Bad Bunny's "DtMF" is a genre-blending anthem that fuses traditional Puerto Rican plena with modern pop and reggaeton, serving as a powerful statement of cultural pride and resilience.

Cultural impact

• "DtMF" has been recognized as a modern plena anthem, sparking renewed interest in Puerto Rican folk traditions among younger audiences and music educators.

• The song became a centerpiece of Bad Bunny's "No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí" residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, where live performances highlighted its role in celebrating Puerto Rican identity.

• "DtMF" has been discussed in academic and cultural forums as a response to gentrification and cultural displacement, reinforcing music's role in activism and community resilience.

Critical response

• Rolling Stone noted that "DtMF" brought plena, a traditional Afro-Puerto Rican genre, to the global spotlight in an unprecedented way, calling its success "a cultural movement" that resonated worldwide. Read full review

• The New York Times highlighted how "DtMF" connects Puerto Rican roots with 21st-century sounds, emphasizing its lyrical focus on holding onto memories and cultural heritage. Read full review

• Billboard described "DtMF" as blasting to No. 1 on the Global 200, noting its historic achievement as Bad Bunny's fifth leader and its impact in bringing Puerto Rican music to a worldwide audience. Read full review

EJAE and Mark Sonnenblick were tapped for "Golden" by Netflix for their animated musical "KPop Demon Hunters," which became the streaming platform's most-watched movie of all time. The song's creation uniquely blended EJAE's K-pop songwriting background with Sonnenblick's musical theater expertise.

Cultural impact

• "Golden" won Best Song for an Animated Film at the 2025 Hollywood Music in Media Awards.

• EJAE explained that she "intentionally wrote a challenging vocal line" in order to "reflect both Rumi's vocal prowess and her fierce determination to seal the magical barrier of [the] Honmoon."

• A version of the track was performed live on SNL season 51 a part of a sketch in which Bad Bunny’s character expressed his love for the movie.

Critical response

• Billboard described "Golden" as "rich with lyrical meaning, about battling the literal demons in the movie and the less tangible ones in life," highlighting its "gargantuan melodies." Read full review

• NPR's Jae-Ha Kim praised the song's "mixture of, like, real K-pop songs where they have songs sung in Korean, but also with English," noting the English lyrics are "so good here." Read full review

• Stay Free Radio observed that "Golden" follows a "clear narrative arc, moving from self-doubt to confidence," with its chorus soaring "with infectious optimism." Read full review

Kendrick Lamar & SZA's "luther" emerged as part of the GNX rollout, sampling Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's "If This World Were Mine" to craft a love song about alleviating a partner's pain.

Cultural impact

• Kendrick Lamar and SZA performed "luther" at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.

• Part of the track became a popular sound used on TikTok and social media, with a dance challenge even becoming part of the virality.

Critical response

• NPR Music critic Ken Tucker noted that Lamar "samples Luther Vandross' 'If This World Were Mine,' with Kendrick singing and wrapping his own love lyric all around it." Read full review

• Songs Magazine highlighted that "Kendrick Lamar weaves his verses with sharp poetry, exploring themes of identity, struggle, and hope," while SZA "adds emotional depth." Read full review

• The New York Times Amplifier Newsletter described "luther" as "easily the album’s most tender moment," where Lamar and SZA "trade verses that imagine a better world for their beloveds." Read full review

Sabrina Carpenter's 'Manchild' serves as the lead single for her seventh album, Man's Best Friend, offering a sharp critique of masculinity and immature men.

Cultural impact

• Sabrina Carpenter debuted 'Manchild' live at the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona in June, marking its first major festival performance.

• To support the release, drive-in theater experiences were held, paying homage to the "cinematic" feel of the song & project's rollout.

• The song went viral on TikTok, with its bridge inspiring a dance trend that included participation from celebrities like Anne Hathaway.

Critical response

• The Guardian observed that 'Manchild' is "astounding in its construction and stickiness," noting its "second verse has a completely different melody than the first, which is different again from the bridge." Read full review

• Rolling Stone highlighted that "Carpenter has few peers these days when it comes to turning some of the most uncomfortable or even painful feelings when you’re crying over an ex into giggle-worthy treats." Read full review

• "'Every jab and insult leveled at men in her music is played like a gag fit for a screwball comedy,' NPR Music stated, identifying compositional influences from 'fist-raising classic country' and '90s R&B hits like 'No Scrubs.'" Read full review

Attempting to build on her 9 GRAMMY wins, Billie Eilish's "WILDFLOWER" is the fourth single from her most recent album 'HIT ME HARD AND SOFT', written & produced by her brother Finneas.

Cultural impact

• The track was featured in a set of live appearances on outlets such as SNL, COLORS & Songline.

• Although Eilish had never clarified who the song is about, it has been reported that multiple lines in the song allude to her relationship with Devon Lee Carlson.

• "WILDFLOWER" featured prominently on the setlist for Eilish's HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR, which spanned 106 dates across the globe.

Critical response

• The Guardian described "WILDFLOWER" as a "stealthy acoustic-driven power ballad." Read full review

• Pitchfork noted the track's "much-hyped live instrumentation" as "more window dressing than it is integral to the artistry." Read full review

• Rolling Stone praised "WILDFLOWER" for its emotional restraint and cinematic sweep, noting that it "builds slowly into one of the album’s most affecting moments." Read full review