J Balvin

J Balvin helped turn reggaeton into a global pop force, singing almost entirely in Spanish and refusing to switch to English to reach the world. Born Jose Alvaro Osorio Balvin on May 7, 1985, in Medellin, Colombia, he grew up on rock bands like Nirvana before finding his sound in Latin urban music.

From Medellin to the charts

After early singles, Balvin broke through with “Ay Vamos” (2014) and “Ginza” (2015), both long-running number ones on the Latin charts. His albums La Familia and Energia built his audience across Latin America and into the United States, with producer Sky Rompiendo as a constant partner.

Mi Gente

“Mi Gente”, released in 2017, topped Spotify’s global chart and became a worldwide anthem. A remix featuring Beyonce singing in Spanish gave Balvin his first US top-ten hit and, in his words, signaled that he had arrived. The album Vibras followed in 2018 and won a Latin Grammy.

Collaborations

Balvin’s reach grew through collaborations. He joined Cardi B and Bad Bunny on “I Like It”, his first Hot 100 number one, then released the joint album Oasis with Bad Bunny in 2019. He also teamed with Karol G and Anuel AA on “Location”, connecting the biggest names of the Colombian wave.

A global icon

Balvin has won several Latin Grammy Awards and performed at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show alongside Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. Credited with globalizing reggaeton, he has also been open about his struggles with depression, using his platform to push for mental health awareness in Latino communities.

Most loved songs

A spread across the catalogue. Each title opens through the in-site player.

From a summer reggaeton anthem to a hook you cannot quite place, the odds are good a J Balvin song has been in your rotation. Type the line you remember into the search box above and you may find it leads back to him.