Who is Bad Bunny? The Puerto Rican rapper who won a Grammy with a sunflower in his hand

From A-list collaborations to activism and fashion, here's what you need to know about the 'YHLQMDLG' star

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Latin superstar Bad Bunny made waves on the red carpet at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night.

Arriving with a sunflower in hand, the Puerto Rican rapper left with a Grammy. While he's a major star in the Latin music world, he may not be a household name in the Middle East, so here's what you need to know about the Un Dia rapper.

This was his first Grammy win, but not his first nomination 

epa09075351 A handout photo made available by The Recording Academy shows Bad Bunny accepting the Grammy for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album for 'YHLQMDLG' onstage during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in Los Angeles, California, USA, 14 March 2021.  EPA/Kevin Winter / HANDOUT ATTENTION EDITORS: IMAGE TO BE USED ONLY IN RELATION TO THE STATED EVENT / HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES/NO ARCHIVES
Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny accepting the Grammy for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album for 'YHLQMDLG' on Sunday. EPA

Bad Bunny, 27, won the Grammy for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album, for his record YHLQMDLG. This year he was also nominated for Best Pop Duo / Group Performance for Un Dia (One Day) with J Balvin, Dua Lipa and Tainy, however they missed out to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande for Rain On Me.

Accepting his award in Los Angeles on Sunday, he said: "I'm very happy, I'm really happy, I'm really proud.

"I want to thank every person in the world that listened to my music and supported my career and my ideas."

He also performed single Dakiti with fellow Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Jhay Cortez during the ceremony.

He received his first Grammy nomination in 2019 for I Like It, with Cardi B and J Balvin. Then, in 2020, he was nominated twice for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album for Oasis and X 100pre.

Since 2017, he has been nominated for a total of 14 Latin Grammy Awards. He has taken two home, one for Best Urban Music Album for X 100pre in 2019, and a second for Best Reggaeton Performance for Yo Perreo Sola in 2020.

What does 'YHLQMDLG' mean?

YHLQMDLG is the album that landed Bad Bunny his Grammy, but what does it mean? The title is an acronym for the Spanish phrase, "yo hago lo que me da la gana", which translates to I do whatever I want

The album, which released in February 2020, is his second album, but third overall.

Following YHLQMDLG, he released El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo (The Last Tour of the World) in November 2020.

Where is Bad Bunny from? 

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, was born in Puerto Rico in 1994.

In May 2020, he spoke to Rolling Stone about his family life growing up. "I wasn't the kid who got involved in the streets. I liked to be at home with my family," he said.

He also explained to the music magazine that his pseudonym was "inspired by a childhood photo of him at Easter, grimacing in a plush bunny suit".

Does Bad Bunny rap and sing in English or Spanish? 

Bad Bunny primarily performs in Spanish, however the odd line of English does slip into his raps here and there.

On working with Canadian rapper Drake, he said: "I don’t speak English well, but ... we spoke about music, basketball, everything."

In 2020, he was the non-English language act to be named Spotify's most streamed artist of the year.

Who has Bad Bunny collaborated with? 

The list of artists that the Puerto Rican rapper has worked with reads like the who's who of the Billboard Chart.

As well as Drake, Cardi B, J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Jhay Cortez and Tainy, he has also teamed up with Daddy Yankee, 21 Savage, Rosalia, Sech, Farruko, Rvssian, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez.

In 2018, Drake and Bad Bunny released Mia, in which the Canadian performer rapped in Spanish.

His steamy performance of La Noche de Anoche on Saturday Night Live with Rosalia in February had people speculating that the pair are a couple, but he has in fact been in a relationship with Puerto Rican jewellery designer Gabriela Berlingeri since 2017.

Bad Bunny is known for his fashion sense 

Sunglasses are a Bad Bunny style signature, and he has been spotted sporting unconventional and statement frames, as well as coloured lenses.

He appeared on the April 2020 cover of Mexican Vogue with Joan Smalls and the magazine has described him as a star who has "long made oddball sartorial choices that are both precious and savvy".

For the 2021 Grammys, he wore a Riccardo Tisci Burberry look accessorised with a sunflower, a beanie hat and, of course, sunglasses.

Bad Bunny is an outspoken activist 

The singer champions a number of causes and has been outspoken about the lack of humanitarian aid following the 2017 Hurricane Maria, which devastated his home island of Puerto Rico.

In September 2018, a year on from the disaster, he performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and said in English: "After one year of the hurricane, there are still people without electricity in their homes. More than 3,000 people died and Trump's still in denial."

He also established the Good Bunny Foundation, which distributes toys to impoverished children living in Puerto Rico. He is also a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.

In June 2020, the Good Bunny Foundation suggested and paid for the "Black Lives Matter"' slogan to be painted on Ashford Avenue in Condado, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Click through to see 2021 Grammys highlights here: