Passport: Puerto Rico — Your Guide to the Island’s Music

They don’t call it the Island of Enchantment for nothing. Puerto Rico’s musical richness is unmatched, and only recently has it begun to receive the global recognition it deserves. Leading that charge is its greatest ambassador: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, who first gained momentum and recognition on SoundCloud in 2013 before getting signed and breaking into the mainstream.

What began in early 2025 with Bad Bunny’s opus ‘DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS’ has now evolved into a fully immersive experience at the Coliseum of Puerto Rico. Night after night, local artists — many of them featured on his album — join Benito onstage to celebrate their heritage and culture. The 30-date residency, running from July through mid-September, is expected to generate as much as $200 million for the local economy. But the cultural and musical education that visiting fans take home? That’s priceless.

Inspired by Bad Bunny’s residency, and by other Puerto Rican stars like Young Miko and Rauw Alejandro — who launched their careers on SoundCloud — we’ve put together a guide to the island’s musical scene today, breaking it down by genre and region.

Down south in Ponce lies the birthplace of plena, a percussive style shaped by African drums. Once known as the newspaper of the people, it tells stories about everyday life on the island. Defined by panderos, or hand drums, plena has long been a vehicle for social protest as well as celebration. Modern plena groups like Los Pleneros de la Cresta, featured on Bad Bunny’s “CAFé CON RON” track, carry the tradition forward today.

In Loíza on the northeast coast, as well as in Ponce and Mayagüez, you’ll find the roots of bomba, created by enslaved Africans during the Spanish colonization era. Bomba is a conversation between dancers and drums that is typically performed in a circle, and serves both as cultural resistance and joyous celebration. Reggaeton icon Tego Calderon, a proud Afro Puerto Rican, was among the first urban artists to incorporate bomba into his storytelling, and today artists like Bad Bunny and Rauw Alejandro regularly feature dancers reenacting this tradition in their shows. 

And then there’s salsa. While many associate the genre with Cuba, its global rise was driven by Puerto Ricans in New York — the heart of the diaspora — throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s. Both New York City and San Juan were central to shaping the salsa sound we know today. A new generation of Puerto Rican artists, including Luis Figueroa and Wendy Luna, are reinventing the sound for the present day. 

Reggaeton — an evolution of dancehall, reggae, hip-hop and traditional Latin rhythms that emerged in the ‘90s from San Juan and its neighboring towns of Carolina, Loíza and Bayamón — is stronger than ever. Even as it’s gone global, artists of the new school like Myke Towers, Jay Wheeler, Omar Courtz, De La Rose and RaiNao keep Puerto Rican slang and swagger at the center of the conversation. Check out five trends defining the reggaeton movement in 2025. Trap is thriving too, thanks to bold female voices like Young Miko and Villano Antillano who are reclaiming the narrative and dismantling years of misogyny and homophobia. And if R&B is more your speed, Ponce’s Matt Louis is definitely one to watch.

Dive into the sounds of bomba, plena, salsa, trap, reggaeton and more through this playlist that serves as your passport to PR, and discover the voices of the artists who are proudly carrying the island’s music into the future.

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LISTEN TO THE PASSPORT: PUERTO RICO PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD

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Bad Bunny, Los Pleneros de la Cresta, “CAFé CON RON”
This collab between Bad Bunny and Los Pleneros de la Cresta feels like a neighborhood street party that starts with coffee and ends with rum, blending the vibrant energy of plena with the nostalgia of Puerto Rican sunrises. Since their formation in the University of Puerto Rico’s Rio Piedras campus, Los Pleneros have been dedicated to revitalizing the tradition of their genre and creating programs that empower the community.

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RaiNao, Tainy, “roadhead”
This nocturnal journey drips with mystery, as experimental pop glides over producer Tainy’s minimalist, ethereal beat. RaiNao’s sensual voice — rooted in the artsy town of Santurce and honed through classical jazz training — floats between desire and detachment, turning every pause and whisper into something more powerful than words.

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paopao, “x las nubes”
Born in Bayamón, paopao is known for her innovative blend of reggaetón and alternative sounds. On this track, she drifts between heartbreak and liberation, delivering a melancholic flow over a hazy, soft beat. The song plays like an unsent voice note — intimate, aching, yet carrying its pride intact.

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De La Rose, Omar Courtz, “NUBES”
Yuberkis Gabriela Marie de la Rosa Bryan, better known as De La Rose, started out uploading freestyles and covers on SoundCloud. Today, she’s the go-to voice for artists like Omar Courtz when they want to infuse their beats with a sensual, melodic touch. Bad Bunny has said he listens to her but only after dark, when certain activities call for it.

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Jay Wheeler, “Verte Por Ahí”
Raised in the artsy and gastronomic hub of Salinas in the southeast part of the island, Jay Wheeler is known for his silky, emotive vocals that turn reggaeton and trap into intimate storytelling, tackling love, heartbreak and longing with unmatched sincerity. Unlike many of his peers, Wheeler combines streetwise authenticity with melodic finesse, earning him a devoted fanbase.

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Negro y Los Colores, “Cayey”
Like Jay Wheeler, this 11-piece ensemble came out of Salinas. Their influences span jazz, reggae, hip-hop, rock, trap, house and funk, weaving together a kaleidoscope of genres into one collective voice.

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Bad Bunny, “ALAMBRE PúA”
A loosie released before his residency in Puerto Rico kicked off, Bad Bunny’s latest is a striking blend of bomba and reggaeton. The lyrics are sharp, raw, and emotionally charged, while the beat from frequent collaborator Tainy is austere and aching. Benito spits pain with a fractured voice, exploring heartbreak from a more intimate, less theatrical place than some of his other break-up songs.

