Bad Bunny Talks Breaking Barriers, Future Collaborations, and Getting Latin Trap on US Radio

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Bad Bunny and DJ Lechero. (Source: Instagram)

Rising Latin star Bad Bunny stopped by Power 106 on Tuesday for his first interview with a US hip-hop radio station. The 23-year-old, who burst onto the scene in 2016, is the leading voice behind the surging Latin trap movement.

With the help of his Farruko collaboration, “Krippy Kush,” Bad Bunny has catapulted the once underground genre into the mainstream. In November, he broke language barriers when he enlisted Nicki Minaj and 21 Savage for the official remix of the track. The bilingual remix has been getting radio play in the US ever since, a rarity for a genre not considered radio-friendly.

In the interview, which was conducted entirely in Spanish, Bad Bunny discusses breaking language barriers, his upcoming collabs with American artists, and his ambition to get Latin trap on US radio.

Below are some of the translated quotes from his interview with Power’s DJ Lechero.

His thoughts on his first interview on a US hip-hop station:

“I’m proud because we’re doing big things. We’re achieving enough success to the level that we’re breaking language and cultural barriers. And, from different parts of the world, we recognize what the US hip-hop, rap, and trap markets mean. It’s introduced me to a lot of artists in those genres who respect me, and who I also respect. It’s huge for Latin music and for Latin people in general. I think it’s very important.”

Future collabs with American artists:

“I’ve got a lot of surprises in store. Some I can’t talk about yet. I do have a track coming out with Future and Anuel AA. … And what else do we have coming? Today, we’re going to be in the studio with Swae Lee. So, I’ve got some tracks coming with American artists that are going to be big.”

Whether Latin trap will make it to radio:

“It’s a daily battle that we’re facing, but I rest assured that the moment is coming when we’re fully on just like every other genre. And we won’t have to change the format or the style. I’ve been saying it since I started. And little by little you can see the change and that people are more open-minded to it. Radio programmers are becoming aware of our impact and that the people want our music on. So if the radio is for listening to music, and people want to hear Latin trap, Bad Bunny, and the other artists also making hits, then you have to give the people what they want.”

Watch the interview below.

Related: Enrique Iglesias Drops New Single and Video, ‘El Bano’ Feat. Bad Bunny

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