‘Invierta Mi Dinero En La 42’: This Is Woman Sampled in Drake & Bad Bunny’s New Collaboration

We now know who was sampled on the newest Drake and Bad Bunny collaboration. On Oct. 6, Drake and Bad Bunny’s new joint track “Gently” dropped, featuring a Spanish-speaking woman talking about the Dominican Republic’s famous La 42 district. Now, we know it’s the voice of Diulka Pérez, a Dominican journalist and television personality.

During the highly-anticipated experimental dembow song, Pérez is heard saying: “¿Usted se cree que quiero que me invierta mi dinero en la 42 donde la gente está bailando dembow? [Do you think I want you to invest my money in 42 where people are dancing dembow?]” It turns out that the track’s sampled quote is from Pérez criticizing the Dominican Republic government for wanting to invest  16 million Dominican pesos towards the La 42 neighborhood in Capotillo. La 42 is known for its nightlife and music scene, though it has also earned a reputation as one of the most unsafe areas in the region.

In her rant, she criticizes the government, saying she doesn’t want her money to go to a place where people are using drugs and dancing to dembow that’s full of explicit lyrics. She says she’s not against prospering La 42 but doesn’t agree with the proposal.

She responded to being included with an Instagram post. “The day started off intense. The release of @drake and @badbunny.0ficiall’s new hit featuring me has set the dance floor on fire,” she wrote online. “Being authentic will always put you in the spotlight; I’m keeping my essence.”

Many Latine artists have acknowledged the culture and artists coming out of La 42. Rauw Alejandro shot his verse in the neighborhood for his collaboration with the Dominican rapper Ángel Dior (who calls himself “El Rey De La 42”). Puerto Rican artists Anuel AA and Eladio Carrión recorded the music video for their song “North Carolina” there in 2021. 

It’s no surprise to hear this inclusion in this song, as Bad Bunny has never been shy to speak on topics and neighborhoods that have been at the center of political conversations. He has previously referenced and shot music videos in Puerto Rico’s La Perla and has hit on gentrification in the hit song “El Apagón.”

It’d be interesting to see if the two artists film a music video for the collaboration, and if they choose to shoot it in La 42. As one X (formerly Twitter) user tweeted, “You imagine Drake & Bad Bunny shooting the video for their dembow in La 42?” We will just have to wait and see.