Bad Bunny’s sound didn’t come from nowhere — the samples behind the hits

Ten years ago, Bad Bunny was bagging groceries in Puerto Rico and uploading music independently, building momentum online without a traditional industry playbook. That early DIY approach shaped everything that followed. Creative control stayed central, and the music stayed rooted in his world, even as the scale grew far beyond it.

Since then, he’s broken streaming records, stacked major awards, and helped elevate the stage for Latin music on a global scale. Multiple Grammy wins, a historic Album of the Year, and a Super Bowl halftime appearance all point to a singular idea: This isn’t a crossover, it was the culture expanding outward.

This week we’re diving in on the music itself, as we break down four of Bad Bunny’s biggest records and the samples behind them, tracing how he and his collaborators flipped existing sounds into global hits. It’s a look at how taste, context, and history turn inspiration into re-invention, and how sampling continues to be a quiet throughline in shaping modern Latin pop and reggaetón at the highest level.

💎 BAD BUNNY “MONACO”

Produced by: AG, La Paciencia, Smash David, Edsclusive & Argel Beatz

→ Sampled: Charles Aznavour “Hier Encore”

An instantly recognizable French classic reimagined for a modern trap anthem—“MONACO” lifts its main melodic lift from Charles Aznavour’s 1964 song Hier encore, layering the vintage sample into Bad Bunny’s sleek, reflective production.

💎 BAD BUNNY “NUEVAYOL”

Produced by: Justi Barreto, La Paciencia & MAG

💎 CARDI B, BAD BUNNY F/ J. BALVIN “I LIKE IT”

Produced by: J White Did It, Tainy, Craig Kallman, & Invincible

💎 BAD BUNNY “TITI ME PREGUNTO”

Produced by: La Paciencia & MAG