Bad Bunny Lights Up Mohegan Sun

Story and Photographs by Felix Manuel Rodriguez

Uncasville, CT – Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, that’s how Bad Bunny started off as he walked on stage to a sold out Mohegan Sun Arena crowd performing one of his latest hits NI BIEN NI MAL (Neither Good Nor Bad). Already a hit song from his highly anticipated debut album X100PRE (a stylization of por siempre which means forever). Wearing fashionable retro cat eye triangle sunglasses and finger nails painted in pink polish. Bad Bunny is no stranger to making a fashion statement.

As I quickly scan the audience, I notice a blend of young, middle-aged and senior-aged screaming individuals filled the packed arena. Cell phones light up the venue like stars in the sky. The adoring fans all came to witness one of the hottest musicians in pop culture today.

Bad Bunny, age 25, born Benito Martinez Ocasio in the small town of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. He has taken the music industry by storm since emerging on the scene in 2016. He currently has two top 10 singles and his songs continues to rise and he doesn’t speak English in any of them. However, he has a large following of non-Latino fans as well. In large part due to Bad Bunny’s collaborations with the likes of Drake, Future, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, Nikki Minaj and many more. His recent appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show also helped introduce him to late night viewers. Bad Bunny and Jimmy were dancing and performing MIA on the cobblestone roads of Old San Juan while strangers joined the party. A tribute to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico that was badly beaten by Hurricane Maria, but Jimmy and Bad Bunny reminded people that Puerto Rico is open for business.

From Puerto Rico to Uncasville, CT, Bad Bunny continues to pick up new fans with every performance. 18 Arena dates. Sold out crowds wherever he performs. His style is unique, his voice is distinct and his energy is contagious. The Puerto Rican reggaeton/Latin trap star artist is a musical genius. He has two number 1 hits, 12 top 10 hits out of 24 songs. All of this without speaking in English. Impressive. He is living proof that music regardless of genre is a universal language.