All through his profession, Unhealthy Bunny has collaborated with some massive acts: Drake, J Balvin, Rosalía, Cardi B and extra.
However to make “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” his “most Puerto Rican album ever,” he enlisted the assistance of Puerto Rico’s rising expertise: college students from Escuela Libre de Música (Los Sobrinos), RaiNao, Chuwi, Omar Courtz, Dei V and Los Pleneros de la Cresta.
He’s made a concerted effort to highlight these acts, whether or not or not it’s inviting Los Sobrinos and Los Pleneros de la Cresta on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” or performing alongside Chuwi at his shock live performance in Río Piedras.
The homegrown acts chimed in on what this collaboration means for them and Puerto Rico.
RaiNao
(Sebastian Cabrera-Chelin)
Up-and-comer RaiNao added sultry high notes to the synth-dembow of “Perfumito Nuevo.”
Initially from Santurce, RaiNao, whose identify is Naomi Ramírez, is a talented saxophonist and composer with a fixation on hyperpop, reggaeton, R&B, dancehall and extra.
“I connected a lot [to ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’] when listening to it,” mentioned RaiNao.
“Puerto Rico has something that inevitably and beautifully sneaks in and stays with us. That magic is our meeting point and the creative force that brought us together for this album,” she added.
As an alumna of Escuela Libre de Música, the 31-year previous was most excited to be taught that college students participated within the making of the album.
“Listening to the album transported me to a Friday dance band in the school lobby, so yes, it did make me remember vivid and well-valued experiences, sounds and images of my life and my country,” she mentioned.
Chuwi 
Sweetening the beachy air in “Weltita” are the soothing vocals of Chuwi, an indie quartet that packs a tender however highly effective punch.
Made up of siblings Wilfredo “Willy” Aldarondo, Lorén Aldarondo, Wester Aldarondo, and good friend Adrián López, the younger band shaped through the COVID-19 pandemic within the coastal metropolis of Isabela. The group’s soulful sound, a mixture of indie, jazz and tropical fusion, caught the eye of Unhealthy Bunny, who, based on the musicians, added a few of their songs to his playlists whereas homesick in L.A.
“He made his own playlist of what was playing in Puerto Rico, just to feel at home, and he told us he had a couple of our songs,” mentioned Lorén Aldarondo.
Throughout their jam session with Unhealthy Bunny, the group was capable of ad-lib a component distinctive to their hometown: the story of Jacinto, a farmer who’s dragged by his cow right into a ocean blowhole, famously referred to as Jacinto’s pit cave.
“He told us to disrupt the song with whatever we wanted and left the room, literally,” mentioned Lorén. “We started thinking, ‘What is playa to us?’”
At instances, Chuwi’s discography ropes in sociopolitical commentary on matters such because the displacement of native Puerto Ricans.
“I feel like our generation is feeling these problems more deeply. We can’t buy houses … and we can’t find the jobs we studied for, and the dream was you can stay here and find a job,” mentioned Lorén. “It’s not even social problems; it’s just real life to us.”
“The fact that Bad Bunny is highlighting not only our struggles but also our cultural beauty is really beyond awesome, and I’m honored that he thought of us and saw us compatible for this album,” she added.
Omar Courtz 
(Rimas Leisure/Rimas Leisure)
Including edge to the reggaeton-trap track “Veldá” is newcomer Omar Courtz, also referred to as “Ousi” to followers.
Hailing from Carolina, Omar Courtz, whose actual identify is Joshua Omar Medina Cortés, has toggled his singing model between reggaeton, entice R&B and home music. He was impressed to launch his music profession after attending Unhealthy Bunny’s “X 100pre” live performance on the Choliseo in San Juan.
“That was the day I decided to pursue my dream of being an artist and making music,” writes Omar Courtz. “It was like seeing myself in a mirror while he sang onstage. It was a confirmation that you can be a big star with a new sound and with our music and our lyrics.”
The album’s salsa tracks, corresponding to “Baile Inolvidable” and “La Mudanza,” are amongst his favorites, songs he regards as on the spot classics that can rank amongst fashionable data by Héctor Lavoe and Frankie Ruiz.
“On top of doing this album with his island in mind, I feel full of pride. It’s almost as if he taught the world who Puerto Rico is, how rich it is in culture, how beautiful our people are and everything we can give musically,” mentioned Omar Courtz.
Subsequent for Omar Courtz are two sold-out debut concert events on the Choliseo, the place he first obtained the thought to pursue his abilities.
Dei V 
Kicking off the sensual entice track “Veldá” along with his rumbling deep vocals is Dei V.
Born David Gerardo Rivera Juarbe in Carolina, Dei V was raised between the island and New York Metropolis, which closely influenced his curiosity in reggaeton, pop and hip-hop.
“Puerto Rico is where my first smiles, my childhood, my first falls, my first mistakes, my first achievements [were]. Puerto Rico was everything,” writes Dei V.
“Growing up and really being part of that, and then having this gift from Bad Bunny to the people, it feels good to be able to contribute a grain of sand,” he added.
Unhealthy Bunny’s festive themes in “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” remind him of holidays along with his kinfolk, “all those beautiful moments with my family that we got together, ate lechon.” Even when he had not been a part of the album, Dei V says he would have felt pleased with it.
“I respect Bad Bunny a lot. I take it as an example, always giving respect to your country … he who does not love his country does not love his mother. … this was super special,” mentioned Dei V.
Los Pleneros de la Cresta 
Sprinkling in a heavy dose of sazón are Los Pleneros de la Cresta on the occasion plena “Café con Ron,” who additionally add in refrain vocals to “Baile Inolvidable” and “La Mudanza.”
Shaped in 2013 by brothers Joseph Ocasio Rivera, Joshuan Ocasio Rivera, Jeyluix Ocasio Rivera and household good friend Josue Roman Figueroa, Los Pleneros de la Cresta hope to protect Puerto Rico’s wealthy tradition of plena — conventional folks songs backed by a güiro, accordion and panderetas (handheld drums).
The band first got here in touch with Unhealthy Bunny final 12 months whereas performing on the Pageant de la Esperanza in San Juan. Joseph Ocasio Rivera, the group’s director, bravely urged that he was able to collaborate on a plena with the trap-reggaeton singer.
To his shock, Unhealthy Bunny revealed he was already engaged on one thing and was trying to faucet them for a collaboration.
“I was speechless, because we didn’t realize that he was following our music or looking for us,” mentioned Joseph. “One of our objectives, internationally, is to be respected and visible in the music industry,” mentioned Joseph.
The instrumental contributions of scholars from Escuela Libre de Música, who’ve dubbed themselves “Los Sobrinos,” is a supply of pleasure for Joseph. Each teams interrupted Jimmy Fallon’s monologue on the “The Tonight Show” on Jan. 13, when Unhealthy Bunny co-hosted the present.
Joseph notes that many faculties are prone to closure as a result of island’s ongoing financial disaster, and those who stay open seldom train the normal musicology of bomba, plena, danza, mazurca.
“What Benito did as a project was fortify and open opportunities, not just for us but for our ancestors, teachers and all Puerto Rican people seeking to preserve our rich cultural heritage,” mentioned Joseph.
