photo credit: Play Radio
Just as the world prepares for Bad Bunny’s historic 2026 Super Bowl Halftime performance, the Puerto Rican superstar is navigating a major legal storm. A new lawsuit seeking $16 million in damages has been filed in Puerto Rico, alleging that the “King of Latin Trap” used unauthorized vocal recordings on two of his most successful tracks. The claim highlights a growing trend of legal scrutiny regarding the “tags” and vocal snippets that define modern reggaeton.
The Voice Behind the “Perreo”
The lawsuit was filed by Tainaly Y. Serrano Rivera, who claims her voice is the one delivering the iconic line: “Mira, puñeta, no me quiten el perreo” (“Listen, damn it, don’t take away my vibe”). According to the filing, this recording appears prominently at the end of the 2018 hit “Solo de Mi” and is reused in the track “EoO” from his 2025 chart-topping album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos. Serrano alleges she recorded the phrase in 2018 at the request of producer Robert Rosado (known as La Paciencia) while they were theater students together. She maintains that she was never informed the recording would be used for commercial gain, never signed a contract, and has never been compensated for the global success of the songs.
A Recurring Legal Theme
This case is particularly striking because it mirrors a previous legal headache for the artist. Serrano is represented by the same legal team that handled the $40 million lawsuit filed by Bad Bunny’s ex-girlfriend, Carliz De La Cruz Hernández, over the famous “Bad Bunny, baby” vocal tag. These lawsuits underscore a critical shift in the music industry: as independent artists explode into global superstars, the informal agreements of their early “college days” are being tested in court. For Bad Bunny and his label, Rimas Entertainment, the stakes are high, as the “Mira, puñeta” line has evolved into a cultural catchphrase used in concerts and on high-revenue merchandise. Bad Bunny and his team are expected to respond in court in May 2026.
As the industry moves toward more rigorous digital tracking of intellectual property, this case serves as a warning to producers: even a short, spontaneous phrase can become a multi-million-dollar liability if not properly documented.
