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Pan American experiences
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Bad Bunny accepted the award for Best Música Urbana Album during the 68th edition of the Grammy Awards, held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 1, 2026.Photo: Image generated with Pexels.
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PUERTO RICO ------------------------------------------1215[FEATURE] BADDEST BUNNY | |||
Bad Bunny Makes History with the First Grammy for Album of the Year in Spanish with Debí Tirar Más FotosAn Intimate and Deeply Puerto Rican Record Conquers Music’s Biggest NightBy Jazmin Agudelo for Ruta Pantera on 2/6/2026 1:20:55 PM |
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| On February 2, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Grammy Awards night became an unforgettable milestone for Spanish-language music. Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican artist Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, won the Grammy for Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, a record released on January 5, 2025 that had already swept the Latin Grammys months earlier. It was the first time in the history of the awards—68 editions—that a fully Spanish-language album took home the most prestigious category, surpassing competitors such as Lady Gaga with MAYHEM, Kendrick Lamar with GNX, Sabrina Carpenter with Man’s Best Friend, and Tyler, The Creator with CHROMAKOPIA.
The moment was electric. When Harry Styles announced the winner, the audience rose in immediate ovation. Bad Bunny, visibly moved and with tears in his eyes, walked onto the stage amid nonstop applause. In his speech, he switched between English and Spanish with a breaking voice, dedicating the award to immigrants who leave their land “to follow their dreams” and remembering Puerto Rico: “Believe me when I tell you we are much bigger than 100 x 35.” The phrase—a reference to the island’s physical size—went viral on social media, symbolizing Puerto Rico’s outsized cultural influence on the world. An album that looks back to move forward Debí Tirar Más Fotos—whose title literally translates to “I Should Have Taken More Photos”—is an introspective and nostalgic work, far from the explosive, commercial reggaeton that defined earlier albums like Un Verano Sin Ti or Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana. Here, Bad Bunny returns to his roots: plena, bomba, salsa, jíbaro, and elements of house intertwine across 17 tracks that evoke childhood in Puerto Rico, grief for loved ones, migration, and the inexorable passage of time. Songs like “Nuevayol” address the Boricua diaspora in New York; “Voy a Llevarte Pa’ PR” invites a festive return to the island; and the title track reflects with melancholy on moments never captured: “I should have taken more photos of when I had you, I should have given you more kisses and hugs the times I could.” |
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The production, minimalist compared to his previous work, prioritizes emotional authenticity over radio impact. Samples of Puerto Rican classics, subtle collaborations, and a complete absence of English reinforce the message: this is not an album designed to conquer foreign markets at the expense of identity. It is a tribute to island culture at a time of political tension—gentrification, persistent colonialism, and forced migration—that Bad Bunny addresses without slogans, but with poetic clarity.
Critical reception was unanimous: Metacritic awarded it a 95/100 based on reviews describing it as “his most personal work” and “a cultural manifesto disguised as reggaeton.” Pitchfork called it “an impeccable fusion of Puerto Rico’s past and present”; Rolling Stone highlighted its “homely joy and freshness.” Commercially, it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200—his fourth album to do so—and after the Grammy win, streams skyrocketed: a 240% increase the next day, according to Luminate, and digital sales multiplying ninefold over previous figures. In Latin America, especially in countries like Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina, the album resonated as a collective mirror. In Antioquia, where Bad Bunny has filled stadiums and dominated playlists for years, the victory felt personal: families gathered to watch the ceremony, bars projected the speech, and social media flooded with messages of pride. For a generation that grew up with reggaeton as a global soundtrack, this Grammy validated that Spanish is not an obstacle, but a strength. The impact beyond the statuette This triumph did not arrive in isolation. Un Verano Sin Ti (2022) was the first fully Spanish-language album nominated for Album of the Year; Debí Tirar Más Fotos won it, closing a cycle. Bad Bunny became the first Latino, Hispanic, and Spanish-speaking artist to be simultaneously nominated in the “Big Three” (Album, Record, and Song of the Year), and to take home the top prize. He also won Best Urban Music Album and Best Global Music Performance for “EoO,” bringing his total to 17 Grammys. The political context amplified the meaning. The 2026 ceremony was marked by open criticism of U.S. government immigration policies; Bad Bunny addressed that reality directly in his speech, without aggressive confrontation, but with firmness. His victory, in a year of tension, was read as an act of cultural resistance: Spanish, spoken by more than 500 million people, occupying center stage in a dominant Anglophone arena. The album also arrives at a pivotal moment in his career. Just six days later, on February 8, 2026, Bad Bunny is set to headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show at Levi’s Stadium, a stage where millions will dance to the rhythm of his culture. Artists like J Balvin and Rauw Alejandro publicly supported him, calling it “a victory for Latinos and immigrants.” Bad Bunny himself joked in pre-event press conferences: “You don’t need to learn Spanish; you’d better learn how to dance.” For new generations of Latin urban artists, this Grammy opens doors. It proves that linguistic and cultural authenticity is not only viable, but rewarded at the highest levels. In a world where reggaeton is already mainstream, Debí Tirar Más Fotos remembers its origins and expands its future. This was not just an award; it was a collective affirmation. Bad Bunny did not conquer the Grammy despite Spanish—he conquered it because of it. And in that gesture, he elevated the voice of millions who, for the first time, felt represented at the very top. |
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References: Associated Press. (2026, febrero 2). 2026 Grammy Awards: Bad Bunny makes history with album of the year win. https://apnews.com/article/2026-grammy-awards-4d631de5d968b51276a8f06b76580e20 BBC News. (2026, febrero 2). Bad Bunny makes Grammy history as he wins best album. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8g7q4ymrvo GRAMMY.com. (2026). Bad Bunny artist page. https://www.grammy.com/artists/bad-bunny/243129 NPR. (2026, febrero 2). Bad Bunny wins Grammy for album of the year. https://www.npr.org/2026/02/02/nx-s1-5693043/grammys-2026-bad-bunny-album-of-the-year Rolling Stone. (2026, febrero 4). Bad Bunny's historic Grammy Awards win brings in flood of streams ahead of Super Bowl performance. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bad-bunny-grammys-win-boosts-streaming-numbers-1235511114 Wikipedia. (2026). Debí Tirar Más Fotos. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deb%C3%AD_Tirar_M%C3%A1s_Fotos |
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