The joyful resistance of the Benito Bowl

Super Bowl halftime shows are always a big deal. But to many in Los Angeles and beyond, Bad Bunny's performance marks a particularly important cultural — and political — moment.

On Sunday, fans are gathering at bars and house parties to bear witness to the event at so-called Benito Bowl viewing parties all across the Southland.

"We're going through a lot of heaviness here in our community with ICE [and] people disappearing. It's sad, we're angry," said Bianca Ramirez, LAist's director of operations and a longtime fan of the Puerto Rican superstar.

In the face of continual crackdown, she said, resistance will take the form of pride and joy on Sunday. It'd be the first time the halftime show will be performed entirely in Spanish by a headliner.

 " This is definitely unprecedented," Ramirez said.

Just a week before taking the Super Bowl stage, Bad Bunny notched another first, winning album of the year at the Grammys for the Spanish-language DeBí Tirar Más Fotos.

LAist's Bianca Ramirez with her Bad Bunny plushie.

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Bianca Ramirez

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LAist

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"[It]  was such a proud moment for our Latino community, not [just] here in Los Angeles, but around the world," Ramirez said, characterizing the album as one of the artist's most political to date. "He dives into gentrification and making sure that we protect Puerto Rico and its roots. He does criticize the Trump administration a lot in that album."

DeBí Tirar Más Fotos also won Best Música Urbana album.

"Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say ICE out," the artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, said as he accepted that award.

Later today, Ramirez is heading to a Benito Bowl — one of many gatherings held by Bad Bunny fans across the Southland. In her case, it's a backyard hang with childhood friends to celebrate a history-making concert "where these two other football teams so happen to be playing at the same time."

Ramirez has her fingers crossed that the performance includes the song that first got her hooked.

"Hopefully he surprises us with Cardi B [and] he plays I like it," she said. "Bring it full circle for me as a fan."

No matter what, it's an iconic day.

"It's just gonna be a moment for us to hang out and celebrate Latinidad and just [the] proudness that Bad Bunny brings to our communities and beyond," she said.

Benito Bowls happening on Sunday

• Boyle Heights

  Brooklyn Ave Pizza Co.
  2706 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Los Angeles
  

• Costa Mesa

  Sevilla Nightclub
  1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa
  Doors open at 2 p.m.

• Downtown L.A. historic core

  Hide Tide
  605 E. 4th St., Los Angeles
  Doors open at 2 p.m.

• Long Beach

  The Q
  5321 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach
  Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

• Mid City

  Sueños Social Club
  5259 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles
  Doors open at 4 p.m.