Bad Bunny
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Puerto Rico
Bagged groceries in Puerto Rico, then became one of the most-streamed artists on the planet without switching to English.
4 eras · 14 stops
- Origin
- Release
- Deal
- Business
- Turning point
- Controversy
- Legacy
- 1
1994–2016
Vega Baja
- 1994Origin
Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
Grows up singing in the church choir.
- 2016Origin
Bagging groceries
Works as a bagger at a local supermarket while uploading songs to SoundCloud.
- 2016Deal
Discovered
His song ‘Diles’ catches the ear of DJ Luian, who signs him to Hear This Music.
- 2
2017–2018
Latin trap
- 2018Release
I Like It
Features with J Balvin on Cardi B’s No. 1 hit.
- December 2018Release
X 100PRE
His debut album, released on Christmas Eve.
- 3
2020–2022
The biggest artist in the world
- 2020Release
A Spanish-language first
El Último Tour del Mundo becomes the first all-Spanish album to top the Billboard 200.
- 2020–2022Legacy
Spotify’s No. 1
The most-streamed artist in the world on Spotify three years in a row.
- 2021Turning point
WrestleMania
Actually wrestles at WrestleMania 37. And wins.
- 2022Release
Un Verano Sin Ti
The year’s most-streamed album worldwide, and the first all-Spanish album nominated for Album of the Year.
- 2022Business
The top tour of the year
His World’s Hottest Tour is the highest-grossing tour of 2022.
- 4
2025–now
Puerto Rico first
- January 2025Release
Debí Tirar Más Fotos
A love letter to Puerto Rico’s music and culture.
- 2025Business
Staying home
Plays a 31-show residency in Puerto Rico instead of touring the US mainland, citing fears of immigration raids at his shows.
- February 2026Legacy
Album of the Year
Debí Tirar Más Fotos becomes the first Spanish-language album to win the Grammys’ top prize.
- February 2026Turning point
Super Bowl LX
Headlines the halftime show solo, performing mostly in Spanish.
The playbook
The moves worth stealing.
- 01
Don’t translate yourself. He got to No. 1 in the world singing in Spanish.
- 02
Make home the brand. Puerto Rico is in everything he does.
- 03
Every era can be a different world: wrestling, fashion, film.
- 04
Say what you believe, even on the biggest stage.
This is the outline.
Every stop gets its own deep dive next, with the songs, the receipts and a quiz.