Love is a journey, and for Puerto Rican rapper PJ Sin Suela, it is not limited to romance. Yes, on his new album Toda Época Tiene Su Encanto, the gregarious MC has cobbled a conceptual diorama breaking down the stages of romantic love: from the giddiness of a nascent relationship, through turbulent times, and into the existential quandaries left by its demise. But he also delves into matters of self-love and love of country, unspooling personal insecurities as well as the many socio-economic issues that plague his Caribbean homeland. His bars are also informed by his work as a doctor, traveling to remote corners of Puerto Rico to serve those in most need. This results in an ambitious yet playful exploration of affection, physical and spiritual, refracted through reggaeton, baile funk, salsa, and bolero.
“Whenever I start working on music, I like to sit down with the producer and catch up with them and talk about what’s going on in the world,” says the rapper, born Pedro Juan Vázquez Bragan. He’s speaking with Remezcla ahead of his September tour through the U.S., reminiscing on high-profile guest spots from Ñejo and Ana Tijoux and underscoring the inspirational powers of the ocean rush. “We’re walking distance from the beach, so as I went for strolls to work on songs, the first few that came to me were about love. I didn’t plan on making a concept album, but as I wrote, I understood these were the lessons I’d learned from the ups and downs of past relationships. It was also a reminder to try and enjoy both.”
Over the years, PJ Sin Suela has earned a reputation as a rapper’s rapper. The 35-year-old polymath got his start as a teenager when he co-founded a Blink-182 cover band before eventually pivoting into freestyle rapping and ghost-writing for emerging artists. He later attended medical school, setting up a makeshift studio in his dorm room and recording demos in between tests and internships. His lyrical prowess and animated flows earned the recognition of A-List collaborators, including Residente and Bad Bunny. But while his early LPs were hailed for their conscientious bars, the fun-loving Boricua behind the mic was aching to cut loose.
Last year’s hedonistic Chinchorreo, Vol. 1 paired him with Young Miko and Brray for some rave-tinged perreo, while on Toda Época Tiene Su Encanto, a fresh balance between the dance floor and his own vulnerability shines through. Songs like “Tengo Una Nota” and “Top” are adorable portraits of domesticity soundtracked by disco and baile funk. He later teamed up with meteoric reggaeton diva Elena Rose for “Maldades,” an unstoppable banger about wild nights out, cheating, and the inevitable regret-laced hangover. One of the most moving tracks on the record is “Escúchame,” a percussive lament for the over-exploitation of Puerto Rico’s natural resources, crafted alongside bomba and salsa ensemble Chuwi.
“We went off about all the problems we have in Puerto Rico and the need to defend our natural resources,” he says. “Lorén, the singer in Chuwi, performs as if she were the land of Borinquen, and I’m answering her.” He also highlights how his work as a volunteer doctor informs his songwriting, saying, “I go into people’s homes. I work with the elderly. I just got back from Vieques, a small island with only about 8,000 people and barely a clinic. So I see a lot of realities that don’t always make it on the news, and I share those stories through my art.”
Though balancing two extremely demanding careers might be overwhelming for most, Sin Suela confesses he couldn’t work on music more than he already does. His medical practice gives him a break from creative saturation and keeps him grounded in the goings-on of daily life on the island, while music provides a cathartic outlet for when things get heavy. That’s also why he’s so excited to take Toda Época Tiene Su Encanto on the road throughout September, bringing his joyful love fest to New York, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami, and more, plus a big closing shindig at Puerto Rico’s Anfiteatro Tito Puente on Nov. 16. The album will also receive a vinyl release, yet another layer of the work of love he has created.
I go into people’s homes. I work with the elderly… So I see a lot of realities that don’t always make it on the news, and I share those stories through my art.
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of this new chapter in PJ Sin Suela’s journey is how it fortified his friendships. After collaborating with Chilean rap icon Ana Tijoux in 2020 for the protest song “Pa Que,” they reunited in Puerto Rico last year, recording tracks for their respective records. Their flirtatious duet on “Polos Opuestos” is an exchange of Chilean and Puerto Rican slang, later aided by legendary jazz trumpeter Charly Sepulveda.
Similarly, during a visit to the island last year, Sin Suela befriended Oscar-winning Uruguayan singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler, taking him around classic San Juan dives like El Nie and even to a vogue ball. A few months later, when he got stuck on the track “Todo Se Complica,” about the mounting tribulations of a relationship, he called up Drexler to help flesh out the story’s more existential details.
“I love that song, and I love that I did it with him because it’s true,” reflects Sin Suela, getting to the heart of not only the album, but also his life’s work. “Things do get complicated, but then someone comes around to remind you how the simple things are what matter most.”
