Medellín, Colombia · reggaeton

J Balvin

1 upcoming festival

Medellín's global ambassador — neon-colored reggaeton that took Latin pop worldwide without translating a word.

J Balvin is a reggaeton singer from Medellín, Colombia, and one of the artists most responsible for the genre's expansion beyond Latin America in the 2010s. He built an early following in Colombia before breaking through more widely, and has recorded almost entirely in Spanish, arguing that the music did not need to be translated to travel. His sound blends reggaeton's dembow rhythm with pop hooks, trap textures and a generally bright, melodic approach, and he has collaborated extensively with both Latin and English-language artists. He is also known for a strong visual identity, using bold colour schemes across artwork, videos and stage design.

reggaeton