What has Bad Bunny done for Latinos? Rapper’s influence on the local community explored

Bad Bunny is one of the few mainstream artists to have risen to popularity solely through Latin music. The rapper inspires Latinos nationwide with bold music that extends language barriers and exhibits the richness of Latin culture.

Bunny began his music career in the English-dominated industry in 2013 with a bold determination toward his native tongue.

The rapper who started his early career with Latin tracks, officially released his first chart-topping Spanish hit, Xpree100, in 2018. The album received recognizance from both Spanish and non-Spanish-speaking listeners, thus putting Latin music back on the global stage's forefront.

Bunny released his first Spanish album, Xpree100, in 2018 (Image via Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Bad Bunny's hit album also helped solidify the global representation of Latin culture and encouraged Spanish speakers to take pride in their language and Latino heritage. His works in the Latin music industry also paved the way for future artists to celebrate the rich culture.

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A look at Bad Bunny's influence on the Latin community

Bad Bunny released Estamos Bien in 2018, in dedication to the casualties and damage caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The song highlighted the issues of government incompetence and called Puerto Ricans to unite for survival. It soon became the local anthem and helped strengthen the sense of belongingness and brotherhood during the trying times in the Latino community.

The rapper also challenges gender stereotypes and has appeared at many concerts and events donning heels and skirts. He owned the look in the music video for Yo Perreo Sola from the YHLQMDLG album, where he can be seen dressed as a woman.

Bunny appeared on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show to promote the album in early 2020 and wore a pink blazer over a skirt and t-shirt. The rapper used the platform to confront the Latin community about the recent death of a trans woman, Alexa Negrón Luciano.

Luciano was shot dead for using a women's bathroom in Puerto Rico. The rapper drew attention to the matter, confronted the rising cases of transphobia and toxic masculinity in Latin America, and professed for changes. His undeniable influence encouraged the Latino community to adopt a more accepting attitude toward varying gender identities and sexual orientations.

Bad Bunny is vocal about social injustice and stereotypes (Image via Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

Bad Bunny founded a non-profit called, Good Bunny Foundation, in Puerto Rico in 2018. It is aimed towards encouraging people to engage in artistic disciplines, including music and visual arts. The non-profit also donates toward relief funds and other donations for the less privileged and vulnerable groups in the Latino community.

The rapper represented the Puerto Rican voice for change in 2022 as he released a song called, El Apagón. It was followed by a 23-minute music video that highlighted issues on the island like - Beach privatization, Inequality, Law 22 favoring foreigners instead of locals, and more.

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From helping Spanish gain global recognizance to voicing social injustice, Bad Bunny has played a crucial role in the Latino community's betterment. The rapper may not speak on every matter, but his music continues to encourage the community through their troubles every day.