Bad Bunny Brings Puerto Rican Celebration To NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk Concert’

Puerto Rican rapper/singer Bad Bunny recorded a live session for NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series. The vibrant performance brought to life songs from his album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, which was released in January.

After beginning his set with “PIToRRO DE COCO,” the bilingual Bad Bunny spoke in Spanish to the assembled crowd.

“I don’t know how often you go to Puerto Rico,” Bad Bunny said (translated). “Let’s go there for a bit.”

While performing the subsequent “VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR,” Bad Bunny (translated) shouted out, “You’re listening to Puerto Rican music in case you didn’t know!”

Later, when revealing he forgot whether he was supposed to speak English or Spanish, Bad Bunny said he almost forgot he was not in Puerto Rico despite being at NPR. The Puerto Rican flag was draped across the front of the iconic intimate performance space.

While sipping from an NPR branded mug, Bad Bunny continued his Tiny Desk set with “KLOuFRENS” and “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii.” The final song on the DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS tracklist, “LA MuDANZA,” was the last song played at NPR and gave Bad Bunny the opportunity to highlight the members of his backing band..

Backing Bad Bunny was a group composed of percussionists Julito Gastón, Emanuel Santana and Jay Anthony, bassist Krystal Santana, pianist and Luis Amed Irizarry. Rounding out the collective were Luis Sanz and Fabiola Méndez moving between cuatro puertorriqueño, tiple and bordonúa.

Watch the rhythmically focused Bad Bunny Tiny Desk Concert below: