Background

J Balvín was born José Álvaro Osorio Balvín on May 7, 1985, in Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia to the family of an economist and entrepreneur José Álvaro Osorio and Alba Mery Balvín Vásquez. His father was an economist and business owner, and he grew up in a large home in the hills outside the city. He grew up listening to rock groups such as Metallica and Nirvana and states that he incorporates the grunge aesthetic into his personal style, having a Nirvana tattoo on his knee. He developed an interest in reggaeton after listening to Daddy Yankee. He recalls that "I was such a fan that I was copying his style, the way he moved on stage, his flows, his raps," comparing him to the reggaeton equivalent of Jay-Z. His father's business went bankrupt, and the family lost their home and car, requiring the family to move to a poorer neighborhood. On this period of his life, J Balvin notes, "When I would go to the barrio, people saw me as a rich person, but when I'm around rich people they see me as someone from the ghetto. It's all perceptions. I like moving between worlds. I feel equally comfortable in both." At the age of 14, he began to be interested in urban music, making rhymes and improvisations of hip-hop.

Education

After finishing school J Balvin traveled to Oklahoma through cultural exchange. He was disappointed by the experience, saying, "I was expecting the United States that everyone knows from Hollywood". Soon after the program, he moved to New York City to further study English and music, living with an aunt on Staten Island and working as a dog walker. During his time in New York, he became fascinated by the business savvy of New York rappers 50 Cent and P. Diddy. J Balvin worked various jobs in New York, Miami, and Medellín, including working illegally in the United States as a roofer and house painter. He ultimately decided to return to Colombia and began performing at various urban clubs in Medellín and increasing his social media following. He enrolled at the prestigious EAFIT University in Medellín for seven semesters, studying international business.

Career

At age 19, J Balvin began to seriously pursue a career in music and adopted the stage name J Balvin "El Negocio," meaning "The Business" in English.

On January 16, J Balvin premiered his new single "Ginza" from his upcoming album, at the Premios Juventud. Later that week, he premiered the music video on Vevo. The music video broke the record for the most views for a Latin music video in the first 24 hours, at over two million views. Since then, the video has racked up over 600 million views. The song reached number one on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart for the week of October 17, 2015. The song also set a new Guinness World Record for the longest stay at number one on the chart. J Balvin became the first artist to receive a diamond certification in the Latin field from the Recording Industry Association of America, denoting digital sales of 600,000 units for his songs "6 AM" and "Ay Vamos." Andrew Casillas of Rolling Stone wrote that "with its deliciously liquid beat, ["Ginza"] among the finest three minutes in reggaeton history."

On 24 June 2016, J Balvin released his fourth studio album Energia. He launched 3 hit singles from the album, "Bobo." "Safari," and "Sigo Extranandote," which all reached the top 10 of the Latin charts.

On 30 June 2017, J Balvin released his new single along with the official music video "Mi Gente" featuring Willy William. On 1 August 2017, "Mi Gente" became the number 1 song in the world according to Global Top 50 on Spotify. It soon reached 1 billion views on YouTube. In September 2017, the song was remixed with American artist Beyoncé. The remix reached the top ten in the United States, giving Balvin his first United States top-ten single. J Balvin and Willy William released six more "Mi Gente" remixes with Steve Aoki, Alesso, Cedric Gervais, Dillon Francis, Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano, and Henry Fong. Despite the song's success, "Mi Gente" did not win any awards at the 2017 Latin Grammy Awards, with many awards going to Luis Fonsi's hit "Despacito." At the ceremony, he performed "Mi Gente" as well as "Si Tu Novio Te Deja Sola" alongside Bad Bunny and his remix of "Unforgettable" with French Montana.

On 19 January 2018, J Balvin released his new single along with the official music video "Machika" featuring Jeon and Anita. His collaboration with Nicky Jam, "X", was released on March 1, 2018, and the music video received 288 million views on Youtube in less than a month. Nicky Jam stated that he attributes the success of "X" to J Balvin's contribution.

