From Supermarket Bagger to Super Bowl Headliner: Why 2025 Was the Year of Bad Bunny
Named a 2025 Entertainer of the Year, Bad Bunny broke records with a No. 1 album, a $400M residency, and a Super Bowl gig. Fat Joe explains why his influence is unprecedented.
A Record-Breaking Year by the Numbers
Bad Bunny didn't just have a good year; he dominated 2025. Named one of Entertainment Weekly's Entertainers of the Year, the Puerto Rican superstar delivered a string of achievements that rewrote the record books. His album, *Debí Tirar Más Fotos*, not only hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 but also redefined the Latin genre, ultimately ending the year as No. 1 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums Chart. On Spotify, he was officially the most-streamed artist of 2025.
His influence extended far beyond streaming. His 31-show sold-out residency in his native Puerto Rico is estimated to have generated around $400 million for the local economy. At the Grammys, he made history, becoming the first Spanish-language artist to score nominations in the top three categories—Album, Song, and Record of the Year—in the same year. To top it all off, he was revealed as the headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
Fat Joe: 'The Influence of This Man Has Never Been Seen Before'
Fellow Puerto Rican and hip-hop legend Fat Joe is one of many who recognizes Bad Bunny's unique power. In a tribute for EW, he called him a "mega star" and a "revolutionary." Fat Joe recounted flying to San Juan for the residency and hearing the pilot make an unusual announcement upon landing. Instead of the typical "Welcome to Puerto Rico," the pilot allegedly said, "Welcome to Bad Bunny." It’s an anecdote that perfectly captures an artist who has become synonymous with his homeland.
"To think that maybe 10 years ago he was packing bags in the supermarket to now selling out stadiums... this man has defied all the odds," Fat Joe said. He sees Bad Bunny as a unifying force, not just for Puerto Ricans but for the entire Latino community.
A Revolutionary with Grace
According to Fat Joe, Bad Bunny's art is about more than just creating hits. His whole album tackles serious issues like the gentrification of Puerto Rico and his grandmother being forced to sell her house. "He's a revolutionary," Fat Joe explained. "But while you're having a fun time, he slips the lyrics in there and what's important to help educate people." Regarding the backlash to his Super Bowl announcement, Fat Joe insists he's handled it with grace and deserves the spot. "He's the number one streaming artist on earth—obviously, he's got fans. He's gonna rock the Super Bowl like none other."
The Bad Bunny phenomenon signals a fundamental shift in the geography of global pop culture. It's no longer just about 'crossing over' into the English-speaking market; it's about a non-English cultural product becoming the global mainstream on its own terms. His success proves that the 'local' can now be the 'center,' a power shift accelerated by streaming platforms and a generation with borderless taste.
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