SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Bad Bunny’s ex-girlfriend is suing the superstar for at least $40 million over a well-known voice recording she provided the singer before he became famous.Carliz De La Cruz Hernández, whose breathy “Bad Bunny, baby” recording was included in two of the artist’s songs, claimed in a lawsuit filed this month in a Puerto Rico court that her voice and the phrase she came up with are being used without her permission.The lawsuit, which was first reported by online Puerto Rico news site Noticel, notes that the phrase was used in the “Pa Ti,” song, which has more than 355 million views on YouTube and more than 235 million reproductions on Spotify. It also was used in the “Dos Mil 16” song, which has more than 60 million views on YouTube and 280 million reproductions on Spotify.The lawsuit states that De La Cruz’s “distinguishable voice” also has been used without her consent for songs, records, promotions, worldwide concerts, television, radio and social and musical platforms.“Since then, thousands of people have commented directly on Carliz’s social media networks, as well as every time she goes to a public place, about the ‘Bad Bunny, baby.’ This has caused, and currently causes, that De La Cruz feels worried, anguished, intimidated, overwhelmed and anxious,” the lawsuit states.Also sued is Noah Kamil Assad Byrne, manager for Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Martínez Ocasio.Assad and representatives of Bad Bunny did not immediately respond to a message for comment.De La Cruz and Martínez first became a couple in 2011. A year later, they began studying at the University of Puerto Rico in the north coastal town of Arecibo while also working at a nearby grocery store. The lawsuit stated that during that time, Martínez was constantly creating songs and rhythms and would seek opinions from De La Cruz, who also was in charge of scheduling his parties and handling invoices and contracts.The birth of the phrase, “Bad Bunny, baby,” came about in 2015, and Martínez asked De La Cruz to record herself saying it. She did so in a bathroom one day while staying with a friend because that's where it was least noisy and then sent it to him, the lawsuit stated.On Jan. 1, 2016, Martínez asked De La Cruz to marry him, and they made plans to do so in July 2016. But in April 2016, Rimas Entertainment signed Martínez. That same year, De La Cruz was accepted into the University of Puerto Rico’s law school, and she ended her relationship with Martínez in May 2016.They got back together in 2017, but once again went their separate paths.Then in May 2022, a Bad Bunny representative reached out to De La Cruz, saying he needed to talk to her.“In that call, (the representative) said, ’I know you don’t like to talk about Voldemort (referring to Martínez), but I need to ask you something,” the lawsuit stated.He offered her $2,000 to buy the recording of her voice. De La Cruz declined and then spoke with someone at Rimas Entertainment who also offered to buy it, saying the recording would be used in the upcoming album, “Un Verano Sin Ti,” the lawsuit stated.But a deal was never reached, and the song was published without De La Cruz’s consent, according to the lawsuit.

Everything was running smoothly until the surprise guest appeared stage left with an acoustic guitar in hand.

Bad Bunny's 2023 Coachella headlining show on Friday night was delivering on its promise of extreme spectacle. The Puerto Rican superstar is the first Latino solo artist to headline the music festival, and he smashed this barrier with a commanding charisma and a heartfelt homage to the music that made him.

During the Friday night set, the artist appeared in a coat of many colorful plaids backed by elaborate stage designs — the first appearing like a gas station in the desert with the artist on a suspended stage addressing the mammoth crowd from his altar.

The set began with his arresting 2022 single "Tití Me Preguntó" and ran through global favorites such as "I Like It" (sans Cardi B and J Balvin) and "Si Veo a Tu Mamá," which remixes the immortal song "The Girl From Ipanema" for a new generation.

Speaking in between songs predominantly in Spanish — early on, he asked the crowd what language they'd prefer and the results were clear — Bad Bunny confidently explained to thousands how, "Nunca antes hubo uno como yo," or: "Never before has there been someone like me."

Bad Bunny used his spotlight on the main stage of Coachella to honor the music history that inspired him, using short documentary interludes appearing on screen during the show's transitions.

Starting by praising the origin of drums and rhythm from Congo and Nigeria to the history of salsa and reggaeton (along with a nod to the illustrious Tito Puente), his set paid respects to the numerous artists and musical styles that blended to inform his opening headline act for the festival.

The sole setback came toward the end when he decided to share the stage with a previous Coachella headliner.

While Bad Bunny was working his way through the crowd, a mysterious figure appeared off to the side of the stage. It wasn't until Bad Bunny returned to the spotlight that the cameras revealed the surprise guest: Post Malone.

Shock waves of excitement (and ambivalence) reverberated to the back of the polo field, and the two artists brought down the tempo for a somber duet, with Post Malone strumming a guitar.

They began to play Bad Bunny's song "La Canción" and within the first minute, Post Malone's guitar began sounding choppy and staccato. At first, it seemed like the tattooed face artist was intentionally creating a rhythmically rich alteration to the song, but within a few seconds, it became clear that the microphone amplifying his guitar was failing.

Awkwardly, the two artists scrambled to fix the sonic issues. Bad Bunny even tried to hold a separate microphone to the guitar while singing with another one, but his plan B quickly failed. The crowd assisted with an a cappella version of the song "Yonaguni," but the act was quickly losing steam.

Post Malone — who's known for drawing questionable eyeballs from locals when visiting Indio, the city that hosts the festival — soon shuffled off stage and left Bad Bunny to finish his set without any more technical difficulties.

Fireworks blasted into the sky as Bad Bunny recovered from the snafu to close out the first night of Coachella 2023.

Bad Bunny tops Billboard Latin Music Awards with 10 trophies

Updated: 1:07 AM EDT Sep 24, 2021

Bad Bunny is the champion of the Billboard Latin Music Awards, taking home artist of the year honors and a whopping 10 trophies.Among the awards received Thursday by the urban music superstar were Hot Latin Song of the Year for "Dákiti" and album of the year for "YHLQMDLG.""Thanks always to all the audience for all the support, for supporting the music we make, thanks to all those who worked on this anthem," said Bad Bunny after receiving the Hot Latin Song award. "Thank you for always being there for us. You are the ones who give us this award."The awards were handed out at a ceremony at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida, that was attended by Latin superstars Marc Anthony, Camila Cabello and more.The Black Eyed Peas won Latin Pop Song of the Year for "Mamacita," while Karol G, Maluma and The Weeknd each won two awards apiece.Performers included Rosalía, Juanes, Daddy Yankee, Karol G and Maná.