Bad Bunny B1-B2

 Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known worldwide as Bad Bunny, was born in 1994 in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. He grew up in a working-class family and a society shaped by colonial history. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory: people there are U.S. citizens, but they cannot vote for president and have no voting members in Congress. This situation influenced Bad Bunny’s sense of identity and political awareness.

Before becoming famous, Bad Bunny made music on his own while working in a supermarket. His early songs talk about daily life problems like unstable jobs, ambition, frustration, and resistance. His career grew at the same time as reggaeton and Latin trap, music genres connected to poor and marginalized communities.

Reggaeton started in Puerto Rico in the 1990s. It mixes Jamaican dancehall, Panamanian reggae, hip-hop, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. At first, authorities criminalized the music. Clubs were raided, songs were censored, and reggaeton was seen as a social threat. Over time, it became a global phenomenon.

Bad Bunny’s albums, like X 100PRE, YHLQMDLG, and Un Verano Sin Ti, broke streaming records. But he also uses his fame as a platform to speak about politics, refusing to separate music from power and society.

This was clear during international awards and debates about performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, one of the most-watched events in the U.S.. A Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican artist challenged ideas about what is culturally “legitimate” in the U.S.

Bad Bunny refuses to sing in English for mainstream success. He believes Spanish is a global language and that artists should not assimilate to succeed. Language, for him, is a form of power.

He also speaks against U.S. immigration policies, especially ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). ICE arrests, detains, and deports people, creating fear in immigrant communities. Many undocumented workers live under constant surveillance, even though they work hard and contribute to society.

Bad Bunny supports undocumented migrants and criticizes deportations. His activism shows that music can be resistance, even when it faces backlash. Some critics call him hypocritical, while others think artists should stay neutral.

Despite criticism, Bad Bunny continues to influence global culture. His story asks: Can success exist without cultural submission? His music shows that entertainment can also be empowering, turning reggaeton into a voice of resistance.

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2. Vocabulary Match

Instructions: Match the word with the correct definition.

Word	Definition
1. colonial	a. a person or group’s sense of who they are
2. territory	b. gaining confidence, influence, or voice
3. identity	c. U.S. agency enforcing immigration laws
4. marginalized	d. music genre from Puerto Rico
5. reggaeton	e. area governed by another power
6. criminalized	f. adapting to dominant cultural norms
7. censorship	g. strong negative public reaction
8. platform	h. constant monitoring of people
9. legitimacy	i. socially excluded or pushed to the edges
10. assimilation	j. a land controlled by another country
11. ICE	k. opposition to authority or control
12. deportation	l. treated as illegal by authorities
13. surveillance	m. removal of a person from a country
14. resistance	n. acceptance or recognition as valid
15. backlash	o. a way to share ideas publicly
16. hypocrisy	p. claiming values one does not follow
17. empowerment	q. suppression of speech or artistic expression

✅ Note: None of the words line up with their correct definition. Students must match actively.

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3. Synonym Match

Instructions: Match each word to its synonym on the same line.

Word	Synonym
1. deportation	— opposition
2. platform	— adapting to dominant culture
3. surveillance	— double standards
4. backlash	— validity / acceptance
5. criminalized	— reaction
6. assimilation	— stage / way to speak publicly
7. legitimacy	— monitoring
8. resistance	— expelled
9. marginalized	— outlawed / made illegal
10. hypocrisy	— excluded

✅ Note: None of the synonyms match the words correctly; students must figure them out.

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4. Speaking & Role-Play Activities

Role-Play A – Grammy Night Debate

• Situation: Bad Bunny speaks Spanish and criticizes deportations. Some viewers are angry.

• Roles: Awards Host / Conservative Pundit / Cultural Critic

• Starter line: “This was supposed to be a celebration of music — not politics.”

• Task: Discuss: Can pop culture ever be neutral, or is it always political?

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Role-Play B – ICE Raid at Dawn

• Situation: ICE officers arrive early to arrest an undocumented worker.

