Puerto Rican artists didn’t just suddenly appear at the top of the global music charts; they built their way there, step by step, by changing how music is made, shared and experienced.
A huge part of that rise is due to the authenticity of Puerto Rican artists. Singers like Bad Bunny never felt the need to switch to English or change their sound just to appease Americans. Instead, he leaned fully into Puerto Rican culture, including their slang, rhythms and storytelling, and the world adapted to him. His song “Dákiti” alone has racked up over a billion streams, showing that listeners care more about vibe and emotion than language.
That same pattern shows up with Rauw Alejandro. His hit “Todo de Ti” blew up globally not just because it’s catchy, but because it mixes reggaetón with pop and funk in a way that feels fresh. It’s the kind of song people hear once and immediately want to replay, and it has well over a billion streams to prove it. The song’s rhythm can make you feel a way about the song without even understanding it.
Then there’s Myke Towers, whose song “LALA” also crossed the billion-stream mark. Its success came largely from social media, where short edits on apps like TikTok and Instagram turned the track into a global trend. That’s another key reason Puerto Rican artists have climbed so high: They understand how to use the internet to benefit them and not the other way around
Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have played a massive role, but they’re only part of the story. These artists are consistent. They release music often, collaborate across countries and aren’t afraid to experiment. Instead of sticking to one sound, they mix reggaetón with trap, pop, electronic and even rock. That flexibility keeps their music from getting old and stale and helps them reach different audiences at once.
Fans say the impact is easy to see in everyday life, even if they don’t speak the language. Sophomore Abraham Burnett, who doesn’t speak Spanish, feels strongly about Puerto Rican Artists and their music. “Before last year, I barely had any idea who Bad Bunny was, just that he was a Spanish artist. Now I listen to a couple of his songs a lot, and I have started branching out and listening to artists like Omar Courtz, who is also Puerto Rican.” Burnett said
Junior Melissa Lopez points to how widespread the music has become. “Everyone I know listens to reggaetón now, even if they don’t speak Spanish. Songs like ‘Eoo’ are everywhere, you hear them at parties, online, and on TikTok,” Lopez said
For junior Luca Pinzon, he used to not listen to Puerto Rican artists and mostly listened to Bachata and Flamenco (types of Spanish music). With the growing popularity of Puerto Rican music, Pinzon gave it a go. “As soon as I heard ‘Hora Cero’ by Myke Towers, I started listening to him. I really like rap in English and don’t normally listen to it in Spanish, but I decided to give it a go, and I really enjoyed it, and now I keep waiting for him to drop more music,” Pinzon said.
