Bad Bunny before he was famous
He bagged groceries. Then he broke the charts.
1994: Born in Bayamon, raised in Vega Baja
In 1994, a boy is born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He grows up in the Almirante Sur barrio of Vega Baja, a working-class corner of the island. Nobody there has any reason to think the world will one day learn its name.
Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and raised in the Almirante Sur barrio of Vega Baja. Source
1999: A Vico C record for Christmas
Christmas 1999, and a five-year-old unwraps a record: "Aquel Que Habia Muerto" by Puerto Rican reggaeton pioneer Vico C. It becomes his earliest musical memory. The sound of home, handed to him as a gift.
His earliest musical memory was receiving the record "Aquel Que Habia Muerto" by Puerto Rican reggaeton pioneer Vico C as a Christmas gift at age five. Source
Childhood, until 2007: Singing in the church choir
Every week he goes to church with his devoutly Catholic mother. He sings in the choir until he is thirteen years old. Years later he says that experience helped shape his whole musical foundation.
2008: Writing his first songs at 14
At fourteen, he stops just listening and starts building. He writes his own lyrics and creates his own music, teaching himself as he goes. The bedroom becomes the first studio.
Started to write and create his own music at the age of 14. Source
2012: College student, aiming for radio
He graduates high school in 2012 and enrolls in audiovisual communications at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo. The plan isn't stardom, it's becoming a radio host. He wants to be the voice behind the microphone, not the name on the marquee.
After graduating high school in 2012, enrolled in the audiovisual communications program at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo, aiming to become a radio host. Source
2015-2016: Studying audiovisual communication
For the next two years he keeps studying audiovisual communication at Arecibo. Lectures, equipment, deadlines. All the while the songs keep piling up.
Studied audiovisual communication at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo. Source
2016: Supermarket bagger, Econo, Vega Baja
In 2016 he's bagging groceries at an Econo supermarket in Vega Baja. Shifts at the register, then home to record songs. Two lives running side by side, and only one of them pays.
2016: Uploading "Diles" to SoundCloud
He uploads his tracks independently to SoundCloud, and people start listening. Then comes "Diles", and the numbers stop looking like a hobby. The kid from Almirante Sur is on his way.
childhood, until age 13 (c. 2007)
Attended church weekly with his devoutly Catholic mother and sang in the church choir until age 13, an experience he later said helped shape his musical foundation. Source
2016
Worked as a bagger at an Econo supermarket in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, while recording songs. Source
2016
Gained attention releasing music independently on SoundCloud, including the breakout "Diles". Source