Dominican Republic: The Bridge to Bad Bunny's Global Phenomenon

Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny concluded his ambitious "Debí tirar más fotos" tour this past weekend at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. The tour, which included a 31-show residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in 2025, began in the Dominican Republic in November of the previous year.

During the tour, Bad Bunny brought his Puerto Rican and Caribbean roots, along with reggaeton and perreo music, to stages across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. However, before conquering global stadiums, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, 32, found one of his first audiences outside Puerto Rico in the Dominican Republic.

Bad Bunny himself has acknowledged this on multiple occasions, notably after the two opening concerts of his tour in Santo Domingo in November 2025. He expressed gratitude, stating, "Thank you for believing in me before the rest of the world. Having the vision to see what many people see now, the Dominican Republic saw it a long time ago. Thank you for believing in this kid from Puerto Rico, with much humility and much affection. Thank you."

He recalled that the Dominican Republic was the first territory outside Puerto Rico where he felt people understood his artistic vision. The article recounts his early connections with Dominican music, starting in 2016 with the song "Dema Ga Ge Gi Go Gu" alongside Dominican artist El Alfa. This collaboration, blending Puerto Rican trap with the fast-paced, street-language style of dembow, became one of his early hits in the country.

By 2017, with hits like "Soy Peor" and "Chambea," Bad Bunny was a rising star. He performed at the Festival Presidente, a major concert event in the Dominican Republic, alongside other emerging urban artists. Media at the time described him as a key figure in the urban genre's new wave and a proponent of trap music. His performance was a significant success, solidifying his connection with the Dominican audience.