bad Bunny Interview! His ‘Most Puerto Rican’ Album Yet, Trump Rally Response & L.A. Celeb Problems

Bad Bunny discusses his new album "Debbie Tira Mass Photos," exploring themes of nostalgia, cultural appreciation, and the importance of photographs as memories. He reflects on the evolution of Puerto Rican music, aiming to modernize traditional rhythms while maintaining cultural roots. The album, recorded in Puerto Rico with local musicians, emphasizes connection to home amidst global success. Bad Bunny also touches on the pressures of fame, his commitment to authenticity, and using his platform to inspire appreciation for Puerto Rican culture. The conversation highlights his dedication to music that resonates personally and culturally.

• Bad Bunny's new album is titled "Debbie Tira Mass Photos," meaning "I should take more pictures," reflecting on the significance of capturing moments.
• The album explores themes of memory, history, and the evolving relationship with photography in the digital age.
• Bad Bunny emphasizes the importance of appreciating history, culture, family, friends, career, and fans through his music.

"Well, the album is Debbie Tira Mass Photos. That means I should take more pictures."

• The title suggests the importance of capturing and cherishing moments, which is a recurring theme in the album.

"Pictures and photos used to be like something very special. Today you can take a picture about everything with yourself."

• Reflects on how the value of photographs has changed over time, becoming more commonplace and less special.

"Pictures are history. So the album has a lot of history with the rhythms."

• Highlights the album's focus on preserving and appreciating cultural and personal history through music.

• The album is described as Bad Bunny's most Puerto Rican album, connecting deeply with Puerto Rico's cultural history and sounds.
• Bad Bunny discusses the significance of being away from Puerto Rico and how it led to a deeper appreciation for his home and culture.
• The album includes collaborations with artists who evoke a sense of home and nostalgia for Puerto Rican music.

"I think I always had this on my mind. Like I always been connected with my country and with my people and especially through the music."

• Emphasizes Bad Bunny's continuous connection to Puerto Rico, despite physical distance.

"I started to listen to a lot of music that made me feel close from Puerto Rico."

• Music serves as a bridge to maintain a connection with his roots and culture.

• The album incorporates traditional Puerto Rican rhythms, such as Plena, and modernizes them with Bad Bunny's unique style.
• Bad Bunny aims to introduce these traditional sounds to younger generations while maintaining their cultural essence.
• The project seeks to demonstrate that traditional music can be adapted and appreciated in contemporary contexts.

"All the rhythms, I feel that all of them are Puerto Rican rhythms, like with the Plena."

• Plena is highlighted as a key traditional rhythm featured in the album.

"This is not like a new rhythm. It's a very old rhythm. It just sounds new and different because I'm doing it."

• Bad Bunny's reinterpretation of traditional rhythms gives them a fresh perspective while honoring their origins.

• Bad Bunny addresses the generational gap in music appreciation, emphasizing that older musical styles can resonate with younger audiences.
• The album challenges preconceived notions that certain music is meant for older generations.
• Bad Bunny aims to create a sense of unity and continuity between different generations through his music.

"You can make it like your own style and you don't have to do the same that the old artists did in the past."

• Encourages innovation and personalization in music while respecting traditional influences.

"This type of music could be for the old people... And then when you are growing up, you start to appreciate more this music."

• Reflects on the evolving perception of traditional music as one matures and gains a deeper appreciation for cultural roots.

• Bad Bunny discusses the pressure from the music industry to achieve worldwide success and how it can conflict with staying true to one's cultural roots.
• He emphasizes the possibility of maintaining cultural identity while achieving global recognition.
• The album serves as a testament to Bad Bunny's commitment to his Puerto Rican identity and heritage.

"I always knew that I could be big and successful being Puerto Rican and with my music and with my slang and with my everything, with my culture."

• Asserts confidence in achieving success without compromising cultural authenticity.

"The industry tried to put in your head... you need to be worldwide, worldwide, worldwide."

• Critiques the industry's focus on global reach at the expense of cultural identity.

• Bad Bunny reflects on the cyclical nature of music and life, noting that themes from past music remain relevant today.
• The album draws parallels between historical and contemporary social issues, emphasizing continuity in human experiences.
• Bad Bunny uses his platform to comment on societal changes and the persistent nature of certain challenges.

"The music and life is a circle, is a full circle, and we live in the same thing."

• Highlights the repetitive nature of human experiences and the timelessness of certain themes in music.

"People been killing people forever, you know, so this is the same with music."

