Bad Bunny’s 2022 album Un Verano Sin Ti was a landmark in Latin music. It broke record after record and became a standard across the industry. It was a project that spanned the gamut of Latin sounds with representation from almost every genre. (You can read the review of that album here). For a mainstream American audience, this is the album that put Bad Bunny in the lexicon.
Benito’s follow up is nothing like last year’s project – and that’s a very good thing. Trap Bunny is back and this album is true return to roots. These aren’t songs made for TikTok and this isn’t an album for the “Yonaguitos” as Bad Bunny called them, referring to fans who began following him in the last 2 or 3 years. This is for the ones who have been around from the beginning.
Lyrically, this album feels more complex and uncompromising than Un Verano Sin Ti. Bad Bunny doesn’t back away from any topic, even going so far as to throw shots at J Balvin and Karol G. He has an edge and he’s getting it all off his chest.
Clocking in at 22 tracks and almost an hour and a half (even though I currently wouldn’t count “Europa”), this is a massive album. Some of my favorites include “Hibiki”, “Acho PR”, “Los Pits”, “Fina”, and “Monaco”. There aren’t many weak points on the album. For all the hate “Un Preview” has gotten online, I still enjoy it and think it’s a great inclusion as the album’s closer.
For the most part, this won’t be something you hear in the club and that’s alright, he has plenty of songs that fit that mold. This is an album that you’ll listen to over and over again, appreciating the story telling, the attitude, and Bad Bunny’s unique ability to speak to the souls of his audience.
Review
Bad Bunny is already an international superstar, but this album puts him on pace for legendary status. This isn’t going to be a commercial, TikTok friendly project and that’s the point. This is Bad Bunny going back to his roots and giving us something from his soul. It’s undoubtedly one of his masterpieces.
8.7/10