Bad Bunny’s “Nuevayol” Video Was Directed by a Bronx-Born Latina
Medrano has built a career rooted in cultural storytelling and visual authenticity
Bad Bunny’s “Nuevayol” Video Was Directed by a Bronx-Born Powerhouse: Renell Medrano Credit: Finn Ruijter | Pexels
Did you know that Bad Bunny’s striking and symbolic “Nuevayol” video was directed by Dominican-American photographer and director Renell Medrano?
Raised in the Bronx by Dominican immigrant parents, Medrano’s journey into photography began at just 14, when she picked up her mother’s camera and began capturing intimate moments of her family and friends. Deeply influenced by her Dominican heritage and her Bronx upbringing, Medrano has built a career rooted in cultural storytelling and visual authenticity.
A 2015 graduate of Parsons School of Design at The New School, Medrano quickly made a name for herself in the creative world. She has worked with major cultural icons like Kendrick Lamar and Solange Knowles, and her first solo exhibition, Peluca (2019), paid tribute to the Dominican salons of her youth. Her follow-up exhibit PAMPARA (2020) marked a return to her homeland, the Dominican Republic, where she explored the vibrancy of the culture that shaped her.
In 2022, Medrano created the iconic cover photo for Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy-winning album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. In 2024, she unveiled LAMBÓN, an exhibition showcasing work from her creative collective Ice Studios, as well as personal images from travels to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Egypt. Her lens has also attracted high-fashion attention, with campaigns for Burberry, Gucci, and Prada, and features in top publications including Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and GQ.
Now, with the direction of Bad Bunny’s “Nuevayol,” Medrano brings her powerful vision to the music world once again. The video delves into themes of immigration, resilience, and community, offering a deeply personal and socially charged narrative. In an emotional Instagram post, Medrano paid tribute to her parents and their sacrifices:
“Daughter of Rene Medrano & Lourdes Martínez… My parents came to the US as immigrants before me and my siblings were born and have worked their asses off to give us everything and for that I’ll always be thankful,” she wrote. “Fuck all these ice raids and the state that the world’s in. Juntos somos más fuertes.”
With “Nuevayol,” Medrano not only reclaims the narrative of immigrant identity but also cements her status as one of the most important visual storytellers of her generation.
