Afilando Los Cuchillos (part. iLe y Bad Bunny)

“Afilando Los Cuchillos” by Residente, featuring iLe and Bad Bunny, is a powerful protest song that emerged during the 2019 Puerto Rican protests against Governor Ricardo Rosselló. The song is a raw and unfiltered expression of the collective anger and frustration of the Puerto Rican people towards systemic corruption, social injustice, and political incompetence.

Residente opens the song with a fierce declaration, symbolically sharpening knives, representing the readiness of the people to fight against oppression. He criticizes the governor and his administration for their corrupt practices and insensitivity towards the suffering of the Puerto Rican people, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and metaphors, such as “afilar navajas” (sharpening knives) and “la furia es el único partido que nos une” (fury is the only party that unites us), emphasizing the unity and determination of the people to demand justice and accountability.

iLe’s chorus reinforces the message of resistance, likening the people to sharp knives that will cut through the lies and corruption. Her lines, “Vamos cortantes, como lo' cuchillos” (We go sharp, like knives), and “Hay que arrancar la maleza del plantío” (We must uproot the weeds from the field), suggest the need to remove corrupt leaders to allow for new growth and progress. This metaphor of weeding out corruption is a call to action for the people to take control of their future.

Bad Bunny’s verse adds another layer of urgency and defiance. He addresses the manipulation of the media and the lies told by the government, calling for the removal of corrupt officials. His lines, “El pueblo no aguanta más injusticias” (The people can’t take more injustices) and “Ricky, renuncia y a tu mai que te perdone” (Ricky, resign and let your mother forgive you), encapsulate the sentiment of a population that has reached its breaking point. The song serves as a rallying cry for the Puerto Rican people, uniting them in their fight for justice and change.