Yes, El Muerto is a musician. Although we joke about Bad Bunny’s inclusion in a movie that will feature a character who has only appeared in two spider-man comics, there is some truth behind the joke. Bad Bunny is a very busy man.
Between the movies, he will appear in David Leitch’s “Bullet Train” starring Brad Pitt as well as a new movie called “American Soul” featuring Pete Davidson. He also appears in Corona commercials with Snoop Dogg. The Puerto Rican rapper still has plenty of time to produce a great product.
His latest release, “Un Verano Sin Ti” (which means A Summer Without You), is already shaping up to be one of those summer albums that you will remember fondly. Think Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967), Purple Rain by Prince (1984), Raising Hell By Run D.M.C. (1986), and Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 by Calvin Harris (2017). It is highly likely that Bad Bunny’s album will be played at every Discoteca.
Although this may seem like a general statement about the album, there are many complexities that go along with the head-nodding beats. This album has two parts. It is split into two sections between the 23 songs on Apple Music and Spotify.
The A-side features hip-shaking, fast paced reggaeton such as “Despues de la Playa”, which is an ode Dominican mambo. Tony Dize and Chencho Corleone, fellow countrymen, join him on “La Corriente” for “Me Porto Bonito.”
The album’s B-side is the best part of the second half. It features songs that are reflective, political outcry and one dedicated to Andrea Ruiz. Bad Bunny teamed up with Puerto Rican duo Buscabulla for the story of Ruiz who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, after which the Puerto Rican courts did nothing to protect her. “Andrea” as well as other songs, including “Otro Atardecer”, featuring LA indie rock band The Marias are beautiful and riveting.
Bad Bunny’s reputation is still under attack. The album features a lot of Black-inspired music, but not much Afro-Latinx. Bad Bunny shouts Dahian el Apechao in the “Despues de la Playa” but there’s not much Black Dominican representation. This is made more obvious when the album’s instrumentation draws heavily from Black roots such as bomba, reggaeton and dembow. It’s not Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Girls/Chola, but it is worth a closer look.
Despite the criticisms, Bad Bunny’s album is a masterpiece that will be cherished by fans all over the globe. Both of his trademark styles are delivered on separate discs by Bad Bunny, who is at his best. This album is a great way to welcome the summer after all the turmoil of the last few years.
