10 Places To Visit In Puerto Rico That Are True to ‘DTmF’

1

Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico

The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico is the premier art museum on the island, and includes original works of art from some of PR’s greatest luminaries including Francisco Oller, José Campeche, Rafael Tufiño, Pepón Osorio, Olga Albizu, and more.

This August, they debut “The Archive,” which is a new exhibit showcasing the collabs between Adidas and Bad Bunny over the past five years. Including the most recent DTmF-inspired models and also prototypes that never went into production, it’s a draw for sneakerheads and Benitoheads alike.

Come for the Benito off-white Ballerinas, stay for the Antonio López art nouveau illustrations.

2

Ruta CAFé CON RON

When talking (or singing) about the Caribbean, the beaches and coasts get most of the love. But in DTmF, Benito dedicated “CAFé CON RON” to the joys of hanging out in the hill towns of central Puerto Rico.

With that in mind, Sofrito Tours teamed up with Los Pleneros de la Cresta (Bad Bunny’s collaborators from that song) for a tour that takes visitors through various local coffee shops and bars for — what else? — café and rum, with an added dash of history and music. Because as Bad Bunny says in the song, “Están arriba en el monte los códigos de verdad.”

3

Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico

The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo doesn’t just feature some of the best pieces of artwork from contemporary Puerto Rican artists; it also functions as a community space for workshops, markets, screenings, and more. Visitors can enjoy exhibits featuring boundary-pushing and innovative artwork across all kinds of media, or enjoy an evening of salsa classes, group domino games, live concerts, or Q&As with acclaimed authors and poets.

The MAC recognizes Puerto Rican art is all-expansive, daring, and alive, and is dedicated to bringing it closer to those who wish to explore the full spectrum of its offerings.

4

Memoria (De)colonial

Bad Bunny’s album — and its accompanying visualizers — is clear-eyed and critical about the role colonialism has played on Puerto Rico over the course of its history. As an antidote to the usual site tours offered to visitors, Memoria (De)colonial instead takes you through the stories of Old San Juan and the archipelago, viewed through the important contextual lens of race, class, gender, and more.

Known as “(de)tours,” they provide a much needed basis for opening conversations that, wielded correctly, can and must be acknowledged when grappling with Puerto Rico’s future status. It’s a must stop, led by educators and researchers, for those who want a deeper dive.

5

Fundación Ismael Rivera

Bad Bunny’s concert kicks off with a rousing bomba presentation by LoS SOBRiNOS bandleader Julito Gastón, and interest in the storied folk genre has been at a high since the album’s release.

The nonprofit Fundación Ismael Rivera is dedicated to the salsa legend himself, also known as “Maelo,” and is based out of his old home which is now preserved as a museum. On the grounds, they’ve taken to doing bomba workshops and classes for those interested in learning more about the traditional dance and also about Maelo’s work in community building and outreach.

6

“La Borinqueña” Gallery

Writer and illustrator Edgardo Miranda-Rodríguez created superheroine La Borinqueña in 2016 out of a desire to introduce a new Puerto Rican superhero that also embodied the Afro-Boricua identities that are often othered. But the project took on a new importance in 2017 post-Hurricane María, and since then the popular comic books have also served as fundraisers for nonprofits in PR.

An art gallery celebrating the book and its characters is on display in San Juan through the month of August, and it’s an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with a heroine for all who has even teamed up with legends like Wonder Woman and Supergirl.

7

MUSAN: Museo de los Santos y Arte Nacional

The Museo de los Santos y Arte Nacional, also known as MUSAN, distinguishes itself from the pack by focusing on Puerto Rican folk art. Specifically, hand-carved “santos de palo” which have their origins in traditional religions. These same creeds birthed the music of bomba and plena found in DTmF, so those interested in exploring further are encouraged to check out the exhibits.

Additionally, the MUSAN also hosts artist incubators where emerging artists can freely work on their projects and share them in the museum’s galleries.

8

La Sala Libre

Part art installation, part pop-up cultural center, and part the coolest hang on the block, La Sala Libre is the brainchild of creative director Mikey Cordero. Born and raised in Brooklyn to Puerto Rican parents, Cordero has always strived to stay in touch with his roots, which is what led him to found media collectives Defend PR and Diaspo Rico after Hurricane María.

Now living in PR, his newest project, La Sala Libre, runs every weekend all-throughout Benito’s residency and features live music, wide-ranging chats about boricua culture, conversations about the diaspora’s role, film screenings, and more.

9

“Museo del Reguetón” @ Embajada

Bad Bunny is not here for the “reggaetón is not from Puerto Rico” discourse. In the DTmF perreo banger “EoO” he says with his whole chest “You’re listening to music from Puerto Rico” and at his residency’s opening night he took three minutes to namedrop over 100 names of reggaetón artists from PR, underlining the sentiment.

To that end, art gallery Embajada has teamed up with transmedia archive Hasta ‘Bajo Project to create the Museo del Reguetón where fans can learn about the history of the genre, from its underground days to the present, and view art inspired by its sounds.

10

“¡De AQuÍ NADie NoS SAcA!” Art Expo

You’ve heard the chant heard ’round Puerto Rico: “De aquí nadie me saca, de aquí yo no me muevo.” It’s the closing lines of DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS and (spoiler alert) Benito’s concert, but how well and truly do you understand what it means? To get a sense, you can swing by this art gallery where you’ll see a bevy of talented Puerto Rican artists expressing — in different mediums — their feelings about gentrification, displacement, colonialism, resistance, and more (including some works used at past protests.)

Bad Bunny’s album has been hailed as a work of art that wears its politics on its sleeve, and here you can see more from those who also share his sentiments and have been in the trenches.