• Acknowledges the enduring presence of violence and societal issues throughout history and their reflection in music.

• The artist reflects on his journey of returning to his musical roots while incorporating new elements, emphasizing a deep connection to traditional sounds and live instrumentation.
• The project was a long-awaited endeavor, allowing the artist to explore and experiment with music in ways he had always desired.
• The music was recorded in Puerto Rico with young local musicians, highlighting a blend of traditional and modern sounds.

"I've been thinking about this project so long ago, and when I was working on Nadia Sao La Gabas Armanana, I really was waiting for this project."

• The artist had a long-standing vision for the project, indicating a deep-seated passion and anticipation.

"All in Puerto Rico. Like, all the musicians are from Puerto Rico."

• The emphasis is on utilizing local talent to maintain authenticity and cultural richness in the music.

• The artist aims to showcase young musicians who are passionate about traditional music, countering the stereotype that all young artists are focused on reggaeton.
• He feels a responsibility to use his platform to uplift these young musicians, providing them with opportunities they might not have had otherwise.

"There's a lot of great, great musicians, young kids that they wanna, you know, carry the torch."

• The artist acknowledges the potential and passion of young musicians who are eager to continue the legacy of traditional music.

"I feel great. I've been saying that, like, what is the purpose to me be here in this position? Like, what's next?"

• Reflects on the significance of using his influence to create opportunities for others and contribute to the music community.

• The album begins with a song about New York, symbolizing the cultural ties between Puerto Rico and the city, and serving as a tribute to the Latino community.
• The artist expresses a sense of nostalgia and a desire to reconnect with his roots, which coincides with his rise in American celebrity.

"There's a lot of history between Puerto Rico and New York. There's a lot of culture."

• Highlights the deep cultural connections between Puerto Rico and New York, emphasizing the significance of this relationship in his music.

"Maybe. Maybe. I love being home. There's no popsing home in Puerto Rico."

• Expresses a longing for home and the comfort it provides, contrasting with the pressures of fame.

• The artist discusses blending traditional Puerto Rican music with modern production techniques, creating a unique sound that represents both his cultural heritage and contemporary influences.
• This fusion is seen as a statement about the future direction of Puerto Rican music.

"I think is trying to do something different and try to...make like a blend or like a mix between the music from my culture and also the music that I've been listening to all this time."

• The artist aims to innovate by combining traditional sounds with modern elements, reflecting his personal musical journey and vision.

• The artist reflects on his role in supporting and validating other Spanish-language genres, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and cultural exchange.
• He discusses his influence on the Latin music movement and the responsibility that comes with his platform.

"I think I always believe in Latin music, not only in my genre."

• Demonstrates a commitment to supporting and promoting Latin music as a whole, beyond his specific genre.

"I always try to let people know that I'm a human, like. Like them. I'm not different."

• Acknowledges the importance of maintaining humility and relatability despite his fame, and the need to use his platform responsibly.

• The artist addresses political issues, including a controversial incident involving a comedian's remarks about Puerto Rico, highlighting the importance of context and the potential impact of such statements.
• He expresses frustration with political dynamics and emphasizes the need to protect cultural identity.

"I didn't feel any pressure to say something. I did it because I felt it. I just said I was angry at the time."

• The artist's response to a political incident was driven by emotion and a sense of duty to defend his culture.

"I just know that there's always be people to gonna protect and defend our country and our culture."

• Emphasizes the importance of unity and cultural pride in the face of political challenges.

• The project contains numerous political lines that are subtly woven into the songs.
• Political messages are not overt but rather integrated into broader narratives like love stories.
• The artist's intention is to inspire rather than to wield influence explicitly.

"There's a lot of political lines that you can tell that are political."

• The artist acknowledges the presence of political themes in their work, indicating a deliberate choice to include them.

"It's not that I have on my mind, like, oh, I have this power. Let me use it to influence... No, it's not something that I have and I want to do."

• The artist emphasizes that their aim is to inspire rather than to intentionally influence, suggesting a more organic approach to political expression.

• The artist feels a sense of responsibility to inspire appreciation for their culture and country.
• They express a desire to give back to the community through their work.
• The influence comes from a place of genuine feeling rather than obligation due to fame.

"I maybe just want to inspire. Inspire a new generation to appreciate more all country and all culture."

• The artist's motivation is to foster appreciation for their cultural heritage among the younger generation.

"Everything that I say, everything that I do is because I feel it. And it's not because I feel a pressure to say something because I'm a public figure or something."

