You’ve heard the numbers. They’re basically astronomical at this point. 20 billion streams for Un Verano Sin Ti. Reclaiming the Spotify global throne in late 2025. It’s a lot. But when people talk about Bad Bunny popular songs, they usually stick to the surface. They think it’s just catchy club music or "vibe" tracks for the beach.
Honestly? That’s a massive understatement.
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio isn’t just making hits; he’s essentially running a decade-long masterclass in how to dismantle the "global pop star" blueprint. By the time 2026 rolled around, he wasn't just a reggaetonero. He’d become a guy who could drop a six-minute orchestral trap opener like "NADIE SABE" and have the entire world humming along to a sample of a 1950s French-Egyptian ballad. It's weird, it's bold, and it works.
The Tracks That Changed the Global Math
If you want to understand why his catalog is so dominant, you have to look at the "big three" eras. Most casual listeners start with "Dakiti." It was the first Spanish-language track to simultaneously top the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts. That song was pure magic—smooth, synth-heavy, and impossible to escape in 2020.
But then came Un Verano Sin Ti.
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"Tití Me Preguntó" is probably the most chaotic masterpiece in modern music. It starts as a playboy anthem, shifts into a frantic dembow rhythm, and ends with a sentimental breakdown about the fear of commitment. It’s three songs in one. It’s high-energy, but it’s also deeply specific to the "tía" culture of the Caribbean. That’s the secret sauce. He doesn't water it down for the "gringo" market; he makes the world come to him.
Then there’s "Me Porto Bonito" with Chencho Corleone. If you were in a car, a club, or a grocery store in 2022, you heard this. It’s got that classic underground reggaeton feel but polished to a 2026 sheen. It’s currently one of his most-streamed songs ever, proving that people still crave that raw, driving beat even when he’s busy experimenting with indie-pop or rock.
The New Era: Why "DtMF" and "Baile Inolvidable" Matter
Fast forward to his 2025 project, Debí Tirar Más Fotos. This album was a pivot. It’s his most Puerto Rican work yet, and it absolutely destroyed the charts.
The lead single, "DtMF," wasn't just a hit—it was a statement. It’s grittier, leaning back into the trap roots that made him "The King of Latin Trap" back in the "Soy Peor" days. But the real surprise was "Baile Inolvidable." It’s a full-blown salsa track. Like, real Fania All-Stars style salsa.
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- It features Jacobo Morales in the video.
- It uses traditional brass arrangements.
- It connects the Gen Z crowd to their grandparents' record collections.
By doing this, Benito basically proved he’s untouchable. He can jump from the gritty trap of "Mónaco"—where he’s bragging about F1 and Charles Aznavour samples—to a sentimental salsa track without losing an ounce of street cred.
A Quick Reality Check on the Stats
| Song Title | Key Milestone |
|---|---|
| Dakiti | First Spanish song to lead both Global Billboard charts. |
| Tití Me Preguntó | Fueled the first 20-billion-stream album in Spotify history. |
| Yonaguni | His first solo top 10 on the Hot 100 (and he sang in Japanese). |
| Monaco | Highlighted his "Nadie Sabe" era with 19.8 billion total yearly streams in 2025. |
| DtMF | Reclaimed the #1 spot on US Streaming Songs in early 2025. |
The "Yonaguni" Effect: Breaking the Language Barrier
Most artists "cross over" by singing in English. Bad Bunny did the opposite. He sang in Japanese.
"Yonaguni" was a turning point. It showed that his fans didn't care about the lyrics as much as they cared about the feeling. The song is melancholic, yearning, and ends with a total shift in vibe. It’s probably the best example of his "sad boy" persona that balances out the "trap king" energy.
This duality is why Bad Bunny popular songs have such a long shelf life. You listen to "Safaera" when you want to lose your mind at a party, but you play "Amorfoda" or "Si Estuviésemos Juntos" when you’re staring out a rainy window. He’s covered every emotional base.
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Political Weight in the Playlist
You can’t talk about his hits without mentioning "El Apagón." On paper, it’s a high-energy dance track. But it’s actually a scathing critique of the power outages and gentrification in Puerto Rico.
When he performed it during his historic San Juan residency—the one that broke Amazon’s streaming records—it wasn't just a concert. It was a protest. He’s managed to make political activism something you can dance to. This is why experts like Albert Laguna from Yale and Professor Vanessa Díaz point to him as a "groundbreaking" figure. He’s taking marginalized genres (trap and reggaeton) and forcing them into the "Big Four" categories at the Grammys.
What's Next for the Benito Catalog?
With his 2026 European tour on the horizon, the focus is shifting again. He’s shown he can do trap, reggaeton, pop-punk (remember "Tenemos Que Hablar"?), and even salsa.
If you're looking to really "get" Bad Bunny, stop looking for the most-streamed track and start looking for the transitions. Listen to how "Moscow Mule" feels like a literal sunrise, or how "Perro Negro" with Feid brings that aggressive Medellín-meets-PR energy.
The most important thing to remember is that his "popular" songs are rarely his "simplest" ones. They are complex, multi-layered cultural artifacts that happen to have a really good bassline.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on how his 2025 tracks like "Pitorro de Coco" continue to blend holiday tradition with modern beats—it's likely the blueprint for how he'll continue to dominate the 2026 charts. Start by revisiting the Un Verano Sin Ti transitions; they still hold the secret to his massive streaming longevity.