J Balvin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J Balvin
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Balvin in 2025
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José Álvaro Osorio Balvín
7 May 1985 Medellín, Colombia
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| Years active | 2004–present |
| Partner(s) | Valentina Ferrer (2018–present) |
| Children | 1 |
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José Álvaro Osorio Balvín (born May 7, 1985), who is known by his stage name J Balvin, is a famous singer from Colombia. He is one of the world's best-selling Latin music artists, having sold over 35 million records. Balvin is often called the "Prince of Reggaeton" and is known for helping Spanish-language music become popular all over the world.
Throughout his career, Balvin has won many awards. These include eleven Billboard Latin Music Awards, six Latin Grammy Awards, and five MTV Video Music Awards. He was the first Latino artist to be the main performer at huge music festivals like Coachella, Tomorrowland, and Lollapalooza. Guinness World Records even called him a "leader of a second-generation reggaeton revolution."
Balvin's music is mostly reggaeton, but he likes to mix in other styles like electronica, house music, and R&B. He was first inspired by rock bands like Metallica and Nirvana, as well as the reggaeton star Daddy Yankee. Even though he has worked with English-speaking stars like Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams, he almost always sings in Spanish. He wants to show that music in Spanish can be enjoyed by everyone.
Contents
Life and Career
Early Life and First Steps in Music
J Balvin was born in Medellín, Colombia, on May 7, 1985. His father was an economist and business owner. Growing up, he listened to rock bands like Metallica and Nirvana. He later became interested in reggaeton after hearing Daddy Yankee. Balvin said he was such a big fan that he copied Daddy Yankee's style and moves.
When he was 16, Balvin went to Oklahoma in the United States for an English-exchange program. Afterwards, he moved to New York City to study English and music. To support himself, he worked jobs like walking dogs. He was inspired by the success of New York rappers like 50 Cent and P. Diddy.
After returning to Colombia, he started performing in clubs in Medellín. He also studied international business at EAFIT University. At age 19, he decided to focus completely on music. He chose the stage name J Balvin "El Negocio," which means "The Business." He met his DJ and partner, David Rivera Mazo, and they began making and promoting their own music.
2014–2016: Rise to Fame
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In 2014, Balvin's career took off with the song "6 AM" featuring Farruko. The song was about two singers trying to remember what happened during a night of partying. It became a huge hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. His album La Familia was also very successful.
Soon after, he released "Ay Vamos". This song won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Song. Its music video has been viewed over a billion times on YouTube. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in 2015. Balvin also worked with many famous artists on remixes of their songs, including Justin Bieber's "Sorry" and Ariana Grande's "Problem".
In June 2015, Balvin was scheduled to perform on the Miss USA television show. He cancelled his performance to protest comments made by Donald Trump about immigrants. Balvin said he felt the comments were insulting.
2016–2017: The Success of Energia
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In 2016, Balvin released the single "Ginza". The music video broke a record for the most views for a Latin music video in the first 24 hours. The song stayed at number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart for 22 weeks, setting a new Guinness World Record.
On June 24, 2016, he released his album Energia. It went to number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. The album included hit singles like "Bobo", "Safari", and "Sigo Extrañándote". To promote the album, he went on the Energia Tour with special guests like French Montana and Steve Aoki.
2017–2018: "Mi Gente" and Global Stardom
On June 30, 2017, Balvin released "Mi Gente" with French artist Willy William. The song became a worldwide sensation. It reached number one on Spotify's Global Top 50 chart. A remix featuring Beyoncé was released later, which helped the song reach the top three in the United States.
In 2018, he collaborated with Cardi B and Bad Bunny on the song "I Like It". It became Balvin's first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
On May 25, 2018, he released his album Vibras. The album set a record for the most-streamed Latin album in 24 hours. Balvin said the album mixed different sounds like dancehall, R&B, and reggaeton. He wanted people to love the songs even if they didn't understand the Spanish lyrics.
2019–2025: More Albums and Big Projects
In 2019, Balvin and Bad Bunny released a surprise album together called Oasis. The album was very popular and was nominated for a Grammy Award. That same year, his song with Spanish singer Rosalía, "Con altura", won Best Urban Song at the Latin Grammy Awards.
In 2020, Balvin performed at the Super Bowl LIV halftime show with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. He also released his album Colores, where each song was named after a different color. For the album's artwork, he worked with famous Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.
In 2021, Balvin released his album Jose. He also worked with Pokémon on a song for its 25th anniversary. In 2022, he released two songs with English singer Ed Sheeran, called "Sigue" and "Forever My Love". In 2024, he released his album Rayo. He also had his first acting role in the movie Little Lorraine.
Artistry and Image
Musical Style
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J Balvin's music is different from the reggaeton that first became popular. His singing style is often described as a "gentle drawl," which is more relaxed than the fast-paced style of earlier reggaeton artists. He is known for creating a new style of reggaeton from his hometown of Medellín.
Besides Daddy Yankee, his early inspirations were rock bands like Metallica and Nirvana, and salsa singer Hector Lavoe. He has even performed Nirvana's song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" at his concerts. He also listens to hip-hop artists like 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G..
Balvin believes that working with Beyoncé on the "Mi Gente" remix was a very important moment for his career. He said, "People see me with Queen Bey, so they feel that if she's working with me, it's because I'm an important artist."
Public Image
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J Balvin is known for being a positive and friendly person. He often connects with his fans on social media like Instagram. His music partner said they wanted to make music that was "clean enough for your grandma to like, but cool enough that the streets would like it too." His songs often talk about relationships in a way that people can relate to.
He avoids singing about his country's difficult past. He says that Colombia has changed a lot, and he prefers to sing about everyday life.
Even though he speaks English well, Balvin chooses to sing almost only in Spanish. He wants to make Spanish-language music popular around the world without having to switch to English. "I want to keep making history in Spanish," he says. "I want to invite the mainstream into my world."
Fashion
Balvin loves fashion as much as he loves music. He has been an ambassador for New York Fashion Week. His style is a mix of streetwear and luxury brands. He is known for his colorful tracksuits, unique hats, and brightly colored hair.
He has worked with the clothing brand Guess on several collections inspired by his albums Vibras and Colores. In 2020, he became the first Latin artist to create his own shoe with Nike, the Air Jordan 1. The shoes sold out in just one minute.
Personal Life
J Balvin has been open about his experiences with anxiety and panic attacks. He says that meditation helped him a lot. He has many tattoos, including the word "Familia" on his chest in honor of his mother.
Unlike many artists who move to the United States, Balvin still lives in his hometown of Medellín, Colombia. He says, "It keeps me real. I'm connected to my roots – I'm in my country!"
Since 2018, Balvin has been in a relationship with Valentina Ferrer, a model from Argentina. They have one son, who was born on June 27, 2021.
Discography
Solo studio albums
- La Familia (2013)
- Energía (2016)
- Vibras (2018)
- Colores (2020)
- Jose (2021)
- Rayo (2024)
Collaborative studio albums
- Oasis (with Bad Bunny) (2019)
Tours
Headlining
- La Familia Tour (with Becky G) (2015)
- Energía Tour (2016–2018)
- Vibras Tour (2018)
- Arcoiris Tour (2019)
- José Tour (2022) [cancelled]
- Que Bueno Volver a Verte Tour (2024)
- Back To The Rayo Tour (2025)
Supporting
- The Sun Comes Out World Tour (2011)
- ... and Love Tour (2014)
See also
In Spanish: J Balvin para niños
- List of best-selling Latin music artists
Images for kids
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Trophies received by J Balvin, photographed in 2018
