The Bad Bunny Effect

 

“Media conglomerates deliberately saturate news outlets with hued lickspittles who bend the knee to capitalism and abandon their respective communities.” Dr. BLR

 

The world was recently introduced to a phenomenal Latin artist, Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny. After receiving a Grammy for Album of the Year and performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, Bad Bunny is widely discussed. His music is being translated into English, and his politics are being placed center stage. 

After the controversy surrounding his halftime performance, many overt and covert racists spoke out against his decision to sing his songs in Spanish. I must admit, while I liked the music, I had no idea he made subtle political and cultural references throughout. It was only after I went to Instagram and saw influencers explain everything that I was overwhelmed by their perspectives, because I had not kept abreast of Puerto Rico’s internal issues. I didn’t know that a larger portion of the island is experiencing rolling blackouts due to damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017, which destroyed a larger share of the island’s transmission and distribution lines, and from Hurricane Fiona in 2022. 

Bad Bunny has sought to champion the resurrection of Puerto Rico and its people from the ongoing gentrification of housing and beaches. Many companies view Puerto Rico as a paradise to exploit, displacing indigenous people. Skyrocketing housing prices are eroding Puerto Rican culture because people can no longer afford to live there. Through his concerts, Bad Bunny has generated significant revenue for the Puerto Rican economy. His rise in mainstream media and the political sphere is likely why he is alleged to have hired extra security guards at the Grammys because of death threats. 

With a voice so loud, it’s only a matter of time before the “hater” spotlight shines on him. Whether or not he is fortunate, he has aligned himself with a Trump flunkey, Jeff Bezos, and entered into a multi-year Amazon deal. Supposedly, it will help Puerto Rico, but I think Puerto Ricans have heard this before. Moreover, he has signed with Adidas and worn his signature sneaker during the Super Bowl performance. Both Amazon and Adidas have a storied history of workers demanding higher wages and better working conditions.

I want to believe Bad Bunny is genuine and all for the people; however, I am reminded of other popular artists, such as Beyonce, Jay-Z, Snoop Dog, Rick Ross, Soulja Boy, Nelly, Nicky Minaj, and DJ Khaled, who ultimately sold out to political and corporate America to line their pockets. At some point, he’s going to have to look himself in the mirror to make sure he’s still for the people. 

His boisterous opposition to President Trump’s ICE may hurt Puerto Ricans when the next catastrophic hurricane bears down on the island or when bill collectors come, and they can no longer pay up. While he’s garnering popularity at the moment, the commoners will have to struggle when the pressure of politics and corporate greed bears down on the island. Ultimately, Bad Bunny can go to a secure place with his wealth and status. But for those who have to pick up the pieces when the shit hits the fan, what are they going to do? 

I hope his followers don’t get caught up in the hype, because I suspect human behavior has always been foul when the bottom line is at stake. As for Bad Bunny's future, he is estimated to be worth $100 million. If he continues to use his voice to challenge the political elite, just know that he could be one alleged scandal away from bankruptcy and from losing popularity among his millions of followers. While I do not wish him ill will, I am reminded of what happened to Michael Jackson when he exposed the monsters in the music industry, and how long it took people to realize that everything said about him may not have been true. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The rise of the First Amendment

“Social media has provided an opportunity for the misinformed to become the voice of the miseducated.” Dr. BLR   As a strong supporter of the First Amendment, I am disappointed that, in this era of political correctness, voices are being silenced on both sides of the political spectrum. A lively debate fosters intellectual growth, regardless of how unpopular someone's opinion may be. In this context, I will discuss the recent death of Charlie Kirk (Kirk) at a speaking event on the campus of Utah Valley University. For the record, I knew nothing about him before his untimely passing, until I visited his website and the algorithmic whirlpool directed his information my way. Unapologetically, I have a selective indifference to his death because I didn’t know him. Nonetheless, I genuinely appreciate young people, even if their views are controversial, stepping up and speaking out on issues that will impact their future. Some examples include Nick Fuentes, Ben Shapiro, Candace Owens, La...
Read more

Losing my brother

“As you lay on your deathbed, I looked into your eyes and knew you were ready for the next chapter, and my sorrow for your departure was eased.” Dr. BLR   In a chaotic world, you can never predict what will happen next. Life has a way of surprising us. Yet at some point, you have to expect the unexpected. Earlier this year, I lost my twin brother, Aaron Keith Royster. It hurts to write these words because I am still grieving, and I hope that writing this will help with the process. I don’t think there’s a stronger bond than being a twin, whether identical or fraternal. My brother and I were born about four minutes apart. I wanted to stay in my mother’s womb a little longer, so I kicked him out for my special entrance. Our bond lasted for the next sixty years. My earliest memory of being a twin is from when I was around three or four years old, when my father was trying to teach us how to box. He rewarded us afterward with colorful licorice candy. Unfortunately, not long after,...
Read more

Not my enemy

“I can’t believe what you say because I see what you do.”  James Baldwin   No one will ever agree on controversial issues or people. Recently, someone reappeared in my life after a period of dormancy. Assata Olugbala Shakur (also known as JoAnne Deborah Byron and JoAnne Chesimard), an African-American woman, was convicted of the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper, Werner Foerster, on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973. As a retired New Jersey State Trooper (NJSP), I am conflicted about why I have allowed her to occupy space in my mind. She allegedly killed a state trooper, and according to the law, she should have spent the rest of her life in prison. However, I wasn’t entirely convinced that she was guilty.  Growing up as a young Black man in Newark, New Jersey's inner city, I heard a lot about our struggles to survive in an oppressive, white, male-dominated system. I vaguely remember the 1967 riots in Newark, but later I researched the NJSP’s role in trying to suppr...
Read more