Colombian reggaeton singer
J Balvin is a chart-topping recording artist whose polished urban singles ("Yo Te Lo Dije" and "Mi Gente"), and multi-platinum-selling albums (including 2012's
La Familia) have made him a top-tier Latin pop crossover act whose focus has been to break the segregation of the American music industry's language barrier. His numerous number one singles (multi-platinum album sales and hit videos that have garnered over ten-billion views) have made him one of the most recognizable members of the second generation of reggaeton artists and a trendsetter for new and high fashion.
Born José Álvaro Osorio Balvin in Medellín, Colombia, he became interested in music at a young age while listening to rap, champeta, bachata, and reggae on the radio. He was also a big fan of music videos; it was from these that he began to develop his dance moves and cultivate his own style.
He signed to EMI Colombia in 2009 and released his first single, "Ella Me Cautivó," which charted at 35 on the U.S. tropical chart. This was followed by the release of the full-length Real in 2010. Balvin contributed four tunes to the soundtrack of the Tim Bulot film El Negocio. All of them charted, including "En Lo Oscuro," which hit the top spot in his native country.
Balvin was a featured vocalist on the Colombian version of
Robin Thicke's smash single "Blurred Lines," which was issued in October of 2013, just prior to his own second album,
La Familia. All four singles from the album charted in Colombia's Top Ten, and "Yo Te Lo Dije" hit number two on the rhythm chart and number nine on the Latin pop chart in the U.S. The
B Sides collection appeared in September of 2014, featuring two more radio chart-topping singles in "6 AM" and "Ay Vamos." The latter won a Latin Grammy for Best Urban Song.
His 2015 single "Ginza," the official pre-release for his next album, entered the Hot Latin Songs chart at number one, topped several others, and was certified platinum. Balvin's collaborations were as notable as his own work that year. He and Julión Álvarez were featured on Juan Gabriel's single "La Frontera." His "Latino Remix" of Justin Bieber's smash "Sorry" scored big for both artists at Latin pop radio and in digital streaming and downloads.
In 2016,
Balvin won the Premios Lo Nuestro Artist of the Year Award and was a featured guest on both
Sofia Carson's charting debut single, "Love Is the Name," and on
Alejandro Sanz's "Cuando Seas Grande" -- from a performance at La Voz -- along with
Gloria Trevi and
Los Tigres del Norte. In May he released the single "Bobo"; it topped the Latin songs chart. "Safari," featuring
Pharrell Williams,
BIA, and
Sky, was released in June, followed by the full-length
Energia. The album, produced by
Sky and featuring contributions from
Bull Nene,
Daddy Yankee,
Fuego,
Yandel, and
Juanes, hit the top spot on several Latin album charts. The following year, he scored a hit with a remix of his track "Mi Gente" that featured
Beyoncé. The song became his first U.S. Top Ten single.
Balvin kicked off 2018 with a handful of collaborative singles: "Machika" with
Jeon and
Anitta; "X" with
Nicky Jam; and
Cardi B's "I Like It" with
Bad Bunny. After leading the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards finalists' list with nominations in 12 categories,
Balvin announced the May release of
Vibras, his 14-track, fifth long-player. Again working with producer
Alejandro Ramírez, (aka Sky Rompiendo el Bajo), who has been his musical partner since
La Familia, the set moved reggaeton in new directions and sounds as it played host to a slew of guests including
Carla Morrison,
Wisin y Yandel,
Zion y Lennox, L.A.-based flamenco singer
Rosalía, Brazilian pop star
Anitta, and Aruban singer
Jeon.
Vibras debuted at number 15 in the Top 200--the highest charting debut for any Latin album--and number one at both the Top Latin Albums and Latin Album Sales the week of release. Sales earned
Balvin platinum status in the United States and multi-platinum status in Mexico and Colombia. In addition, the recording placed at either number one or two on various global streaming outlets. Riding the success of the album,
Balvin threw himself into touring and working with other artists.
During the first half 2019 he made several more Hot 100 appearances: He collaborated with
Benny Blanco,
Tainy, and
Selena Gomez on "I Can't Get Enough," with
Ozuna,
Daddy Yankee,
Farruko, and
Anuel AA, on the smash "Baila Baila Baila." In early May he and
El Guincho appeared on Rosalia's Top Ten hit "Con Altura," and later that month on
DJ Khaled's "You Stay," alongside
Meek Mill,
Lil Baby, and
Jeremih. On June 28, the album
Oasis by
Balvin and fellow urbano prince
Bad Bunny was released without advance notice. Saturated in dembow and trap beats and crafted specifically as a soundtrack for summertime, it entered at number one on the Latin Rhythm charts two weeks after release, and debuted at number nine on the Top 200. The album's first single, "Que Pretendes," entered the Hot 100 as well.
