“Debí Tirar Más Fotos” I should have taken more pictures… This feels pressingly relevant, now more than ever. Last Friday, the reggaetón star unveiled the track list for his upcoming LP and an accompanying short film, highlighting the changing makeup of his native Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny (whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio) laments not having physical memories of his homeland, only the memories in his head. He issues a heartfelt love letter to Puerto Rico inspired by a spirit of resilience, a testament to the liberation that a Boricua embodies to this day.
Also last Friday, a nearly 100-year-old building in the Bronx burned for hours. Soaring flames tore through the night sky. In the Bronx, we’re watching skylines disintegrate; whole neighborhoods are disappearing. The facades springing up seem bright and cheery but feel cold compared to the antique, warm ones from just a few years ago. I should have taken more pictures…
Benito’s latest album is a loving tribute to the island’s culture, music, and resilience while also providing a scathing commentary on Gentrification and Settler Colonialism.
At the time of writing this, a total of three fires have displaced upwards of up to 400 people in the Bronx (with a 4th fire currently being investigated and reported on). Our borough is struggling with housing insecurity and over 5 decades of neglect culminating in what feels like an Apocalypse for many residents. As of yesterday, January 16, 2025, the so-called community leader, Amaurys “I stand in solidarity with BLM” Grullon found it not only appropriate to release a new t-shirt capitalizing on Benito’s new album but directly plagiarized the Boricuas artistry, plastering “Debi tirar mas Fotos En EL BRONX”. (See image below) While hundreds are navigating shelter systems, lack of resources, and the direct impact of gentrification, Amaurys wants to sell you a bootlegged shirt.
Ever since the brand, back in 2017, landed some of the most coveted retail space New York has to offer, Amaurys Grullon has become the unabashed face of Gentrification. With help from the state i.e. his elected and unelected politician friends (Ruben Diaz Sr. & Jr, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Michael Blake, Eric Adams, Rafael Salamanca, Michael Brady, Lisa Sorin, Dion Powell, Tomas Ramos, Proud Zionist: Marco Shalma and Vaness Gibson) he has entered the community, disguised as a “Kid from the Bronx” exploiting fellow artists, children, so-called community members, and last but not least his customers! Since 2017, he has consistently plagiarised no, STOLEN the work from a laundry list of others which now includes the work of Boricua Activist, Benito Antonio. This individual has been awarded proclamations by Ruben Diaz Jr., Michael Blake, Mayor Eric Adams, and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. Amaurys Grullon does not represent the community as his focus is to EXCLUSIVELY exploit our borough and its culture. He aligns himself with other exploiters and believes no one is connecting the dots… but we are.
Back in 2018, Amaurys plagiarized work from a group called “Artistas Solidarixs y en Resistencia”, creating t-shirts out of their prolific “Black and White Puerto Rican Flag”. The group created the image as a response to the PROMESA Act and American colonialism. Amaurys created shirts ahead of the NYC Puerto Rican day parade, claiming that proceeds from the sale would go to helping rebuild homes on the Archipelago. The silent part was that the money was donated to NY Disaster Interfaith Services, a zionist organization. A reprehensible offense to the sentiment of the artist’s work.
In this case, with regards to Benito’s work, we have another example, Amaurys Grullon taking intellectual property, slapping it on a t-shirt with his corny and disrespectful burnt building logo, and selling it for a profit. Amaurys Grullon has no ethics or respect for people, but least of all people in the Bronx. He sees everything as an opportunity to make money so he can go on vacation on the backs of the people.
As we mentioned this is not the first or second time Amaurys Grullon has taken someone’s work and modified it like his own. Talk to your neighbor, ask around the Bronx, and you will soon learn the history of his theft. Unfortunately, because Amaurys is also aligned with the NYPD and has been known to file police reports against his opponents (Edward and James Caban, Former NYPD Commissioner and his Cop Brother, respectively) folks have been hesitant to speak out.
Amaurys Grullon aka The Bronx Native has no respect for anyone. If you support and reward this kind of business then you are the problem. We need to accept the Bronx has reached a new gutter level in business. The political and community leaders reward the most unethical businesses in the Bronx. Do we have to accept it? No! We need to make a statement and put an end to this type of dishonorable behavior. We will continue to demand accountability for our community.
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