bad-bunny

Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, born March 10, 1994, in Almirante Sur, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) is the most important Latin artist of the 21st century, according to Billboard and Spotify. In 2020 he became the first artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with an album recorded entirely in Spanish, YHLQMDLG, and he did it again with Un Verano Sin Ti (2022) and DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (2025) — the latter winning Album of the Year at the 2026 Grammys, the first Spanish-language record to take the top prize.

In 2026 his single "DTMF" leads Billboard's Hot Latin Songs for 22 consecutive weeks, and he has landed four tracks in Spotify's global Top 10 following his Super Bowl halftime show appearance. This article walks you through his full discography, his most important songs, and why each album marks a before-and-after moment for Latin music.

From Vega Baja to No. 1 worldwide: the story of Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny grew up listening to Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderón, and Héctor Lavoe. He started uploading songs to SoundCloud in 2016 while studying audiovisual communication at the University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo. His breakout hit, "Soy Peor" (2016), was a heartbreak track he later called "the most honest thing I've ever written." In less than a year he went from unknown to selling out the Choliseo in San Juan.

What separates Bad Bunny from other urban artists isn't only his commercial success — it's his ability to reinvent himself. He moved from the melodic trap of X 100PRE (2018) to the alternative reggaetón of YHLQMDLG (2020), then to the danceable pop of Un Verano Sin Ti (2022), and finally to the electronic experimentation of Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana (2023). Each album breaks with the last one and with the industry at the same time.

The 5 best Bad Bunny albums, ranked

In eight years, Bad Bunny has released six studio albums. Here's the hierarchy according to Billboard, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone.

1. Un Verano Sin Ti (2022) — the album that broke the language barrier

Un Verano Sin Ti spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, was the most-streamed album of 2022 on Spotify worldwide, and pulled reggaetón into the U.S. mainstream cultural conversation. Tracks like "Tití Me Preguntó," "Ojitos Lindos," and "Moscow Mule" became generational anthems. For many critics, it's the best Latin music album since Buena Vista Social Club.

2. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (2025) — his most personal political statement

Recorded between Puerto Rico and New York, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is nostalgic, political, and deeply Puerto Rican. It includes "DtMF," "La Mudanza," "BAILE INoLVIDABLE," and "EoO" — the last a collab with his friend-rival Residente. In February 2026 it won Album of the Year at the Grammys, making Bad Bunny the first Spanish-language artist to take the academy's top prize.

3. YHLQMDLG (2020) — the album that lit the fuse

"Yo Perreo Sola" (featuring Nesi) became a feminist anthem; "Safaria" (with Jowell y Randy) showed off his most danceable side; "Está Rico" (with Marc Anthony) proved he could sing salsa without breaking a sweat. YHLQMDLG didn't just hit No. 1 — it redefined what a reggaetón album could be in 2020.

4. X 100PRE (2018) — the debut that opened the door

His first studio album. It includes "Mía" (with Drake), "Estamos Bien," and "Caro." The record isn't perfect, but it captures the exact moment Bad Bunny stopped being a promise and became the artist all of Puerto Rico had been waiting for. The production blends classic reggaetón, trap, and dembow with an energy that's still influential today.

5. Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana (2023) — the album almost nobody understood

Bad Bunny's most experimental record: electronics, house, Jersey club. Songs like "Monaco" and "La Corriente" (with Bad Gyal) polarized his fan base. It wasn't his most commercially successful project, but it's the one that proves he refuses to repeat himself. Over time it's picked up a strong following among critics.

Bad Bunny by the numbers (June 2026)

Here's where things stand at publication, based on Billboard, Spotify, and Wikipedia.

• 22 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot Latin Songs with "DTMF" (a tied all-time record)
• 40+ billion Spotify streams as a lead artist
• 3 albums at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 (a record for a Latin artist)
• 1 Grammy for Album of the Year (2026, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS)
• 4 entries in Spotify's global Top 10 after the 2026 Super Bowl
• 3 Latin Grammys for Album of the Year

Why Bad Bunny matters beyond the music

Bad Bunny isn't just a singer — he's a cultural phenomenon. He's been the face of reggaetón on the global stage at the exact moment the genre became the dominant current in Spanish-language pop. His commercial success is unmatched (the most-streamed artist on Spotify in four consecutive years, per Wrapped 2021–2024), but his influence goes well beyond numbers.

He used the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show to carry a message of Latin pride onto the most-watched stage in the United States. He's also a sharp entrepreneur: his coffee brand, his grooming line, and his run in professional wrestling (WWE) show an artist who treats his platform as a cultural business. He's the first Latin artist to headline Coachella and to sell out 30 consecutive nights at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

For Latin music, Bad Bunny is what The Beatles were for rock in the '60s: the moment the genre stopped being a niche and became the center of the global conversation.

What's next for Bad Bunny in 2026

After the Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour, Bad Bunny confirmed a break at the end of 2025. In May 2026 he dropped a new single ("Una Velita," themed around Puerto Rico's power-grid crisis) and announced his next album will land in the final quarter of 2026. There's no firm date yet, but fans are speculating it could lean more toward ballads and R&B — a turn that would push his catalog into completely new territory.

Meanwhile, his influence keeps growing. Every new reggaetón artist coming out of Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, or Colombia names Bad Bunny as a reference point. He's not just a leader — he's the standard.

Frequently asked questions about Bad Bunny

What is Bad Bunny's real name?

His real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, born March 10, 1994, in Almirante Sur, a rural neighborhood in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. He adopted the stage name "Bad Bunny" as a teenager, after a photo of himself dressed as a bunny that his mother kept in a school album.

How many Grammys has Bad Bunny won?

As of 2026, Bad Bunny has won 4 Grammys: Best Latin Pop Album (2022, YHLQMDLG rerelease), Best Música Urbana Album (2023, Un Verano Sin Ti), Best Música Urbana Performance (2024, "Un Ratito"), and the coveted Album of the Year in 2026 for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. That last one made him the first fully Spanish-language artist to take the academy's top prize.

How many albums has Bad Bunny released?

Bad Bunny has released 6 studio albums: X 100PRE (2018), YHLQMDLG (2020), El Último Tour del Mundo (2020), Un Verano Sin Ti (2022), Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana (2023), and DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (2025). A seventh is expected by the end of 2026.

Why is Bad Bunny so popular?

His popularity comes down to three things: (1) authenticity — he sings in Puerto Rican Spanish, not a neutral accent, and that connects with all of Latin America; (2) constant reinvention — every album sounds different, which keeps existing fans hooked and brings in new ones; (3) cultural savvy — his music videos, social media presence, and public appearances (WWE, Coachella, the Met Gala) keep him constantly visible.

Is Bad Bunny the most-streamed Latin artist on Spotify?

Yes. Bad Bunny was the most-streamed artist globally on Spotify in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and the most-streamed Latin artist in 2024 and 2025. According to Wrapped, he is the most-streamed non-English-language artist in the platform's history.

Has Bad Bunny acted in movies?

Yes. He had a supporting role in Bullet Train (2022) alongside Brad Pitt, and he appeared in Casa de Mi Padre (2012). His film work is selective, but every appearance sparks a global conversation. He's also had cameos in series like Narcos: Mexico and Atlanta.