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Myke Towers, Quevedo, “SOLEAO”
Hailing from Rio Piedras, the same town that birthed reggaeton idol Daddy Yankee, Myke Towers is a defining voice for his generation. Known for his effortless flow, sharp lyricism and genre-blending versatility, he moves seamlessly between reggaeton, trap and melodic pop. Beyond his hit-making prowess, Towers tells stories of love, ambition and real-life struggles, earning him both commercial success and critical respect. With collaborations spanning the globe, such as this team-up with Spanish star Quevedo, he’s not just shaping the sound of today’s urban scene, he’s defining its future. Check out Myke’s exclusive commentary breaking down the making of his latest album, ‘ISLAND BOYZ.’

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Los Rivera Destino, “Silla Plástica”
This trio stands out for blending social satire with genres like reggaeton and pop. Formed by Carlos Figueroa, Fernando Tarrazo, and Antonio Sánchez at the University of Puerto Rico, the group began by creating musical parodies of hit songs. They tackle social and cultural topics through music with a sharp, playful edge.

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Yan Block, “111”
Born into Puerto Rico’s urban music scene, Yan Block seemed destined for the spotlight — his father, Carlos Martin, is a key music video director. Since emerging as a trap force, he’s been carving out a name for himself with sharp lyrics and a signature flow that blends grit and charisma. Recently recognized by Bad Bunny as one of the top five voices of the new urban school, Yan Block is proving he’s not just following the path — he’s setting it.

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BIA, Young Miko, “BIRTHDAY BEHAVIOR”
It would seem that all urban talent in Puerto Rico comes from San Juan and its neighboring towns, but Latin trap phenom Young Miko proves otherwise. Raised in the west coast town of Añasco, known for its pristine beaches, Baby Miko has become the go-to artist for collabs as diverse as Argentina’s Bizarrap and K-pop girl group KATSEYE, thanks to her razor-sharp wordplay. On this track with Boston-bred rapper BIA (who is Puerto Rican and Black), the duo delivers a bold celebration of confidence, independence and playful rebellion.

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Wendy Luna, “Alma Rota”
Known for her merengue-infused sound, Wendy Luna dives into salsa on this track, bringing a fresh, feminine perspective to a genre still dominated by male voices. The Cabo Rojo native is backed by producer and manager Jay Lugo, who has worked with salsa veterans like Victor Manuelle.

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Dei V, De La Rose, “Toa”
With a melodic flow and street smarts, Dei V remains one of the leading voices in today’s trap scene. After making noise in 2023 with his track “¿Quién es Dei V?,” he scored high-profile collabs with artists of Karol G’s caliber (“Gatita Gangster”). Since then, his profile has kept steadily rising.

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Matt Louis, RaiNao, “ABA”
Matt Louis proudly identifies as a Black man who connects deeply with his feminine and vulnerable side. Navigating the world as such hasn’t been easy, but he continues to explore these themes through his R&B sound and photography — mediums that give him true creative freedom.

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Rauw Alejandro, “Tú Con Él”
San Juan native Rauw Alejandro included this single on his 2024 hit album ‘Cosa Nuestra,’ a project heavily inspired by the salsa movement of the ‘70s and ‘80s in New York. Through this cover of fellow Puerto Rican Frankie Ruiz’s 1985 hit, he proves he is not just a fan of the genre but a dutiful student.

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Villano Antillano, “XXL”
Villana Santiago Pacheco, hailing from Bayamón, is a rapper, singer, songwriter and a trailblazer in raising visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community. Her music tackles themes of homophobia, transphobia, machismo, empowerment and the fight for identity, all set to beats that blend trap, rap and reggaetón. Known for her fearless lyrics and bold persona, the artist known as Villano Antillano pushes boundaries in Puerto Rico’s urban scene, inspiring a new generation of artists to embrace authenticity and challenge societal norms.

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iLe, “Me Hiciste Quedar Mal”
There’s no genre iLe can’t tackle. From her early collaborations with urban alternativo duo Calle 13, Ileana Mercedes Cabra Joglar has stood out for her unmatched voice and fearless musical experimentation, spanning everything from urban beats to folkloric sounds. Beyond her vocal talent, she is also recognized for her activism, using her platform to champion social and cultural causes.

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ZTVZ, “24 horas”
Brothers Diego and Carlos Andrés Estévez stand out as both astrophysicists and musicians, two passions that converge in their vision. Their music flows effortlessly between Latin pop, retro-futuristic sounds and alternative rhythms, creating a vibrant and unconventional listening experience. Learn more about ZTVZ in this SoundCloud-exclusive commentary here.

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Luis Figueroa, “Cómo se Compara”
Raised in Philadelphia by proud Puerto Ricans, Luis Figueroa is a singer and songwriter known for seamlessly blending traditional salsa with modern pop and urban influences. What began as cover songs has grown into a full-fledged career, introducing younger audiences to the world of salsa.

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Tego Calderon, “La Receta”
One of reggaeton’s OGs, Tego Calderon has always been proud of his African ancestry, weaving it into his music and visuals since day one. Even when he stays away for years and emerges seemingly out of nowhere as on this track from 2023, he remains the blueprint of authenticity that artists like Bad Bunny and Myke Towers faithfully follow.

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LISTEN TO THE PASSPORT: PUERTO RICO PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD

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