San Benito has blessed us yet again.
Less than three months after the release of his sophomore album, YHLQMDLG, Bad Bunny—real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio—dropped a surprise 10-track album on Mother's Day, called Las Que No Iban a Salir. This translates to The Ones That Weren't Going to Come Out, meaning the songs that Bad Bunny hadn't planned to release.
Some of the songs, however, speak directly to this time of social distancing and quarantine amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. For example, "En Casita" or "In a Small House," which features Bad Bunny's girlfriend Gabriela, talks about how hard it has been to stay at home. And on "Bendiciones" or "Blessings," Bad Bunny is asking God to protect the young and older people, nurses and doctors, and his fellow Puerto Ricans from hurricanes like Maria.
If Bad Bunny's debut album X 100pre (pronounced "por siempre") marked a new way forward for reggaeton, and YHLQMDLG reminded us of classic 90s marquesinas or garage parties in Puerto Rico—then Las Que No Iban a Salir falls somewhere in between. Bad Bunny is vulnerable with his fans at the same time he's mixing Latin trap sounds that make people want to get out and dance. And like YHLQMDLG, the new album features reggaeton heavyweights, such as Zion & Lennox, Don Omar, and Nicky Jam.
Bad Bunny is at the top of his game right now: YHLQMDLG debuted at number two on Billboard's Top 200 chart, making it the highest charting Spanish-language album in Billboard history. Prior to that, he performed “Ignorantes” with Panamanian-artist Sech on The Tonight Show, appeared alongside Shakira during her Super Bowl LIV halftime show with Jennifer Lopez, and won "Best Urban Music Album" at the Latin Grammys for X 100pre.
Needless to say, Bad Bunny is someone you're going to keep hearing from. So in honor of his new albums, and in no particular order, we’ve rounded up some of the best Bad Bunny songs to add to your playlist right now.
"Yo Perreo Sola"
I am calling it now: This will be the song of the summer. Genesis Rios, better known as Nesi, hops on the track to remind you how good it feels to show up and dance on your own. (Perreo is often used to describe how reggaeton is danced, like twerking.) The one hang-up here: Nesi is only credited as a writer, not a performer, which as Cepeda noted in his review, was also a problem for early aught reggaeton.
"Ignorantes"
This song is about the disappointment you sometimes feel after a failed relationship, where you don’t know what went wrong but also kind of do. When Bad Bunny initially teased his single ahead of Valentine's Day, he asked, “Who is ready to dance and cry?” Check and check.
"La Difícil"
Bad Bunny is disappointed on this track, too, but instead of missing his ex, he’s basically being left on read. The song centers on a woman who is tired of relationships; she just wants to have a good time and dance with her friends—and there’s nothing wrong with that.
"La Romana"
Bad Bunny teams up with Dominican artist El Alfa to blend Latin trap and dembow, a popular genre of music in the Caribbean, on this standout song from X 100pre. After a concert, chances are you will hear fans still singing the song’s signature refrain, “pásame la hookah!,” as they make their way home.
"MIA"
One of the most exciting things about Bad Bunny is how he’s been able to crossover into the mainstream without having to sing in English. Instead, Drake jumps on this breezy pop track to sing in Spanish. It’s still about love, though.
"La Canción"
You know when you’re just out in the world, minding your own business, and all of a sudden a song plays that immediately reminds you of your ex? Bad Bunny and J Balvin can relate on this song off of their joint EP, OASIS.
"Caro"
Caro translates to expensive, yes, but this isn’t just a song about living well. It’s about your value as a person and how no one can determine what that is but you. “Que con nadie me comparo,” Benito sings. “I don’t compare myself with anyone.” And if you listen closely, you can hear Ricky Martin's sweet voice, who helped co-write the song, in the interlude.
"Chambea"
My co-workers and I agree that this is just a Friday mood, tu sabes? Play it when you need to hype yourself up.
"Vete"
Go ahead and add this one to your breakup playlist, too. Bad Bunny sounds like he's at the end of a relationship (who hurt you, Benito?), where he's telling his partner to go ahead and leave, the door is open because there is nothing left for them.
"Estamos Bien"
This song was released almost a year after Hurricane María, the title meaning “we’re good.” It’s a track about resilience and has become something of a salve for Puerto Ricans, who to this day have still not received federal aid for the disaster (or for ongoing earthquakes). It’s an anthem for those continually forced to rely on themselves, as Lauren Lluveras notes for Latino Rebels, and somehow, listening to it makes you feel like radical change is possible.
"La Santa"
This is the second collaboration between Bad Bunny and the boss of reggaeton, Daddy Yankee. But unlike their first song, "Vuelve," where the two are yearning for their ex to come back, this track is about a recent affair with a woman who now wants more than they initially agreed to.
“Safaera"
Straight from the era of marquesinas, Bad Bunny teams up with veterans Jowell, Randy, and Ñengo Flow to take it all the way back. As one Twitter user put it, this song goes from slow reggaeton to maximum perreo.
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“Pero Ya No”
Just in case you missed the Pokemon reference in this song, Bad Bunny dressed as Charizard during his performance of the song on the Late Late Show to emphasize that he can’t be caught up with people who are fake or negative—not anymore.
“200MPH”
This song is pure summer vacation, where you’re riding jet skis, have sand between your toes, a cooler packed with drinks (someone should really make Bunny Beer), and you’re just vibing with friends.
“Soy Peor”
Have you ever been in a relationship that didn’t exactly end well, and therefore made you want to give up on love altogether? Benito, too.
“Solo de Mi”
When critics talk about Bad Bunny setting himself apart from his contemporaries, it includes his politics. He is vocal about inequality and corruption in Puerto Rico, attending protests against former governor Ricardo Rosselló; about homophobia and transphobia, recently wearing a T-shirt to honor a transgender woman, Alexa, who was murdered; and on this song, he's speaking out about the effects of domestic violence and reclaiming your identity after an abusive relationship.
"Amorfoda"
Bad Bunny isn’t afraid to be vulnerable with his fans, but this song about having your heartbroken isn’t layered between a trap beat or sound; it’s mainly piano and vocals for the emotional ballad. If that’s something you need, turn this up (and hang in there).
“Que Pretendes”
Perhaps a prequel to "Vete," Bad Bunny and J Balvin are singing about an ex that keeps calling, but they’re not interested in going back to them or revisiting that drama.
“Te Boté (Remix)”
OK, technically, this is not a Bad Bunny song. But the remix with him, J Balvin, Ozuna, and Nicky Jam was the song of the summer in 2018. (In my heart, it still is.) The video was YouTube’s most-watched music video around the world that year. And last summer, "Ricky, te boté"—"Ricky, I threw you away"—was a phrase you often heard amid protests to get Rosselló to resign.
"Cántalo"
Bad Bunny teams up again with Ricky Martin and rapper Residente to celebrate Puerto Rican pride after protestors successfully forced Rosselló out of office. (All three were present for the protests themselves.) The song is a mix of trap, reggaeton, and salsa, and it ultimately shines a light on the way forward. “Vamos pa’lante hoy, no nos paran,” they sing. There’s no stopping us now.
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Stephanie is an SEO manager for Hearst Magazines, where she works closely with editors to help inform a unique content strategy for search. Previously, she was an editor for Time Inc’s news group, including Time, Fortune, and Money Magazine.
