HIGHSNOBIETY DEBUTS WINTER 2021 HIGHArt SPECIAL ISSUE FEATURING COVER STAR BAD BUNNY
A Magazine by Highsnobiety returns with the Winter 2021 issue titled HIGHArt.
Starring Bad Bunny on this first-ever HIGHArt cover, the issue features conversations with Virgil Abloh and Nigo, the Marni family, Russell Westbrook, Grimes, Kidsuper, Coi Leray, and Anonymous Club, as well as a tour of Miami from Dan Graham.
In the cover story by Rubén Herrera and accompanying imagery shot by Awol Erizku and styled by Corey Stokes at The Standard Miami, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, also known as Bad Bunny, discusses his upcoming studio album, his views on art, his life pre-fame, what Bad Bunny represents to him, his much-discussed “Yo Perreo Sola” music video and more from the Dominican Republic, where it is revealed that he is filming a top-secret project.
On his upcoming studio album:
“I don’t feel pressure from the fans or anything else. The only pressure I feel is from myself. And really, I wouldn’t even call it pressure. It’s a drive to create something new….I always ask myself, ‘How can I entertain and surprise people with something new?’ And that’s the pressure, but it’s a positive internal pressure.”
“¿Yo presión de los fanáticos o no se de algo? No la siento. La única presión es propia, mía. Y no es una presión. Es como que esas ganas de hacer algo nuevo. De yo mismo retarme: ‘¿wow que puedo hacer diferente? ¿Que me guste y que a la gente le guste? ¿Y de qué manera puedo entretener y sorprender a las personas con algo nuevo?’ Y esa es la presión, pero es una presión positiva.”
On his “Yo Perreo Sola” video:
“Obviously I’ll never do anything to purposely offend anyone, but we’re human. If I ever do or say anything that offends people, I will have two options: reflect to see if my behavior was the one at fault and learn from that in order to do better; or if I reflect and realize it was not me who was at fault, then I can leave it up to people whether they want to engage with my work.”
“Obviamente nunca voy a hacer algo con la intención de ofender a alguien o hacer sentir mal a alguien. Pero el día que yo diga o haga algo que a la gente no le guste, pues tendre dos opciones: reflexionar a ver si soy yo quien estuve mal y aprender de eso; o si yo pienso que no estuve mal, que es lo que pienso y siento, pues ya quedo asi. Cabrones si no les gusta pues no me miren.”
On his fame:
“I still don’t understand how people see me, or how I can possibly impact so many people. And maybe this is good. Maybe not understanding my reach helps keep me humble. It helps keep me the same Benito that I was growing up. The one that created art just because he was passionate about it.”
“Pero no se, todavía se me hace difícil entenderlo o aceptar a un cien por ciento como la gente me puede ver, o lo que pueda representar para muchas personas. Y no se si es malo o si es bueno que sea así. Quizás eso me ayuda a mantenerme siendo igual y no cambiar la perspectiva mia, o cambiar la forma de ser, o la forma de actuar. Quizás eso me ayuda a mantenerme humilde.”
On his life pre-fame:
“I was making music and working at a supermercado. I always kept making music. And I did it with passion. At that time, I never made music with hopes of leaving my job. I did it because I loved making music.”
“Yo estaba haciendo música y trabajaba en un supermercado. Y seguía haciendo mi música siempre. Y lo hacía con pasión. En aquel momento no era como hacia lo que hacía, para salir del supermercado. Si no era como que lo hago porque lo amo y me gusta. Y el día que se me dio la oportunidad de irme pa’l carajo fue el mejor día de mi vida. Pero no es como si esa fuera mi misión. Mi misión siempre fue simplemente hacer música y mejorar cada día.”
Elsewhere in the issue, Highsnobiety explores conversations with leading creatives including, amongst much more:
Grimes on becoming a mother, utopianism and her upcoming album
Russell Westbrook on Anna Wintour
Shayne Oliver on Anonymous Club, Marilyn Manson, and his alter ego
Kerwin Frost on confidence and humor
Ambush and Dior’s Yoon on space travel
Dan Graham’s tour of Florida
