(CNN Spanish) — Bad Bunny’s career goes from success to success. The Puerto Rican artist stars in the first cover completely in Spanish from TIME magazine, with the title “The World of Bad Bunny”. And, just above, a quote that seems like a warning: “I’m not going to do anything else to make you like me.”
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, his first name, appears dressed in black and with a white flower on his chest, in front of a red background. In the interview he gave to TIME, he openly talks about the different areas of his life: from his childhood in Puerto Rico and his relationship with his family to fame, reggaeton, and the reach of Latin music. at the moment.
“It became ‘cool’ to be Latino. They’re not just making the music, they’re trying to copy the flow of Latinos. But then I think; our culture and our music spread everywhere. It impacts people in other places. They want to try it. and feel it. So, why would that bother me, if they do it with respect?”, reflects Bad Bunny.
Bad Bunny refuses to cater to the mainstream—and he doesn’t need to https://t.co/uUE4DP3OBe pic.twitter.com/knR4Xb0ahD
— TIME (@TIME) March 28, 2023
“I give so much love to music”
The edition, which is published this Friday in print, highlights the milestones that the Latin urban music icon has achieved throughout his career. Among them, that he is the most listened to artist on Spotify for the third consecutive year, that in his fifth studio album, “A summer without you”, he remained in the first places of Billboard in 2022. And, of course, that he broke the all-time record for touring revenue in one year.
In fact, about being crowned the most streamed artist on Spotify for three years in a row, he responded: “The way I make music is in such a real way. I give so much love to music. I always say my mom gave me so much love since I was ‘little,’ that’s why I have so much to give to the world and to others. I think my songs are the same. I give my songs so much love that it never ends.”
He also recognized the challenge of staying in a prominent place in music and what his competitiveness represents. “I’m very competitive. In all situations. So obviously in music I am. But in a good way. But I don’t like to see others lose. I like everyone to win. There’s room for all of us. I like to see others succeed and be successful”. Then he added that “If I see someone doing a song that is breaking, if there is a badass song, I will do a more badass song. I want to do something better. But not to outshine him, but because I want to do something better. We can shine everyone in the world.”
“If you don’t like what I’m doing, I’m not going to do anything else for you to like it”
The secret of your success? According to TIME, “his stubborn originality” and going against the “mainstream” (current or majority trend). The magazine points out that his authenticity and simply being Benito Martínez Ocasio, his real name, has opened the doors to the entertainment industry in a big way.
“I make music for whoever wants to listen to me and for whoever wants to connect with me. If you don’t like what I’m doing, I’m not going to do anything else for you to like it,” says Bad Bunny.
The Puerto Rican also reveals how he is accepting the fact of being the first Latino artist to headline Coachella. “I’m like, ‘Am I supposed to feel something?’ I showed up at Azteca, I showed up at Yankee Stadium. I’ve done shows everywhere. Coachella is going to be another f****** show for me. I felt more pressure at Hiram Bithorn [Estadio en Puerto Rico] than in Coachella. I’m obviously excited. I want to do my best.”
And before the rumors of a collaboration with Justin Bieber, he responded very much in his style: “Is there a song with Justin Bieber? Is it a rumor? No, I don’t have a song with Justin Bieber. That’s false. You will never know what I’m going to do. Don’t lie to yourself, you won’t know my next move.”
