A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
NFL fans are ready for a Super Bowl halftime show entirely in Espanol.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "PITORRO DE COCO")
BAD BUNNY: (Singing in Spanish).
MARTÍNEZ: Puerto Rican rapper and singer Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, will headline next year's show. The news was met with backlash by some on social media. That's in part because Bad Bunny has been outspoken in his opposition to President Trump's immigration policies. Now, recently, he opted not to tour the continental U.S. because that was out of fear that immigration and customs enforcement could make their presence known outside of his concert venues. Suzy Exposito spoke with him about this for i-D Magazine. So, Suzy, I mean, let's start with the big picture here. What kind of year is Bad Bunny having?
SUZY EXPOSITO: It is massive. He is the most-streamed artist on Spotify so far this year. Also, I mean, just for (laughter) multiple years back to back, it's him going toe to toe with Taylor Swift for the most listened to artist in the world, not just, you know, in Latin music, but in the world. And so he released his album, "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos," and - earlier this year, and it has just been sensational. It's performed well in multiple countries. I think that this is his time to make a global splash.
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah. And so you broke the news of Bad Bunny's concerns around ICE on his upcoming tour. What did he have to say about this?
EXPOSITO: You know, I asked him if he omitted the U.S. or playing dates in the U.S. out of concern for the mass deportation of Latinos. His answer was multifaceted. So while, yes, he had concerns about performing 10, 20 dates in the continental U.S., where his fans could be targeted, given that the majority of them are Latino, he also played the U.S. many times before, and he said that he wanted people to come and experience the Puerto Rico that he actually sings about.
MARTÍNEZ: OK. Now let's get into backlash, Suzy, because there has been a lot, actually, on both sides...
EXPOSITO: Oh, boy.
MARTÍNEZ: ...Of this. So, you know, he didn't - he doesn't tour in the continental U.S. because of his concerns about ICE, yet he's doing the Super Bowl. And some people are saying, hey, that sounds pretty hypocritical.
EXPOSITO: You know, I'm sure that he took the time to talk to his team about it and weigh the pros and the cons. And I think that it made sense that the NFL and that Rock Nation, you know, led by Jay-Z, who curates the halftime shows, it made so much sense that they would court him because this is - they want to captivate, like, an international audience, and he is an international superstar. And he probably figured that he could use this platform wisely as a...
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah.
EXPOSITO: ...Puerto Rican who is trying to put on his island constantly in his music, you know, Puerto Rican music, history, culture. He's always wanted to uplift his people, and what a better way to - I mean, I don't know, there are many ways that he has...
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah.
EXPOSITO: ...Educated...
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah.
EXPOSITO: ...Us on Puerto Rico, but I imagine because we haven't - you know, I imagine that he wants to use this platform...
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah.
EXPOSITO: ...To do that.
MARTÍNEZ: Now, the other backlash is that people were concerned that all the songs were in Spanish. I won't be able to understand. So any chance that Bad Bunny might bust out some English for the halftime show?
EXPOSITO: (Laughter) That's not really his thing. The best you can maybe expect from him personally is, like, some Spanglish, which, honestly, is - it's a vibe. Like, (laughter) especially in Puerto Rico, like, everyone speaks some degree of Spanglish there, but I think it's more likely that he would invite, like, you know, an American...
MARTÍNEZ: Ooh.
EXPOSITO: ...Collaborator.
MARTÍNEZ: So I was thinking - 'cause this is my own prediction here - is that Cardi B has a tour that's scheduled, like, a few days after the Super Bowl. I mean, can Cardi B possibly pair up with Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl?
EXPOSITO: That would make so much sense. I mean, "I Like It" was a smash hit when it came out, and I think the two of them are really dynamic performers. I wouldn't be surprised.
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah. Either way, I think you would have to have a heart of stone if you're hearing Bad Bunny in a big concert venue and not move your legs. Not move something, right? I mean, something's going to move - right? - when you hear his music.
EXPOSITO: Get moving, America.
MARTÍNEZ: There you go.
EXPOSITO: (Laughter).
MARTÍNEZ: Suzy Exposito is an assistant editor at the LA Times. Suzy, thanks a lot.
EXPOSITO: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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