NPR

How Bad Bunny Skipped Categories And Skyrocketed To Fame

No, he's not a cartoon character. Bad Bunny is the up-and-coming Puerto Rican rapper soaring to international fame.
Bad Bunny backstage at Apple Music's 'Up Next' Artist concert in Miami, Fl. in March 2018.

Before Benito Antonio MartĂ­nez Ocasio became Latin trap star Bad Bunny, he was just a kid growing up in Puerto Rico whose mom would blast salsa and romantic Latin ballads on weekends.

"On Sundays and Saturdays, when it was time to clean the house, when I heard those records, I knew I

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
In 'The Unexpected,' Emily Oster Tackles The Emotional Toll Of Difficult Pregnancies
The economist made a name for herself using data to challenge the accepted rules of pregnancy. Now, she's returning to the topic with a book on how to navigate its complications.
NPR9 min read
Rappers Took The White House. Now What?
A new documentary, Hip-Hop and the White House, considers rap's association with presidential politics — and in so doing, reveals a persistent misunderstanding of how both operate.
NPR7 min readAmerican Government
Trump Trial Coverage
The news media face a number of temptations while covering the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump, including dwelling on salacious details, overdramatizing insignificant moments, and getting distracted by out-of-court behaviors that have

Related Books & Audiobooks