Portrait · Sofia Luna Cabras / CC0 1.0

J Balvin

Singer and songwriter

Born 1985

J Balvin is a Colombian singer and songwriter born José Álvaro Osorio Balvin in Medellín on May 7, 1985. His public record connects reggaetón with collaborations across Latin and international popular music. His early route included an exchange stay in Oklahoma and time in New York, where he worked before returning to Colombia. The move back provided a setting in which to develop his own music. In his later account, the early years were a gradual effort to build confidence and an audience rather than an immediate global breakthrough. Work with producer Sky became an important part of that developing sound. La Familia arrived in 2013. It supplied a foundation for a recording career in which collaborators and a recognisable vocal style would remain important. Ginza followed in 2015. In his 2021 conversation, he traced his ambition back to the example of Daddy Yankee while describing his own place in reggaetón. Energía expanded his album record in 2016. Its place in his discography marks the period between the early La Familia recordings and the international collaborations that followed. Mi Gente connected him with Willy William in 2017; a remix featuring Beyoncé widened that collaboration. The checked recording record distinguishes that version from the original. Vibras followed in 2018, combining his established reggaetón work with collaborations including Willy William and Anitta. With Bad Bunny, he made OASIS in 2019. The album brought their contrasting voices together across reggaetón, trap and other rhythms. La Canción and Qué Pretendes were among the resulting recordings. Colores gave the 2020 record a colour-based structure. In its accompanying conversation he described the musical character of individual songs, including Rojo, Blanco and Morado, linking different moods within the same project. JOSE followed in 2021. Collaborations with Sech and Maria Becerra sit within a record that he described as resembling his own playlist, with room for different voices and approaches. Made in Medellín provided another way of telling the story. The Spotify original is narrated by Balvin and includes accounts from relatives and people who knew him as his career developed. Screen work brought a different kind of performance: Trolls World Tour cast him as the voice of Tresillo. The Boy from Medellín turned attention towards his own life and work. He appears as its subject and is credited as an executive producer; the documentary’s title year and later US release are distinct records. Little Lorraine added the dramatic role of Lozano to that screen record in 2025. Rayo returned in 2024 with collaborations including Feid and Chencho Corleone. In his accompanying interview, Balvin described reconnecting with musicians from his earlier work while pursuing new sounds. The album includes Doblexxó, Polvo de tu Vida and 3 Noches. Mixteip continued in 2025, bringing Gilberto Santa Rosa, Stormzy, Lenny Tavárez and Justin Quiles into different styles of collaboration. Its range includes salsa, British hip-hop and reggaetón. OMERTA joined him with fellow Medellín artist Ryan Castro in 2026. The label’s dated release announcement confirms the collaboration and the Una a la Vez video, with regional release timing treated separately from publication. His professional work also extends to design collaborations. The Amazonas Air Jordan 4 announcement in September 2026 is retained as a career update, with its product promotion kept separate from personal taste. The current public record also reflects Ferrer’s September 2026 separation statement. Their co-parenting commitment is retained without adding speculation about the private reasons for that decision.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

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Connected people

Full profileBad BunnyOASIS collaborator.

ConnectionRyan CastroOMERTA collaborator.

ConnectionFeidCollaborates on Doblexxó.

Portraits: Comecoquito; portrait crop by Ggoofy14 / CC0 1.0

J Balvin performing in Austin, February 2015. — Profile image · Ralph Arvesen / CC BY 2.0

NewProject28 Sept 2026

An Amazonas design collaboration

His official announcement introduces the Air Jordan 4 collaboration.

Latest Index

2026

NewsChecked against a primary source or trusted newsroom.

ScopeOnly attributable updates about J Balvin's work and public record.

News
A dated separation statement
Ferrer announces separate paths and continued co-parenting.
16 Sept 2026Source checked
VerifiedRead more
Broadcast
A conversation about scent
He discusses citrus preferences in an Armani Beauty ambassador interview.
31 Aug 2026Source checked
VerifiedRead more
Project
OMERTA reaches listeners
The label confirms the Ryan Castro collaboration and Una a la Vez video.
8 May 2026Source checked
VerifiedRead more
Project
Pal Agua is released
The label announces the recording with Ryan Castro.
27 Mar 2026Source checked
VerifiedRead more
Project
A Mixteip chapter
His official introduction discusses the project and its collaborations.
17 Jul 2025Source checked
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Broadcast
Looking back while making Rayo
His Spotify conversation describes early influences and Colombian listening.
9 Aug 2024Source checked
VerifiedRead more

Selected Credits

View all

Year	Title	Role
2025	MixteipAlbum	Recording artist
2025	MisterioAlbum track or recording	Recording artist with Gilberto Santa Rosa
2026	OMERTAAlbum	Recording artist with Ryan Castro
2026	Pal AguaAlbum track or recording	Recording artist with Ryan Castro
2026	Una a la VezAlbum track or recording	Recording artist with Ryan Castro

Timeline

1985—2026

1985May 7: Born in Medellín.
EarlySpends time in the United States before returning to Colombia.
2013Releases La Familia.
2014Ay Vamos enters his recording catalogue.
2015Ginza develops his recording career.
2015Wins a Latin GRAMMY for Ay Vamos.
2015Ay Vamos appears in Furious 7.
2016Releases Energía.
2016Energía wins a Latin GRAMMY.
2017Mi Gente remix features Beyoncé.
2018Releases Vibras.
2018Vibras wins a Latin GRAMMY.
2018Records X with Nicky Jam.
2019OASIS joins him with Bad Bunny.
2019Con Altura receives a Latin GRAMMY.
2020Releases Colores.
2020Narrates Made in Medellín.
2020Voices Tresillo in Trolls World Tour.
2020Appears in The Boy from Medellín, with an executive-producer credit.
2021Releases JOSE.
2024Releases Rayo.
2025Releases Mixteip.
2025Plays Lozano in Little Lorraine.
2026Releases OMERTA with Ryan Castro.
2026OMERTA receives a Latin GRAMMY nomination.
2026September 16: Ferrer announces separation.
2026September 28: Announces Amazonas design collaboration.

An Amazonas design collaboration

Latest Index

A dated separation statement

A conversation about scent

OMERTA reaches listeners

Pal Agua is released

A Mixteip chapter

Looking back while making Rayo