Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, CA on Aug. 25, 2018. (Credit: Alan Hess)

Of the Latin artists that have crossed over into mainstream popularity, none have done it quite like Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican native has taken a progressive, often controversial path to become one of music’s biggest stars. And he’s done it while singing only in Spanish.

In a new feature story in Billboard, writer Eduardo Cepeda describes how “el conejo malo” managed to take over pop music by taking “risks few young male Latin stars would.” Bad Bunny chimes in with insights into his mindset and discusses why he’s not afraid to paint his nails or call out social issues.

Bad Bunny released his critically acclaimed debut album X 100PRE in December. The project peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and currently sits at No. 19. It features the hit singles “MIA” featuring Drake, “Estamos Bien,” and “Solo de Mi.” The latest single is “Si Estuviesemos Juntos,” which the 24-year-old dropped on Thursday along with a music video.

Read Bad Bunny’s best quotes from the story and watch the video for “Si Estuviesemos Juntos” below.

Why he takes risks:

“When I came into this industry, I was never afraid to be myself … There were others who would advise me to tone down a bit, but I just always thought, ‘What’s the worst that could happen?'”

How calling out social issues comes easy to him:

“At the end of the day, these are basic messages .. Ultimately, I’m not doing that much. I’m only doing what a human being who feels wants to do — in my way, without stepping out of my flow, while staying in my lane. Without, I guess, boring people.”

Why he lets fans approach him in the street:

“That’s the whole point — that’s how it should be … Like, fucking trying to connect with people.”

Why he keeps his friends close:

“[It] makes you feel like you’re with family, makes you feel at home, makes you feel normal. It gives me that grounding I need to always stay within orbit and not forget Earth.”

Why he used the same two producers on X 100PRE:

“It influences not just the quality of the album, but also the sentimentality of it … That energy translates. You feel like you’re listening to an artist, not just music meant for radio play.”

Related: Watch Bad Bunny’s ‘Caro’ Video

Bad Bunny encourages people to know their worth in the video for his Latin trap song, “Caro.” The track, which translates to “expensive,” peaked at No. 24 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.

“Caro” appears on Bad Bunny’s debut album, X 100pre. The project debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, where it has remained for four straight weeks. It currently sits at No. 11 on the Billboard 200.

Watch the video above and download “Caro” on DJcity.

Related: Watch City Girls’ ‘Twerk Remix’ Video Feat. Cardi B

Bad Bunny has just released a Latin-pop crossover track called “MIA.” The song features a guest appearance from Drake, who sings a verse entirely in Spanish.

The highly anticipated collaboration, teased on Instagram earlier this year, features production from DJ Luian and Mambo Kingz. In the video, the pair are seen taking a break from stardom to play games and relax at a house party.

Watch the video above and download “MIA” on DJcity.

Related: Watch DJ Snake’s ‘Taki Taki’ Video Feat. Selena Gomez, Cardi B, and Ozuna

Cardi B is back with another video, this time for her Latin-influenced single “I Like It” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin.

In the video, Cardi is seen strolling through the streets of a tropical island amongst the locals. She then links up with Bunny and Balvin at a lively party.

“I Like It” samples Pete Rodriguez’s 1967 boogaloo hit, “I Like It Like That.”

Watch Cardi’s video above and download the track on DJcity.

Related: Watch Cardi B’s ‘Be Careful’ Video

Daddy Yankee, Becky G, Natti Natasha, and Bad Bunny perform at the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on April 26, 2018. (credit: David Becker/Getty Images)

Daddy Yankee has dropped a star-studded remix of his Latin anthem “Dura” featuring Becky G, Bad Bunny, and Natti Natasha.

Released in January, “Dura” has become one of the biggest hits in the world, topping charts in over 10 countries and reaching the top 10 in several others. It currently sits at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart and has crossed over into the U.S., peaking at No. 50 on the Hot 100.

The new version adds fresh verses by Becky, Bad Bunny, and Natti throughout the track. They also take turns singing the catchy original hook with Yankee.

