Bad Bunny’s ‘NUEVAYoL’ Meaning and Lyrics in English
Benito’s song is a vibrant tribute to the Puerto Rican community in New York City
Bad Bunny, the most streamed Latin artist of 2024 and currently the biggest name in Latin music, continues to captivate fans with his ongoing success. Months after releasing his album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, his single ‘NUEVAYoL’ remains one of the most listened-to songs on digital platforms.
The music video for ‘NUEVAYoL’ is set to premiere on July 4, adding fresh momentum to this hit.
This date is significant, as it marks U.S. Independence Day—a day Bad Bunny has previously referenced in his music to critique colonialism and assert Puerto Rican identity. The song itself pays homage to New York City’s Puerto Rican community, blending salsa influences with contemporary reggaeton.
A Global Stage: The ‘DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS World Tour’
Following the success of his album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, Bad Bunny is embarking on a global tour that will kick off in November 2025 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and conclude in July 2026 in Belgium. The tour includes stops in countries such as Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Poland, and Italy.
Notably, Bad Bunny has chosen not to include dates in the United States for this tour. In an interview, he explained that he believes it is «unnecessary,» citing the ample opportunities fans in the U.S. have had to see him perform, including a 45-date tour in 2024.
The Meaning Behind ‘NUEVAYoL’
Bad Bunny’s “NUEVAYoL” is a vibrant tribute to the Puerto Rican community in New York City, capturing the spirit of summer and cultural pride. The song blends references to iconic neighborhoods like the Bronx and Washington Heights with nods to Puerto Rican heritage and urban life.
Through playful language and vivid imagery, Benito celebrates his roots while asserting his place as a leading figure in Latin music. The track challenges traditional pop norms by embracing reggaeton and dembow as powerful genres, and invites listeners to enjoy life with style and movement. Overall, “NUEVAYoL” is both a celebration of identity and a confident declaration of resilience and cultural pride in the Puerto Rican diaspora.
It’s also important to note that the title is written as ‘Nueva Yol’ and not ‘Nueva York’ (the correct way to write the city in Spanish), because the Puerto Rican accent turns the “r” sound into an “l.”
Bad Bunny’s ‘NUEVAYoL’ Lyrics in English
NUEVAYOL!
If you wanna have fun
With charm and grace
You just gotta live (where to?)
A summer in New York (New York!)
If you wanna have fun
With charm and grace (what is this?)
You just gotta live (and this cold?)
A summer in New York (just a little while)
Hey, hey, hey, July 4th, fourth of July
I’m with my cousin, drunk, chillin’
My people in the Bronx know what’s up
Feeling high in Washington Heights
Willie Colón, they call me the bad one, hey
‘Cause years go by and I’m still killin’ it
Selling records like Frida Kahlo paintings
The coke’s white, yes, yes
The tusi, pink, eh-eh
Don’t get confused, no, no
Better avoid it, hey
A shot of cañita at Toñita’s place, ay
Puerto Rico feels close
Yes, yes, yes
I got the championship, nobody takes it from me
The best in the world
Number one, the best in the world, okay?
Puerto Rico
How’s Bad Bunny gonna be king of pop? Hey
With reggaeton and dembow, yes
With reggaeton and dembow
How’s Bad Bunny gonna be king of pop? Hey
With reggaeton and dembow
I feel like Lápiz in “Capea el Dough”
When I was born, that’s when the flow was born
From side to side, ping-pong
Heavy flow, Big Pun
With a silencer, we steal the cats
James Bond, hey
I’m on my grind, no rivals, no
With the Yankees and the Mets, Juan Soto
Run, ‘cause we’re taking the stadium again
If you wanna have fun
With charm and grace
You just gotta live (we’re leaving right now)
A summer in New Y- (just a little more, a little more)
Shh, careful, don’t let anyone hear us
Shh, careful, don’t let anyone hear us
Shh, careful, don’t let anyone hear us
Shh, care-
You got style, mama, me too
You’re fine, I’m fine too
I smell good and roll with the hundred
If you want it, you gotta move it
You got style, mama, me too
You’re fine, I’m fine too
I smell good and roll with the hundred
If you want it, you gotta move it
You gotta move it, ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve
You gotta move it, ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve
You gotta move it, ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve
You gotta move it, ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve
Shh