Madison Reporter

Pop star Bad Bunny has collaborated with University of Wisconsin–Madison assistant professor Jorell Meléndez-Badillo on a new album. The collaboration began when Bad Bunny, also known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, connected with Meléndez-Badillo after reading his 2024 book "Puerto Rico: A National History." The rapper's team proposed that the scholar write historical narratives to accompany videos for the album "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS."

Meléndez-Badillo quickly produced entries for 17 songs, and the videos featuring his Spanish-language text were released on YouTube shortly after. This exposure significantly increased sales of his book and drew international media attention.

The professor expressed gratitude for the opportunity to highlight Puerto Rico's culture and challenges through this project. He remarked, "Never in my life did I think that Bad Bunny would help my scholarship reach such broad audiences."

The book "Puerto Rico: A National History" explores the island's history from pre-Columbian times to modern-day issues, focusing on marginalized communities like working-class movements and feminist movements. Meléndez-Badillo believes its reception in Puerto Rico aligned with Bad Bunny's vision for the album.

Discussing Puerto Rico's current situation, Meléndez-Badillo noted ongoing fiscal, political, and social crises linked to colonialism and lack of sovereignty. He aims to make history accessible both within academic settings and beyond.

Meléndez-Badillo was already a fan of Bad Bunny before their collaboration. He had written about him alongside UW–Madison professor Aurora Santiago Ortiz. The project provided an overview of Puerto Rican history from Spanish conquest to present day topics like Afro musical styles.

Responses have been positive worldwide, with many expressing newfound knowledge about Puerto Rican history. Teachers in Puerto Rico are incorporating this information into their lessons.

Reflecting on his career at UW–Madison, Meléndez-Badillo said it was always his dream job due to its strong tradition in Latin American and Caribbean studies. He is committed to expanding Puerto Rican studies at the university.