Puerto Rican superstar ‘s latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos (DTMF), released on January 5, 2025, represents not just a love letter to Puerto Rico but also a bold political statement.

For the global superstar, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, this project marks a return to his roots both musically and ideologically. The album weaves together a tapestry of the island’s musical sounds—salsa, plena, dembow, and reggaeton—while addressing pressing socio-political issues that Puerto Ricans face daily.

The album drops at a tense time for Puerto Rico, just months after the island grabbed headlines for all the wrong reasons. During last year’s presidential race, a comedian’s comment at a rally in New York, where he referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” sparked outrage among Boricuas. Analysts initially claimed the backlash could hurt Trump’s re-election bid, but those predictions fell flat.

But Bad Bunny, who backed Democratic nominee during the election, hasn’t forgotten those tense weeks. “It wasn’t funny,” he told The while discussing the album, a project he says is dedicated to defending Puerto Rico’s identity and culture.

Martínez has never shied away from politics, but DBTMF stands out as his most outspoken album yet—a sobering reflection on Puerto Rico’s complex and often tense relationship with the United States. On one track, he weaves his words over the rhythmic scrape of the güiro, voicing his fears of Puerto Rico becoming a state like Hawaii—a divisive issue that has sparked debate among Puerto Ricans for generations.

“They want to take away the river and also the beach, they want my neighborhood and grandma to leave. Don’t let go of the flag… I don’t want them to do with you what happened to Hawaii,” he sings, a poignant warning that echoes the fears of countless Puerto Ricans.

The lyrics also highlight the struggles against gentrification, colonial legacy, and cultural erosion—a theme that permeates much of his album.

In a recent interview with TIME, Bad Bunny discussed the inspiration behind the album, noting his desire to reconnect with Puerto Rico’s essence. He described feeling disheartened by the influx of tourists who consume the island’s beauty without grappling with its systemic issues.

“Tourists come here to enjoy the beautiful places, and then they leave and they don’t have to deal with the problems that Puerto Ricans have to deal with day-to-day,” he said. This duality of external admiration and internal strife mirrors Puerto Rico’s complex colonial history with the United States.

The message of “Lo Que Pasó a Hawaii” is particularly poignant given Puerto Rico’s status as a U.S. territory. Bad Bunny critiques the pro-statehood party for prioritizing foreign investments and tax incentives at the expense of local communities. He draws attention to the cultural erasure that statehood could entail, referencing Hawaii’s transformation since its annexation in 1898.

However, while the artist’s plea for Puerto Rico to avoid Hawaii’s fate underscores a broader struggle to maintain cultural identity and self-determination in the face of economic and political pressures, the majority of Puerto Ricans disagree and on November 5, during a nonbinding referendum, the majority voted for statehood.

What Happened to Hawaii

Puerto Rico and Hawaii were annexed by the United States in 1898, but their trajectories diverged significantly when Hawaii became a state in 1959. Hawaii’s statehood brought rapid industrialization and tourism-driven development but at the cost of cultural autonomy for its native population.

The influx of settlers and tourists displaced Native Hawaiians, limited their access to land, and diluted their cultural heritage, according to academics. Today, Native Hawaiians face challenges such as housing inequality, overdevelopment, and the erosion of traditional practices, with many lamenting the commercialization of their culture.

Once a sovereign kingdom with its own language, governance, and traditions, Hawaii was transformed under American rule into a tourist destination—a shift referenced in Bad Bunny’s lyrics.

How Did Puerto Rico Vote on Statehood?

In the November 5 election, Puerto Ricans participated in a nonbinding referendum—the seventh of its kind—choosing between statehood, independence, and independence with free association. The latter option would involve negotiating key issues like foreign affairs, U.S. citizenship, and the use of the U.S. dollar.

With 63 percent voter turnout, statehood won 59 percent of the vote, securing more than 615,000 ballots. Independence came in second for the first time, earning 29 percent with over 309,000 votes, while independence with free association received 12 percent, or more than 128,000 votes.

Despite being U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans cannot vote in presidential elections. Officials from the New Progressive Party argue that the island also faces unequal treatment in federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare, further fueling debates about its political future.