Bad Bunny's love letter to Puerto Rico

Since the start of Bad Bunny's long-awaited residency "No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí" ("I don't want to leave here") last Friday, Puerto Rico has been in a state of frenzy. The rapper and singer, who hails from the island, is thrilling fans with a hotly awaited concert series: all 30 shows at the 18,500-seat "Coliseo de Puerto Rico" in the capital city of San Juan are already sold out.

Bad Bunny thrilled his audience with a three-hour spectacle and showed why he has long been a global phenomenon. The reggaeton and Latin trap artist has had a lasting impact on the music scene and is the first Spanish-speaking artist to achieve global mainstream success.

The concerts take place at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, a legendary venue. Bad Bunny has repeatedly emphasized his message: shop locally and support the sustainable local community. This theme runs through his entire concert series, which, after nine exclusive shows for locals, will also be opened to fans from all over the world.

"It's an incredible moment for the island," an employee of the local advertising agency "Discover Puerto Rico" told the AFP news agency. The organization cautiously estimates that the approximately three-month residency, during the otherwise quiet summer months, will bring around $200 million to Puerto Rico.

Amid Puerto Rico's economic and social challenges, Bad Bunny's concert series attracts fans from all over the world. The artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, addresses precisely these issues in his songs ― including in the track "Turista."

Those who have managed to get hold of one of the coveted tickets can look forward to a great experience at "El Choli," as the venue is known. But there is also criticism: in an interview with AFP, historian Jorell Melendez Badillo criticizes Bad Bunny's concert series because, in his opinion, it promotes a form of tourism that is not good for the island in the long term.

Tourism has long been an economic driver for the Caribbean island, which remains a US territory. But the relationship with the tourism industy is complicated. Concerns about gentrification, displacement, and cultural dilution are growing, despite the famous beaches and turquoise waters.

Business is already booming in the capital's popular nightlife districts, even though the concert residency only started last weekend. "We're thrilled," says Azael Ayala, who works in a bar. "Tips are through the roof!"

For many fans, especially Puerto Ricans, the concert spectacle is more than just a one-off event: it is a social gathering and a celebration of identity. Many say that Bad Bunny's shows are like a love letter to his homeland, a tribute to the people of Puerto Rico, whose history tells of solidarity and resilience.