Bad Bunny’s success is deeper than trophies
Illustration by Kamaal Samuel, Illustrator
Bad Bunny made history twice this month. On Feb. 1, 2026, his album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” became the first Spanish-language Best Album winner at the Grammys, and just a week later, on Feb. 8, he performed the first-ever Super Bowl halftime show almost entirely in Spanish.
Being the first to achieve both milestones carries much cultural significance, and professor Ruben Espinoza, who teaches Latinx and Latin American Studies at Chapman, said that while Spanish-language artists don’t need Grammys for validation, this win is historic.
“There was a time when Latino artists had to do things like anglicize their names, distance themselves from social issues or sing in English if they wanted any mainstream recognition,” said Espinoza.
Audrey Garcia, a senior psychology major and president of the Chapman Latinx club, said she appreciated how Bad Bunny used his platform to speak on relevant topics at the Grammys.
“I think it was really cool how he used it as like a platform to sort of send the message of how he obviously disapproves of the ICE raids that are happening right now, and just speaking out for the community and ensuring that he uses his voice for the right reasons, which he always has,” said Garcia.
Bad Bunny embraced his heritage and spoke out on social issues in his recent album, which resonated with many younger listeners.
“Culture reinvents itself for each generation,” said Espinoza. “One difference is that Bad Bunny came along in the era of the internet and social media, so he and other Latin artists are able to reach a much wider audience.”
He’s making big moves and stepping up his career, but the impact he is having on fans is much more personal. Bad Bunny’s Grammy-winning album is a love letter to his home country of Puerto Rico, and the lyrics themselves speak to his fans.
Hailey Rivera, a junior film production major, said that the use of traditional instruments and structure drew her in.
“I think the new album got me listening to Bad Bunny a lot, simply because it was the first album where he was really paying homage to the island and drifting away from how most Latin pop and Latin rap music is structured,” said Rivera. “He uses a lot of traditional Puerto Rican instruments, and also just rhythm.”
The Super Bowl halftime show performance was the talk of the town for the past month. Some jokingly asked why there was a football game during the Bad Bunny concert, while others felt inclined to watch the “All American Halftime Show” at the same time, featuring performers like Kid Rock and Brantley Gilbert.
Rivera felt that Bad Bunny’s performance at the halftime show was a celebration of life and culture, so much so that it made her emotional.
“I watched it live, and the Super Bowl performance truly made me cry,” said Rivera. “I think being able to see aspects of my childhood and so many others' j… like the nail salon culture wraps into the hair salon culture where I was always getting dragged to appointments with my grandma growing up.”
One element of the show Rivera found moving was the display of flags from all the countries in the Americas, celebrating unity.
“I think the fact that Bad Bunny then just listed all the countries of America, because it's not just the United States — truly, the whole continent is Central America, South America and North America combined,” said Rivera.
The one-two punch of his Grammy win and impactful Super Bowl performance shows the way music can bring communities together. Garcia says she feels this message is important in the current political climate and that Bad Bunny’s artistry symbolizes what it means to be Latino.
“He's going to be himself unapologetically, and part of that is his Latino identity,” said Garcia. “And I think having the mindset of how we're just gonna do what we always have done and just work hard, be proud of who we are and just be part of the community is bringing the community even closer.”