The stage is set for a cultural phenomenon - Bad Bunny, the Latin trap sensation, has been booked to perform at this year's Super Bowl halftime show. Love him or hate him, the Puerto Rican rapper's impact on American music cannot be denied.
Critics on the right have labled him "un-American" and "shameful", denouncing his outspoken criticism of ICE and his refusal to conform to traditional notions of what constitutes "American" music - namely, English-language pop. But for millions watching at home, particularly Puerto Ricans, this performance will be a momentous occasion.
So who is Bad Bunny? How did he rise from the streets of San Juan to become one of the biggest male artists in the world? We spoke with Deputy Editor Jen Ortiz and music journalist Nosheen Iqbal to find out. For Ortiz, Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance represents "a landmark cultural moment" - a chance for him to share his art with an even wider audience.
Bad Bunny's meteoric rise is nothing short of astonishing. Born Benito León Jiménez, he started rapping in prison and eventually dropped out of school to pursue music full-time. He built a following on Latin trap playlists before exploding onto the global scene with hits like "Diles" and "Mía". Today, his music is enjoyed by millions around the world.
But as we all know, with great success comes controversy. Love him or hate him, Bad Bunny has earned a reputation for being unapologetically himself - which can be both refreshing and alienating to some. Whatever your take on him, one thing's for sure: this Super Bowl performance is going to be an event to remember.
So what can we expect from the halftime show? Will it be a Spanish-language spectacle or a token nod to his Latin roots? One thing's certain - Bad Bunny won't be holding back. And that's exactly why this performance will be so groundbreaking, not just for him but for music itself.
Critics on the right have labled him "un-American" and "shameful", denouncing his outspoken criticism of ICE and his refusal to conform to traditional notions of what constitutes "American" music - namely, English-language pop. But for millions watching at home, particularly Puerto Ricans, this performance will be a momentous occasion.
So who is Bad Bunny? How did he rise from the streets of San Juan to become one of the biggest male artists in the world? We spoke with Deputy Editor Jen Ortiz and music journalist Nosheen Iqbal to find out. For Ortiz, Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance represents "a landmark cultural moment" - a chance for him to share his art with an even wider audience.
Bad Bunny's meteoric rise is nothing short of astonishing. Born Benito León Jiménez, he started rapping in prison and eventually dropped out of school to pursue music full-time. He built a following on Latin trap playlists before exploding onto the global scene with hits like "Diles" and "Mía". Today, his music is enjoyed by millions around the world.
But as we all know, with great success comes controversy. Love him or hate him, Bad Bunny has earned a reputation for being unapologetically himself - which can be both refreshing and alienating to some. Whatever your take on him, one thing's for sure: this Super Bowl performance is going to be an event to remember.
So what can we expect from the halftime show? Will it be a Spanish-language spectacle or a token nod to his Latin roots? One thing's certain - Bad Bunny won't be holding back. And that's exactly why this performance will be so groundbreaking, not just for him but for music itself.
and it's kinda cool that he's performin with his spanish lyrics too. personally, i think its dope that he's gettin recognition for bein himself and reppin his culture. school spirit is all about embracin differences and bad bunny's got that vibe goin on 
! Can you believe the man has come so far from rapping in prison and now he's rocking the Super Bowl stage? It's mind-blowing how his music has broken barriers and brought people together. I'm sure there'll be some drama with the Spanish language, but honestly, who cares? It's gonna be lit 
!
. People can hate on him all they wanna, but at the end of the day, he's a talented artist who's broken barriers in the music industry. The fact that he's from Puerto Rico and speaking Spanish is actually kinda refreshing to see in a mainstream setting 
. I mean, we're still stuck watching English-language pop dominate the charts, so it's about time for something new and different 
.
i love how hes unapologetically himself & thats somethin we all cud learn frm 
what's next? more latin trap in the super bowl? 
hopefully it'll be a celebration of different cultures & music styles 
no matter where it comes from or what language it's in 
. I'm hyped to see how he'll kill it on stage 
.
and yeah critics might say he's "un-American" but let's be real who is america 2 them? 
his presence on that stage is goin 2 b a momentous occasion 4 so many ppl, esp puerto ricans, and it's a testament 2 how far we've come as a culture 
. And can we talk about how proud it makes us feel as Latinos to see our own culture represented on such a massive stage? 
. Bring on that Spanish-language flair and let's get this fiesta started! 