Bad Bunny’s highly anticipated sixth studio album, “Un Verano Sin Ti” (“A Summer Without You”), dropped on Sunday, marking a significant departure for the global superstar. Instead of his usual reggaeton-infused sounds, the 17-track album is a deep dive into *música jíbara*, the traditional folk music of Puerto Rico. This bold move showcases Bad Bunny’s commitment to his roots and his desire to share a more personal and authentic side of himself with the world.
In a statement to *Variety*, the artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, described the album as a lifelong dream, a project years in the making. He explained his intention to use this moment at the height of his international fame to present a truer picture of who he is, both personally and as a proud representative of Puerto Rican culture. “Seeing it come to life has brought me immense happiness,” he shared, emphasizing his ongoing commitment to honest communication with his fans and the album’s role in his self-discovery. He poignantly summarized, “I am Puerto Rican, I am Caribbean, and my music, my culture, my country’s history run through my veins, from plena to reggaeton… The best is yet to come.”
The production team is a testament to Bad Bunny’s enduring collaborations, featuring frequent partners La Paciencia, MAG, and Tainy, along with Big Jay and Saox. Further emphasizing the album’s focus on Puerto Rican talent, all featured artists – Chuwi, Dei V, Omar Courtz, Pleneros de la Cresta, and RaiNao – hail from the island, including promising young musicians from the Escuela Libre de Música. The album’s release was creatively orchestrated in partnership with Google Maps and Spotify, unveiling song titles through a unique geographical scavenger hunt across Puerto Rico, where each track’s location was revealed via coordinates. The collection features previously released singles, “El Clúb” and “Pitorro de Coco,” alongside brand new tracks such as “Turista” (“Tourist”) and “La Mudanza” (“The Move”).