After a solid 12 days of protesting Puerto Ricos soon-to-be-ex-Governor Ricardo Rossell, Residente and Bad Bunny, comrades in Boricua struggle, return to what made them friends in the first place: their music.
The two released a jaunty reggaeton single Friday morning titled Bellacoso, along with a video directed by Paris-based cinematographer Gregory Ohrel. Filmed on one of Puerto Ricos many idyllic beaches, dancers of all shapes, colors and gender expressions flaunt their bodies (and armpit hair) in the sunshine.
Yet their moves serve as more than a backdrop to the MCs daring wordplay. The body-positive new visual is inextricable from an ongoing dialogue on the safety of women and gender-non-conforming peoplein Puerto Rico incited by local feminist activists, who also helped kickstart the islands #RickyRenuncia protests.
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I have five sisters, says Residente, who supported the group in their calls to action. I have to be aware of these things!
Bellacoso is a heightened version of the word bellaco which, in English, is analogous to horny. But when Residente sings, Bellacoso pero sin acoso, he tells Rolling Stone, Its about being horny without harassment its consensual. If everybody wants to go all the way, whether youre a twosome, threesome, or foursome, everybody has to consent.
The songs thick, viscous beats were supplied by The Hamilton Mixtape producer Trooko along with a drum sample by DJ Urba, best known for his work on Daddy Yankees classic 2005 record, Barrio Fino. (Its got that Daddy sound, says Residente.) Bellacoso is one of the few reggaeton songs Residente has recorded himself, first with Calle 13s 2005 superhit Atrvete-Te-Te.
Back in the day, reggaeton, like rock, like any genre had its ups and downs, he explains. Fourteen years ago, reggaeton was super hot. I didnt want to use it to make myself famous.
Although the rapper has been critical of urbano musics commercial turn over the years, his friendship with known chart-topper Bad Bunny has him singing a different tune.I dont rap because I want to be famous or be part of the Top 20, he says. I just wanna do something creative and fun And to collaborate with someone like Benito is a fun experiment. Were friends, we have good chemistry and get along super well.
When he describes Bellacoso as an experiment, though, he doesnt simply mean an artistic one: Residente first conducted an electroencephalogram (EEG) test on Bad Bunnys brain then used his brain waves to inspire the track. Much like the mind of Bad Bunny, says Residente, this song is all about tempo and rhythm.
The brain frequencies, you change them into numbers, he says. Then you can change those numbers into sounds, rhythms and patterns.
Residentes new single is just the first of many EEG-incorporating tracks, all of which will appear on his upcoming solo album, yet untitled, due in October 2019. I am focusing on the frequencies that connect us as humans to then develop a sound, lyrics, and concept, he says, [and] will present some twists on how we connect with the universe in general.