During the first half of 2019, he made several more Hot 100 appearances: He collaborated with Benny Blanco, Tainy, and Selena Gomez on "I Can't Get Enough," with Ozuna, Daddy Yankee, Farruko, and Anuel AA, on the smash "Baila Baila Baila." In early May he and El Guincho appeared on Rosalia's Top Ten hit "Con Altura," and later that month 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 was released without advance notice. Saturated in dembow and trap beats and crafted specifically as a soundtrack for summertime, it entered at number one on the Latin Rhythm charts two weeks after release and debuted at number nine on the Top 200. The album's first single, "Que Pretendes," entered the Hot 100 as well. The set peaked at number one on the Top Latin albums chart and at nine on the Top 200. It was chosen by publications ranging from the New York Times to Rolling Stone and Billboard as one of the top Latin titles of the year. Oasis was certified double platinum (Latin) by the RIAA. In all, between collaborations and his own titles as a leader, Balvin appeared on and/or recorded 22 singles in 2019. Among them was his collaboration with Rosalia, "Con Altura" feat. El Guincho. Its video racked up 1.5 billion views. In February of 2020, Balvin delivered the charting single "Morado." He announced the March 2020 release of his fifth album, Colores, a concept offering wherein each of its ten songs corresponds to a different color with accompanying videos directed by Colin Tilley. The album cover featured psychedelic imagery from Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. Produced by Sky Rompiendo, the set was preceded by the Rojo EP that contained two of the album's tracks in "Blanco" and "Morado." Colores was released in March of 2020.

Achievements

• Award-winning Colombian urban singer J Balvin is a chart-topping recording artist whose polished urban singles ("Yo Te Lo Dije" and "Mi Gente") and multi-platinum-selling albums (including 2012's La Familia) have not only made him a top-tier Latin pop crossover act but someone capable of breaking the segregation of the American music industry's language barrier. Balvin's success has made him one of the most recognizable members of the second generation of reggaeton artists and a trendsetter for new and high fashion.

Works

More photos

• music

  • El Negocio 2008
  • J Balvin Mix Tape 2012
  • La Familia 2013
  • Energía 2016
  • Vibras 2018
  • Oasis 2019
  • Colores 2020

Religion

J Balvin is a believer. He was baptized Roman Catholic.

Politics

J Balvin had a concert in Medellin in 2019, in which he made statements concerning the political situation in Colombia about "being the voice of the people" and said that "if people are marching it is because the government is doing something wrong" and asked for a minute of silence for "the victims of this fucking bigotry."

Views

Balvin's blend of reggaeton, which incorporates elements of trap, dancehall, and dembow, is not particularly political - it’s upbeat music full of romance, fun, partying - but in fact he is a thoughtful person with a social conscience. Even when appearing on tracks by Pharrell, Liam Payne, and Cardi B, Balvin sings in Spanish. Contrary to previous record industry rulebooks, this doesn't hold him back in the slightest.

Balvin launched a social media campaign titled #Latinossomosfamilia (Latinos We Are Family) to address the crisis at the Colombia-Venezuela border when more than 5,000 Colombians have been driven from their homes in Venezuela - with many of those homes destroyed by the Venezuelan government - and deported. "The situation we’re living at the border is deplorable," wrote Balvin, who is Colombian, in a statement. "The treatment our people are receiving is unfair, especially considering we are one people who share the same country. That’s why today I want to raise my voice in support and invite the entire Latin American people to come together for tolerance and brotherhood."

Balvin uses his online platform to spread his moral code too. He is outspoken in support of his LGBT audience - "It’s all about love. A lot of my closest friends are gay" - and dyed his hair rainbow colors for this year’s Pride.

Personality

J Balvin experiences panic attacks and meditates to control his anxiety.

Physical Characteristics: J Balvin contracted COVID-19 but managed to recover.

Interests

• Music & Bands

  Metallica, Nirvana, Daddy Yankee, 50 Cent, P. Diddy

Connections

J Balvin is not married and has no children.

Father:

José Álvaro Osorio

Mother:

Alba Mery Balvín Vásquez

Sister:

llamada Carolina Osorio

Acquaintance:

Enrique Iglesias

Acquaintance:

Carlos Rosado

References

• Billboard Magazine - Issue 05: February 29, 2020 - It's J Balvin's World
  2020
• J Balvín
  2021