Review: Inside Bad Bunny’s Epic No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí Concert

Bad Bunny’s highly anticipated residency, No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí, kicked off in July for Puerto Rico residents. In August, the rest of the world finally got a chance to join the party, even those flying from South Florida. New Times locked in tickets for the August 8 show back in January. In the months leading up to it, we caught glimpses of what to expect online, but tried not to spoil the entire experience ahead of time.

We arrived around 5:30 p.m. to explore all the activations. There were dancers on stilts, a mini-club sponsored by Medalla, and so much more to take in. The lines to enter the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot were long and felt organized yet chaotic at the same time. There weren’t roped-off lanes, just a few signs directing people where to go.

We spent around forty-five minutes getting through security. Many items are not allowed into the arena, so if you’re attending later this month, please leave vapes and electric handheld fans at home. Bags larger than 6.5 x 4.5 inches are also prohibited, and since there are no lockers to store personal belongings, many people had to discard their bags at the entrance. One man in front of us was furious he had to throw away his expensive bag and walk in with his items in his hands. Save yourself the hassle by bringing a small bag that fits the correct dimensions, or just get a clear bag.

At precisely 9 p.m., Bad Bunny took the stage with a powerful introduction, opening with his latest single, “Alambre de Púa.” Behind him, bomba dancers and drummers, led by renowned percussionist Julito Gastón, brought the performance to life. The songs that followed continued to keep the high energy among the crowd with songs like El Apagón, where Benito had the entire crowd jumping and yelling “¡Puerto Rico está bien cabrón!” The LED installations and fixtures felt like thousands of people were under one club.
After about an hour of performing songs including “Vete”, “Weltita”, and “Turista,” he moved over to La Casita, where special guests — including his Caught Stealing co-star Austin Butler, Anthony Ramos, and even the Bachelor’s Jenn Tran— were spotted dancing for the rest of the night. Throughout the show, Rainao, Omar Courtz, and Dei V also joined Benito on stage for performances of “Perfumito Nuevo” and “Velda.”

While Bad Bunny himself doesn’t rely on choreographed routines with the rest of his dancers, the combination of immersive stage production, dancers, powerful percussionists, and the light show makes it an incredible concert.

There were moments throughout the concert where you felt like you were on a dancefloor in a club, and others where you felt like you were dancing at a family function in the backyard.

There was not one song throughout the concert where the crowd wasn’t singing along. The community he’s cultivated and the boost in tourism his residency has brought to Puerto Rico speak volumes about the kind of artist he is — one who not only entertains but also unites and uplifts his people.