Behind Bad Bunny’s ‘DtMF’: How Plena Came to Define This Culture-Shifting — and Tear-Jerking — Moment

Bad Bunny has consistently transformed holiday periods into landmark events for his audience, strategically releasing pivotal work during festive seasons. His Christmas Day debut of "X100pre," the Thanksgiving-week launch of "El Último Tour Del Mundo," and the pre-Three Kings Day arrival of his sixth studio album, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," all tap into the extended celebratory culture of his native Puerto Rico. The album's title track, "DtMF," emerged directly from this context, inspired by the artist's first experience with a traditional *parranda navideña*—a vibrant night of caroling—in 2024.

The song's genesis, however, belongs to producer MAG. After leaving the festive gathering, the rhythms of *plena*, a cornerstone of Puerto Rican folk music known for its call-and-response vocals and hand-held percussion, lingered in his mind. "I couldn't shake the sound of plena," MAG explained to Variety, comparing its modern reinterpretation to how Afrobeats revitalizes African traditions. He then revisited an unused melodic loop originally created by producer-songwriter Scott Dittrich with collaborators Tyler Spry and Julia Lewis. Lewis had characterized its distinctive descending digital chords as reminiscent of "an old rotary phone." Dittrich, who typically refines every idea, felt this one was uniquely complete. MAG built upon it, adding a bassline and conceptual percussion before sending a beatboxed voice memo to Bad Bunny, initially speculating it could evolve into a salsa track.

At that point, Bad Bunny—whose career is managed by Noah Assad, founder of the influential Latin music powerhouse Rimas Entertainment—considered the album finished and was initially reluctant. MAG's determination proved crucial. Upon hearing the fully developed instrumental, the artist was immediately persuaded. The final product, "DtMF," is a masterful fusion, layering traditional Puerto Rican folk elements atop a modern reggaeton foundation. This creates a powerful sonic bridge, much like how artists such as Rosalía have blended flamenco with urban beats, highlighting a broader movement of cultural reclamation in contemporary Latin music. The song's lyrical core, lamenting lost moments with the refrain "I should have taken more photos," ignited a massive viral trend, with fans worldwide creating emotional tribute montages, often for departed loved ones.

The record's influence extended far beyond streaming platforms, achieving historic Grammy nominations and bolstering the artist's upcoming headline slot at the Super Bowl Halftime Show—a stage previously graced by legends like Michael Jackson and Prince, underscoring Bad Bunny's crossover into a definitive pop culture icon. Engineer and co-producer La Pacienca emphasized the track's organic roots, revealing the background vocalists were recruited from a local school choir. "The magic was immediate and authentic," La Pacienca noted. "It was a pure, homegrown expression of longing for Puerto Rico, for home." This sentiment, untouched by commercial mandates, underscores the potent creative synergy between Bad Bunny and his trusted production circle, proving that some of the most impactful global anthems can begin with the simple, persistent echo of a folk rhythm after a holiday party.