• The artist stresses that their expressions are driven by personal feelings rather than external pressures related to their public persona.

• The choice to perform in Spanish is significant, even as the music reaches a global audience.
• There is an acknowledgment that non-Spanish speakers might miss nuances in the lyrics.
• The artist is open to experimenting with other languages if it feels necessary.

"Definitely, people miss a lot of nuance... I'm singing in Puerto Rican slang."

• The artist recognizes that linguistic nuances may be lost on non-Spanish speakers, highlighting the cultural specificity of their work.

"I always say the day that I feel that I need to say something in English, I'm going to do it."

• The artist is open to using English in their music if it becomes necessary for their expression, showing flexibility in their artistic approach.

• Collaborations on the album are deeply personal, featuring artists the main artist admires and connects with.
• The process of creating music is organic, with artists working together in the studio rather than remotely.
• The focus is on creating authentic connections and experiences through music.

"Every of them, as I told you, are there because of reason. I like their music."

• Collaborations are intentional, based on personal admiration and connection with other artists.

"We worked all together in the studio... It felt good that I could relate more with them than any other huge stars that I met before."

• The artist values the authenticity and connection that comes from working directly with others in the studio.

• Trust is a complex issue for the artist, who feels they have an ability to read people.
• They have shifted to a more open-hearted approach, understanding that betrayal is not their fault.
• The philosophy centers on being open and trusting, with the understanding that any breach of trust reflects on the other person.

"I always say that I have this power of... I can read people very easy."

• The artist believes they have an intuitive ability to assess people's trustworthiness.

"If people fail to me, it's not my fail. It's not my fault."

• The artist has adopted a philosophy of openness, recognizing that trust issues are the responsibility of those who betray it, not of those who offer it.

• The discussion touches on the personal management of social media and direct messages (DMs).
• The speaker, A, manages their own social media and DMs, finding it sometimes overwhelming.
• A rarely checks the third mailbox on Instagram, indicating it can be a daunting experience.
• Despite the challenges, A attempts to be accessible and occasionally responds to messages.

"No, I manage, I manage my, my social media."

• A personally handles their social media, emphasizing a hands-on approach to digital interactions.

"But yes, I tried to go to my DMs and sometimes I, I respond and I try to be social, accessible."

• A attempts to engage with followers by responding to DMs, though it's not a frequent activity.

• The conversation shifts to how people perceive and underestimate A.
• A acknowledges both underestimation and belief from others, suggesting a balance of doubt and support is necessary.
• A is motivated by doubt from those they care about, but indifferent to skepticism from strangers.

"There's a lot of people that could underestimate, underestimate. But there's more people that believe in me."

• A feels supported by a larger group of believers than doubters, which reinforces their confidence.

"When people that I care... doubt of me is when I say I see, but when people that I even don't know, I don't care."

• A draws motivation from doubt expressed by close acquaintances but is unaffected by random skepticism.

• A hypothetical question is posed about which sense one would choose to lose.
• A decides on the sense of smell, despite enjoying fragrances and the smell of food.
• The discussion highlights the importance and personal value of other senses over smell.

"So DMS in touch. That's the same thing. We understand. We keep all that. It's a smell."

• The speaker, A, prioritizes retaining other senses over smell, indicating their personal hierarchy of sensory importance.

"I like the perfume. I like smell the food before to eat, and I like smell."

• Despite choosing smell as the expendable sense, A expresses an appreciation for fragrances and food aromas.

• A reveals a past interest in creating memes, which was a hobby before pursuing music.
• Memes are used by A as a form of personal expression and humor, shared with friends rather than publicly.
• The conversation reflects on the creative process and personal enjoyment derived from meme-making.

"I like to create a lot of memes."

• A enjoys the creative process of making memes, which serves as a personal outlet for humor.

"I make a memes for, for you."

• A creates personalized memes for friends, indicating a tailored approach to humor and creativity.

• The podcast features a segment where A tries a unique snack: Japanese beer-flavored chicken cracklings.
• A rates the snack highly, noting its complexity and connection to familiar flavors from Puerto Rico.
• The discussion includes cultural references and personal anecdotes related to snack preferences.

"I have to say a nine."

• A rates the Japanese snack a nine out of ten, highlighting its appeal and complexity.

"But to me, this a. In Puerto Rico. So this is. This is. I grew up."

• A connects the snack to familiar flavors from their upbringing in Puerto Rico, adding a personal cultural context.