Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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What did those opening seconds of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance really mean?

In this TheGrio interview, journalist Natasha S. Alford talks with reggaeton historian and educator Gata of Reggaetón con la Gata to unpack the powerful cultural symbolism behind the visuals many viewers may have missed.

From the sugarcane fields — a nod to plantation history — to the phrase "Hoy se bebe" popularized by Dominican Bachata legend Anthony Santos, Gata explains how the performance subtly honored shared Afro‑Caribbean history and unity between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

She breaks down the everyday details woven into the scene — piragua vendors, coco frío, jewelry sellers — and how these familiar sights reflect barrio life, Black Caribbean culture, and the lived experiences that shaped reggaeton long before it reached global stages.

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