• Roles: Undocumented Worker / ICE Officer / Neighbour Witness

• Twist: The neighbour is a Bad Bunny fan and recognizes the officer from a concert.

• Starter line: “Officer, I saw you at the Bad Bunny concert last night. Why are you doing this?”

• Task: Discuss the conflict between law, empathy, and personal contradictions.

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Role-Play C – Record Label Emergency Meeting

• Situation: Sponsors may leave because the artist made political statements.

• Roles: CEO / PR Manager / Artist

• Starter line: “This controversy is costing us money. Should we continue with this musician?”

• Task: Decide what the company should do and how the artist will respond.

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Role-Play D – University Debate: Is Reggaeton the New Punk?

• Roles: Sociology Professor / Student Activist / Media Commentator

• Starter lines:
  Commentator: “Reggaeton glorifies excess and is a waste of time.”
  Professor: “Punk faced the same criticism in the past.”

• Task: Compare music, protest, and youth culture (past vs present).

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Role-Play E – Family Dinner in an Election Year

• Roles: Immigrant Parent / U.S.-born Child / Uncle / Brother-in-law

• Starter line: “If they’re scared of ICE, they shouldn’t be here.”

• Task: Discuss family, immigration, and moral perspectives.

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5. Opinion Activity – Immigration Statements

Instructions: Decide if you agree or disagree and explain why:

1. Immigration helps the economy by filling job shortages.

2. Large-scale immigration pressures housing and healthcare.

3. Cultural diversity strengthens society.

4. Strict borders are needed for national security.

5. Countries with aging populations need immigration for economic stability.

6. Immigration laws should prioritize citizens.

7. Economic conditions affect public opinion on immigration more than morals.

8. Language ability affects how immigrants are seen.

9. Media influences immigration debates more than personal experience.

10. Successful integration requires both government policy and individual effort.

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6. U.S. Contradictions Exercise

Part A – Discuss admirable ideals:

• Land of Opportunity

• Freedom of Speech

• Democracy

• Equality

• Nation of Immigrants

Part B – Discuss contradictions with examples:

• Opportunity vs deportations/raids

• Free speech vs public outrage at artists

• Democracy vs Puerto Ricans not voting

• Equality vs unequal policing

• Immigration nation vs fear of newcomers

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7. Priorities: Compare and Contrast

Priorities Americans Focus On	Priorities Non-Americans Focus On
Super-sized Portions	Healthy Diet & Culinary Traditions
Car Culture	Public Transportation & Train Travel
National Pride	Vacation & Time Off
Workaholism	Public Health Care & Social Safety Nets

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8. Role-Play: Immigration Debate in Spain

Scenario: Spain debates a law to regularize up to 800,000 undocumented immigrants.

Roles: Government Official / Undocumented Worker / Spanish Citizen / Opposition Politician / Human Rights Lawyer / Journalist

Tasks:

• Defend your position

• Respond to criticism

• Try to reach a compromise

Guiding Questions:

• Why support or oppose the law?

• How does it affect society and economy?

• Is it humanitarian, practical, or both?

• Responsibilities of immigrants and government?

• How is Spain’s approach different from the U.S.?

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9. Discussion Questions

1. Why is reggaeton treated differently from other genres?

2. Is speaking Spanish at the Grammys a political act?

3. Should artists remain neutral?

4. How does ICE create fear among immigrants?

5. Why do moral panics target certain communities?

6. Does wealth weaken political credibility?

7. Who controls cultural legitimacy?

8. Can music be resistance without intending to?

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10. Fill-in-the-Blanks

Word Bank: colonial · marginalized · backlash · platform · deportation · surveillance · legitimacy · resistance · criminalized · hypocrisy · assimilation

1. Bad Bunny used the Grammys as a political _________.

2. ICE is responsible for arrest and _________.

3. Reggaeton was once heavily _________.

4. Puerto Rico’s _________ history shapes identity.

5. His speech caused immediate media _________.

6. Immigrants often live under constant _________.

7. Speaking Spanish challenged cultural _________.

8. Some accuse celebrities of _________.