Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and occasional professional wrestler. He has played a significant role in popularizing Spanish-language music on a global scale. Bad Bunny’s musical style mainly encompasses Latin trap and reggaeton, incorporating elements from various genres. His rise to fame began in 2016 with the release of his track “Diles,” which led to a partnership with Hear This Music. Over the following years, he continued to gain momentum with songs like “Soy Peor” and collaborations with artists such as Farruko, Karol G, Ozuna, and J Balvin.
One of Bad Bunny’s breakthrough moments occurred in 2018 when he featured on Cardi B’s chart-topping song “I Like It” alongside J Balvin. Additionally, his own single “Mia” featuring Drake reached the top 10. In December 2018, he released his debut album “X 100pre” under Rimas Entertainment, which peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard 200. In June 2019, Bad Bunny and J Balvin collaborated on the album “Oasis,” reaching number nine on the Billboard 200. The success continued with his second solo album, “YHLQMDLG,” released on February 29, 2020, which became the highest-charting all-Spanish album, reaching number two on the Billboard 200. He followed it up with the compilation album “Las que no iban a salir” in May, which reached number seven on the chart.
Bad Bunny’s fourth album, “El Último Tour Del Mundo,” released in November 2020, combined reggaeton and Latin trap with rock music. It became the first all-Spanish-language album to reach number one on the Billboard 200, and its lead single, “Dákiti,” debuted in the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100. In May 2022, he released his fifth album, “Un Verano Sin Ti,” which spent 13 weeks at the top of the Billboard 200. The album’s singles also reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. Notably, “Un Verano Sin Ti” became the first Spanish-language album to receive a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.
Bad Bunny’s achievements extend beyond music. He made appearances and participated in wrestling matches at WrestleMania 37 in 2021 and Backlash in 2023 for the American promotion WWE. Furthermore, he has held the WWE 24/7 Championship once. Bad Bunny’s accolades include three Grammy Awards, four Latin Grammy Awards, eight Billboard Music Awards, and thirteen Lo Nuestro Awards. He was honored as the Artist of the Year at the Apple Music Awards in 2022.
To illustrate Bad Bunny’s impact, he became Spotify’s most streamed artist of the year in 2020, the first non-English language act to achieve this feat. He repeated the record in 2021 and had the highest streaming year on Spotify for any artist in 2022. With his remarkable contributions to the music industry and his influence on mainstream culture, Bad Bunny has undeniably left an indelible mark on Spanish-language music.