About a year ago, J Balvin, whose full name is José Álvaro Osorio Balvín, shared with PS why he took a year off to prioritize his health and focus on his family. The Colombian reggaetónero—who has become one of the biggest stars in urban music and the second-most-streamed Latin artist on Spotify—needed some time to recharge after releasing his 2021 album “JOSE.” And it seems taking time to slow down and spend time with his partner of six years, model Valentina Ferrer, and their 3-year-old son, Río, paid off. His latest album, “Rayo,” finds a reinvigorated Balvin. On it, we see Balvin fall back in love with reggaetón and reconnect with his younger self—a boy from Medellín who was at the forefront of Colombia’s urban music scene.
As for taking time off to refocus, Balvin said, “I definitely think I needed that.” The artist has always been open about prioritizing his health and mental well-being, and he believes that’s exactly what he needed to feel ready to get back in the studio. “I needed to take a break and focus on my family and my son,” he said. While Balvin may have paused work on a new album, he never stopped working entirely. “I’ve been touring and playing festivals all over the world. Not my own tour, but I’ve been touring festivals, and that’s been great. It’s been great,” he added. “But now that we’re officially back with an album, it’s a completely different feeling because I made this album without any pressure. I just went into the studio and had fun.”
“I need to rest and focus on my family and my son.”
Balvin says spending time with his family and just living life without the pressure of recording an album has given him a huge creative boost. In just four months after returning to the studio, he recorded dozens of songs. “I just went into the studio to make music. One day, we were like, ‘Oh, we have like 40 songs—we could have an album,’” he says. “That’s the great thing about this album. I didn’t plan on making an album.”
And yes, “Rayo” reflects the path Balvin has taken. The word rayo means lightning, the name of his first car when he was living in his hometown of Medellín as an emerging artist. Like the title suggests, the album is very much about Balvin getting back to his roots. The artist says he went in less concerned about streaming and how it would work and more dedicated to having fun in the studio, making music that excited him like he did in the early days of his career.
As he explains, the album’s title “reminds me of the first time I got a car that my dad gave me with a lot of love and effort because we were going through a bad economic situation. But that car paved the way for me. We both paved the way in Colombia to open up a new market for reggaetón music. I used to sell my CDs from my truck, in clubs and at different concerts.”
The album includes songs like “Lobo” with Zion, which exudes a 2010s reggaetón vibe. Songs like “Swat,” “Gangster,” “Gaga” featuring Saiko, “Origami” with Ryan Castro and Blessd, and the hit single “Polvo de tu Vida” with Puerto Rican reggaetónero OG Chencho Corleone are sure to be big hits this season. Balvin also throws in some of his signature melodic tracks where he showcases his vocal chops, like “Cosa de Locos” and “3 Noches.”
“It’s modern, but I don’t lose my DNA,” Balvin says.
Something that has also been a part of Balvin’s life is pioneering community initiatives. In 2022, he was honored at the United Nations Latin American Impact Summit for his commitment to helping break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues that exist in the Latin American community. He also continues to give back to his Vibra en Alta foundation, which provides education and support to Colombian youth. So it makes sense that he recently partnered with Cheetos as their newest ambassador for their ongoing “Deja tu Huella” campaign, which supports young Latinos in pursuing their career dreams.
“We want to help the new generation become better and guide them in the right direction, because there is a lot of wasted talent that doesn’t know where to go,” he said. “And we want to serve them well and tell them that we will help you achieve your dreams, and that’s why we are here.”
This October, Balvin will host Billboard’s Latin Music Week and introduce Cheetos’ newest ambassador, Deja tu Huella. Ambassadors will have the opportunity to join a three-stop tour of community colleges and be provided with resources to support them throughout their education and careers.
While Balvin may be returning to his roots with this new album, empowering young artists has always been a key goal. “I’m just happy to be there and share my perspective on what music is like right now and what I think the future might sound like, and of course, continue to introduce the new generation to music,” he says. “Working with new talent and if I can help them get more exposure has become part of my DNA. I just do it out of love and without thinking about anyone else.” [having] to pay me back.”
Balvin has clearly poured himself, his family, and his community into himself—an act that has resurrected him. Now, with his latest album, Balvin seems more alive and ready to reinvent himself than ever. As one of the pioneers of Colombia’s reggaetón movement, he’s not only cementing his own legacy as a leyenda in the genre, but also making room for the next generation.
“Of course, I feel more mature and more connected to myself and really appreciate and be grateful for what we do for the culture,” he said. “I know that I don’t have to prove myself anymore. It’s more important to have fun.”
Johanna Ferreira is the content director for PS Juntos. With over 10 years of experience, Johanna focuses on how intersectional identities are a core part of Latina culture. Previously, she spent nearly three years as an associate editor at HipLatina and has freelanced for a variety of media outlets including Refinery29, Oprah Magazine, Allure, InStyle, and Well+Good. She has also moderated and spoken at numerous Latina identity conferences.
