KQED's Forum How Bad Bunny Fuses Activism and Global Superstardom
Feb 6, 2026
Vanessa Díaz, associate professor and co-founder of the Bad Bunny Syllabus; Petra Rivera-Rideau, American Studies chair and co-founder of the Bad Bunny Syllabus. They explore Bad Bunny's blending of reggaeton with Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms, his role in Puerto Rican protest and Hurricane Maria resilience, his Grammy win and Super Bowl platform, and his outspoken stances on immigration and LGBTQ+ solidarity.
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Episode notes
Plena Meets Global Pop
- "DTMF" fuses reggaeton/trap with Afro-Puerto Rican plena to create a joyful, community-rooted sound.
- Petra Rivera-Rideau explains the song grew from a parranda and studio session that captured communal energy.
Grammy Win Shifts Prestige
- Bad Bunny's Album of the Year win is historic as the first Spanish-language album to take that Grammy prize.
- Petra notes it also elevates stigmatized genres like reggaeton and Latin trap within elite institutions.
Grammys Speech As Collective Claim
- Bad Bunny used his Grammy speech to call out cruel immigration enforcement and affirm shared humanity.
- Vanessa Díaz frames the remarks as speaking for Latinos and Spanish speakers under profiling and attack.
