Bad Bunny’s New Album DeBÍ TiRaR MáS FOTos (I Should Have Taken More Photos in English, also abbreviated to DtMF) is now his fourth number-one album on the Billboard 200 — and for good reason (Rolling Stone). Not only does the album sonically encapsulate his evolution in music, but it shines light on gentrification’s effect in his home country of Puerto Rico.
DtMF combines his popular sounds of dembow and reggaeton with the classic Puerto Rican styles of plena and salsa, creating music that leaves you wanting more. Senior Cadie Sauter tells Rampage, “I would have to say that my favorite song is a tie between ‘NUEVAYoL’ and ‘DtMF’. I love to play ‘NUEVAYo’L whenever I need a song to put me in a good mood and make me feel better.” She continues, “Also, I really love the message behind ‘DtMF’ and the song overall. This song showed me the importance of cherishing the memories and bonds that I have with my family and friends.”
As a Spanish teacher, Señora Cirprian always loves to show students the rich cultures of Spanish-speaking countries, most notably through the annual “Locura de Marzo” music contest. With her expertise in this field Señora Ciprian shares with Rampage, “Bad Bunny has always been iconic, but his new album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS cements him, in my eyes, as a pivotal figure in Latin music in a whole new way.” She continues, “It’s not just about the music; it’s about the stories he tells and the emotions he conveys.” One of the songs on DtMF that encapsulates this is “LA MuDANZA,” Señora’s favorite song on the album. She explains, “To me, this song beautifully captures the essence of staying connected to your heritage and appreciating the deep ties to where we come from. It’s a heartfelt reflection on family, roots, and identity, reminding us of the importance of preserving and celebrating our culture. Bad Bunny’s ability to weave these themes into his music makes him truly unmatched.”
A few days after the album was released, Bad Bunny posted a short film to his YouTube channel. This short film follows an older man in Puerto Rico (who is believed to be Bad Bunny, continuing the story of the “El CLúB” music video) and his friend Concho, a stop motion Puerto Rican crested toad, a species that is currently facing extinction. The two are reminiscing on the past, looking through old photos, until they decide to get something to eat. The man walks to a local bakery and receives glares from new residents of the neighborhood. At the bakery—which has been bought from its original owners— he is unexpectedly charged $30 and is shocked by the upcharge. Back home he reflects saying he misses the sounds of the neighborhood, from cars playing music to the humming of scooters. This short film and songs on the album such as “LO QUE PASÓ A HAWAii” tell the story of gentrification in Puerto Rico and its effect on the everyday lives of its citizens — from the extinction of native species to the disappearance of the neighborhood noise.
The title track of the album, and one of Sauter’s favorite songs on the album, “DtMF” is currently taking TikTok by storm. People all over the app are using the song to post pictures and videos of their loved ones and home countries to the lyrics “Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve/ Debí darte más besos y abrazos las veces que pude/ Ojalá que los mios nunca se muden” which translates to “I should have taken more photos when I had you/ I should have given more kisses and hugs as much as I could/ I hope that those of mine never move.”
Without a doubt, this is an album that transcends language and one that many resonate with. Music is a vessel for commentary and community —and Bad Bunny is using it to its full extent.
