J Balvin

J Balvin, the award-winning Colombian urbano vocalist, ranks among the foremost chart successes in recordings thanks to his refined urban cuts such as "Yo Te Lo Dije" and "Mi Gente," plus albums that reached multi-platinum sales including La Familia from 2012, Vibras in 2018, and the 2019 joint full-length Oasis shared with Bad Bunny; those achievements positioned him as a leading Latin pop crossover figure. Beyond his own releases, Balvin stands out for numerous team-ups, above all 2011's "Sin Compromiso" with Jowell & Randy, 2015's "Ay Vamos" alongside Nicky Jam and French Montana, 2017's "Sensualidad" that included Prince Royce, DJ Luian, Mambo Kingz, and Bad Bunny, plus his contribution to Rosalía's chart-topping "Con Altura" in 2019. During 2020 he added another Top Ten entry via the album Colores and continued with further tracks such as "Location" featuring Karol G and Anuel AA together with the song "Ma' G." The Grammy-nominated JOSE arrived in 2021 and was followed by Rayo in 2024. His accomplishments have established him as one of the most visible figures in the second generation of reggaeton performers and a pacesetter in fresh and high fashion.

Born José Álvaro Osorio Balvin in Medellín, Colombia, he developed an early passion for music through radio exposure to rap, champeta, bachata, and reggae; he also embraced music videos intensely, using them to shape his dance steps and forge a personal aesthetic. Balvin joined EMI Colombia in 2009 and issued his debut single "Ella Me Cautivó," which reached position 35 on the U.S. tropical chart, then released the full-length Real in 2010. He supplied four songs to the soundtrack of Tim Bulot's film El Negocio, every one of which charted, among them "En Lo Oscuro," which attained the summit in his homeland.

Balvin served as featured vocalist on the Colombian edition of Robin Thicke's blockbuster single "Blurred Lines," issued in October 2013 shortly ahead of his own second album La Familia. All four singles from that project reached Colombia's Top Ten, while "Yo Te Lo Dije" climbed to number two on the rhythm chart and number nine on the Latin pop chart in the U.S. The B Sides collection surfaced in September 2014 and contained two additional radio chart-toppers in "6 AM" and "Ay Vamos," the latter of which captured a Latin Grammy for Best Urban Song.

Balvin's 2015 single "Ginza," the designated pre-release for his subsequent album, debuted at number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart, led several others, and earned platinum certification. His collaborative efforts that year proved equally prominent; he and Julión Álvarez appeared on Juan Gabriel's single "La Frontera," while his "Latino Remix" of Justin Bieber's hit "Sorry" performed strongly at Latin pop radio as well as in digital streaming and downloads.

In 2016 Balvin claimed the Premios Lo Nuestro Artist of the Year Award and appeared as guest on Sofia Carson's charting debut single "Love Is the Name" along with Alejandro Sanz's "Cuando Seas Grande," drawn from a La Voz performance and also featuring Gloria Trevi and Los Tigres del Norte. That May he put out the single "Bobo," which topped the Latin songs chart; "Safari," featuring Pharrell Williams, BIA, and Sky, followed in June and preceded the full-length Energia. Produced by Sky and incorporating contributions from Bull Nene, Daddy Yankee, Fuego, Yandel, and Juanes, the album ascended to the top position on multiple Latin album charts. The next year he achieved a hit via a remix of his track "Mi Gente" that incorporated Beyoncé and became his first U.S. Top Ten single.

Balvin opened 2018 with several collaborative singles: "Machika" alongside Jeon and Anitta, "X" with Nicky Jam, and Cardi B's "I Like It" featuring Bad Bunny. After heading the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards finalists' list with nods in 12 categories, he issued his fifth long-player, the 14-track Vibras, that May. Once more partnering with producer Alejandro Ramírez, known as Sky Rompiendo el Bajo, who had served as his musical associate since La Familia, the project advanced reggaeton into fresh directions and textures while hosting numerous 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 entered at number 15 on the Top 200, marking the highest-charting debut for any Latin album, and simultaneously reached number one on both the Top Latin Albums and Latin Album Sales lists that release week. Sales conferred platinum status in the United States plus multi-platinum recognition in Mexico and Colombia; additionally, the recording placed at either number one or two across assorted global streaming platforms. Capitalizing on the album's momentum, Balvin immersed himself in touring and work with fellow artists.

Throughout the opening half of 2019 he logged further Hot 100 placements, teaming with Benny Blanco, Tainy, and Selena Gomez on "I Can't Get Enough" and with Ozuna, Daddy Yankee, Farruko, and Anuel AA on the blockbuster "Baila Baila Baila." In early May, Balvin and El Guincho joined Rosalía's Top Ten hit "Con Altura," whose video accumulated 1.5 billion views; later that month he appeared on DJ Khaled's "You Stay" alongside Meek Mill, Lil Baby, and Jeremih. In June the album Oasis by Balvin and fellow urbano prince Bad Bunny dropped without prior notice; steeped in dembow and trap beats and fashioned expressly as a summertime soundtrack, it reached number one on the Latin Rhythm charts two weeks after issuance and debuted at number nine on the Top 200. The set's opening single, "Que Pretendes," also registered on the Hot 100. Oasis attained the summit of the Top Latin albums chart and position nine on the Top 200, earned selection by outlets ranging from the New York Times to Rolling Stone and Billboard among the year's premier Latin releases, and received double platinum (Latin) certification from the RIAA. Altogether, counting collaborations and his own releases as leader, Balvin appeared on or recorded 22 singles during 2019.

In February 2020 Balvin released the charting single "Morado," followed in March by his fifth album Colores, a concept work in which each of its ten songs aligns with a distinct color and is paired with videos directed by Colin Tilley; the album cover displayed psychedelic imagery by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. Produced by Sky Rompiendo, the project was preceded by the Rojo EP containing two of its tracks, "Blanco" and "Morado." The following year he reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart with "Location" featuring Karol G and Anuel AA.

Following a sequence of singles that encompassed team-ups with Skrillex, Khalid, and María Becerra, Balvin put out his sixth album, the Grammy-nominated JOSE. Adopting a more relaxed conceptual stance, the 24-track LP delivered breezy reggaeton essentials, abundant collaborative material, and several invigorating new styles. Balvin remained active in 2022 with a surge of high-profile singles including "Niño Soñador," "Sigue," and "Forever My Love," the last two of which paired him with Ed Sheeran; he also supplied the solo track "Toretto" to the soundtrack of 2023's Fast X. Additional standalone cuts surfaced in 2023, among them "Dientes" with Usher and DJ Khaled plus the romantic reggaeton piece "Amigos."

In August 2024 he issued his seventh full-length, Rayo, built around the singles "Polvo de Tu Vida" featuring Chencho Corleone, "Gaga" with Saiko, and "Doblexxó" with Feid; it climbed to number 13 on the Top Latin Albums chart.