Stream the remix below and download it on DJcity.

Related: Daddy Yankee’s Anthem ‘Dura’ Gains Momentum

Maluma at Billboard’s Latin Music Conference at The Venetian in Las Vegas on April 25, 2018. (Credit: Nicole Pereira)

Latin music’s popularity is at an all-time high thanks in part to artists like Bad Bunny, Maluma, and Pitbull. They, along with other Latin stars, have topped charts and sold out shows in record numbers all over the world over the past year.

Now, they’ve all gathered together in Las Vegas for the 29th annual Billboard Latin Music Week. The event, which ends Thursday night with the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards, began Monday with a three-day conference.

Among the festivities at the conference was a series of individual Q&A and panel interviews with the top artists, producers, and executives in the game. Topics included a look back at the past year, how collaborations came together, and future projects.

We put together some of the best Q&As below, most of which were conducted in Spanish. The list includes interviews by the aforementioned Bad Bunny, Maluma, and Pitbull as well as Ozuna, Maná, and songwriter Descemer Bueno.

Watch them below.

Bad Bunny

Maluma

Ozuna

Pitbull

Iconic Songwriter Descemer Bueno

Maná

Related: Watch: Nicky Jam Explains How J Balvin Collab ‘X’ Was Made

Latino producer Spiff TV has unveiled a video for his new single “Thinkin” featuring Anuel AA, Bad Bunny, and Future. Since its release last week, the cross-cultural trap song has received nearly one million Spotify streams. The track is set to appear on Spiff’s forthcoming album, The Union.

Spiff, who is also known as a music video director, writer, and A&R, has worked with artists like French Montana, Diddy, and Rick Ross.

Watch the animated video above and download “Thinkin” on DJcity.

Related: Watch N.O.R.E.’s ‘Uno Más’ Video Feat. Pharrell Williams

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.

Glad to say we were part of history! @power_106 @cruzshow106 was the first hip hop station to interview @badbunnypr in the United States. It really is crazy how far this movement has come and continues to grow. Breaking barriers despite the language difference. Crossover collaborations… Dale! I can’t wait to sit down again to chop it up with el conejo malo… vamos! – Shout out to @ajelkallejero @pulles who continuously support the movement digitally. Interview will be up on YouTube soon… stay tuned 🐰🍼 #latinos 🇲🇽🇵🇷🇸🇻🇩🇴🇵🇦🇻🇪🇭🇳🇨🇺🇨🇴🇨🇱🇦🇷🇪🇨🇳🇮🇵🇪🇺🇾🇪🇸🇺🇸 • • 📷: @marsnare

A post shared by PABLO GORDOBAR (@djlechero) on Jan 23, 2018 at 9:00am PST

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

Enrique Iglesias has teamed with Latin trap star Bad Bunny for a new single called “El Bano.” The reggaeton-influenced track, which translates to “The Bathroom or “The Bathtub,” is already No. 49 on iTunes.

The Spanish singer has also shared an accompanying video. The steamy visual stars actor Eric Roberts and finds Iglesias trying to win over a mysterious woman’s affection at a hotel bar. Bad Bunny also makes an appearance.

Watch the video above and download the track on DJcity.

Related: Watch Diplo’s ‘Get It Right’ Video Feat. MO

Farruko performs live. (Photo source: Facebook)

Puerto Rican singer Farruko has enlisted Nicki Minaj and 21 Savage for the official remix of his Latin trap anthem “Krippy Kush” featuring Bad Bunny and Rvssian. The original has become one of the most successful tracks of the genre, which continues to gain momentum.

According to Billboard, “the song debuted at No. 20 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart and reached No. 5 without any major radio airplay.” The chart has traditionally been dominated by reggaeton and pop.

Watch the lyric video for the “Krippy Kush” remix below and download it first on DJcity.

Related: Latin Trap Continues to Rise, Despite Lack of Radio Play