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P FKN R: How Bad Bunny Became the Global Voice of Puerto Rican Resistance
"Aquí mataron gente por sacar la bandera/Por eso es que ahora yo la llevo donde quiera." (Here they killed people for taking out the flag/that's why I bring it anywhere I want now.)—LA MuDANZA
Global superstar Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, like many other Puerto Ricans, has lived a life marked by public crises—blackouts, hurricanes, political corruption, and oppression, among others—that have exposed the ongoing impacts of colonialism in Puerto Rico. Offering a portrait of the past and future of Puerto Rican resistance through one of its loudest and proudest voices, P FKN R draws on interviews with musicians, politicians, and journalists as well as ethnographic research to set Bad Bunny and Puerto Rican resistance in a historical, political, and cultural context. Authors Vanessa Díaz and Petra Rivera-Rideau—creators of the "Bad Bunny Syllabus"—demonstrate Bad Bunny's place in a long tradition of infusing joy and protest into music and honor the many, evolving forms of daily resistance to oppression and colonialism that are part of Puerto Rican life.
Global superstar Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, like many other Puerto Ricans, has lived a life marked by public crises—blackouts, hurricanes, political corruption, and oppression, among others—that have exposed the ongoing impacts of colonialism in Puerto Rico. Offering a portrait of the past and future of Puerto Rican resistance through one of its loudest and proudest voices, P FKN R draws on interviews with musicians, politicians, and journalists as well as ethnographic research to set Bad Bunny and Puerto Rican resistance in a historical, political, and cultural context. Authors Vanessa Díaz and Petra Rivera-Rideau—creators of the "Bad Bunny Syllabus"—demonstrate Bad Bunny's place in a long tradition of infusing joy and protest into music and honor the many, evolving forms of daily resistance to oppression and colonialism that are part of Puerto Rican life.
320 pages, Paperback
Published January 27, 2026
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125 people want to read
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Review of advance copy
I'm so honored to be the first person to review this book. I read it wasn't coming out until Jan. 27, but I made a pre-sale purchase at bookshop.org and it showed up early!
I really enjoyed reliving some of the highlights of the last 10 years of Bad Bunny's career while reading this book, from the releases of his early videos to hosting to SNL to performing at the Grammys.
Many of his songs and videos have layers of meaning that I think are only really meant to be understood by Puerto Rican audiences. As a non-Puerto Rican, I appreciated the context the book gave me to better understand his lyrics and the imagery in his videos.
The book really emphasized how intentional and strategic he is about choices he makes, and how he has used some of his biggest stages to bring global attention to issues affecting the island of Puerto Rico, from gentrification and displacement to potholes and power outages. The book also emphasizes how he is constantly paying homage to the Puerto Rican artists, and reggaeton artists specifically, who paved the way for him to be able to perform on those stages.
The parts I found most interesting were those about the #RickyRenuncia protests, the music video-turned-documentary for El Apagón, and the 2024 election. The battle between BB and the PNP (a Puerto Rican political party) got so vicious and so personal, I had no idea!
If you're a fan, this book might help deepen your appreciation. If you just want to know what all the hype is about, this book might help you understand. If you think Bad Bunny has already been given too much credit for his pro-queer stance and for being less machista then other reggaeton artists, this book is probably not for you.
I learned a lot about recent Puerto Rican history by reading this book, and it inspired me to want to learn more about things like the Jones Act, PROMESA, and the 1948 gag law that made it illegal to display the Puerto Rican flag (even in your own home) or even discuss Puerto Rican independence. I would recommend it for any BB fan who wants to learn more about recent Puerto Rican history. Pairs well with Puerto Rico: A National History by Jorell Meléndez-Badillo.
I really enjoyed reliving some of the highlights of the last 10 years of Bad Bunny's career while reading this book, from the releases of his early videos to hosting to SNL to performing at the Grammys.
Many of his songs and videos have layers of meaning that I think are only really meant to be understood by Puerto Rican audiences. As a non-Puerto Rican, I appreciated the context the book gave me to better understand his lyrics and the imagery in his videos.
The book really emphasized how intentional and strategic he is about choices he makes, and how he has used some of his biggest stages to bring global attention to issues affecting the island of Puerto Rico, from gentrification and displacement to potholes and power outages. The book also emphasizes how he is constantly paying homage to the Puerto Rican artists, and reggaeton artists specifically, who paved the way for him to be able to perform on those stages.
The parts I found most interesting were those about the #RickyRenuncia protests, the music video-turned-documentary for El Apagón, and the 2024 election. The battle between BB and the PNP (a Puerto Rican political party) got so vicious and so personal, I had no idea!
If you're a fan, this book might help deepen your appreciation. If you just want to know what all the hype is about, this book might help you understand. If you think Bad Bunny has already been given too much credit for his pro-queer stance and for being less machista then other reggaeton artists, this book is probably not for you.
I learned a lot about recent Puerto Rican history by reading this book, and it inspired me to want to learn more about things like the Jones Act, PROMESA, and the 1948 gag law that made it illegal to display the Puerto Rican flag (even in your own home) or even discuss Puerto Rican independence. I would recommend it for any BB fan who wants to learn more about recent Puerto Rican history. Pairs well with Puerto Rico: A National History by Jorell Meléndez-Badillo.
Displaying 1 of 1 review