J Balvin

J Balvin Bio

José Álvaro Osorio Balvín (born 7 May 1985), known professionally as J Balvin, is a Colombian singer and one of the best-selling Latin artists, with millions of records sold worldwide. Born and based in Medellín, he rose to international prominence with singles such as “6 AM” and “Mi Gente” and albums including Energia (2016), Vibras (2018), Colores (2020) and José (2021). A leading figure in modern reggaeton, Balvin has collaborated with diverse global artists, won multiple major awards, and helped popularize Medellín’s reggaeton scene. He is also noted for his colorful fashion sense and for promoting Spanish-language music on the global stage.

Early Life and Background

José Álvaro Osorio Balvín was born on 7 May 1985 in Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia, into an upper-middle-class family. His father was an economist and business owner. Balvin 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, recalling that “I was such a fan that I was copying his style, the way he moved onstage, his flows, his raps,” comparing him to the reggaeton equivalent of Jay-Z. When his father’s business went bankrupt, the family lost their home and car, requiring them to move to a poorer neighborhood, a period that taught Balvin to be comfortable in different social environments.

Path to Music

At age 17, Balvin moved to the United States to learn English, first participating in an English-exchange program in Oklahoma, which he found disappointing, saying “I was expecting the U.S. that everyone knows from Hollywood.” He then moved to New York City, living with an aunt on Staten Island and working as a dog walker while studying English and music. During his time in New York, he became fascinated by the business savvy of New York rappers 50 Cent and P. Diddy. Balvin worked various jobs in New York, Miami, and Medellín, including working illegally in the United States as a roofer and house painter. He enrolled at EAFIT University in Medellín for seven semesters, studying international business, but at age 19, he began to seriously pursue a career in music, adopting the stage name J Balvin “El Negocio”, meaning “The Business” in English.

J Balvin Career

Early Career (2004-2013)

He met his DJ and business partner David Rivera Mazo in a freestyle battle on the street in Medellín, and the two became fast friends, producing and promoting their own music without a record label. Balvin’s early songs were described as “basically poor imitations of commercial reggaeton from Puerto Rico,” but he soon adopted a more relaxed, minimalist style. In 2004, he released his first song titled “Panas.” He signed to EMI Colombia in 2009 and released the single “Ella Me Cautivó,” which charted at number 35 on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart. He released his reissue of his mixtape, Real, in 2009, and in 2012, he released a mixtape featuring many of his early hits in Colombia, including “En Lo Oscuro” and “Como un Animal.” His first international hit was the one-night-stand-themed “Yo Te Lo Dije” and he signed with Universal subsidiary Capitol Latin a year later.

Breakthrough (2014-2016)

In February 2014, Balvin released the track “6 AM,” featuring Puerto Rican singer Farruko. The song debuted at number 43 on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart and reached number one in May. His album La Familia reached number ten on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, spending 122 weeks on the chart. Shortly after, Balvin released “Ay Vamos,” which solidified his mark in the Latin urban market and won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Song. The music video became one of the most watched Latin music videos of all time, with over one billion views, and the song became the first reggaeton song to exceed one billion views on YouTube. Balvin swept the urban category at the 2015 Premios Lo Nuestro, including Urban Artist of the Year, Urban Album of the Year, Urban Song of the Year, and Urban Collaboration of the Year. In June 2016, Balvin released his third studio album Energia, which debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and featured hit singles like “Bobo,” “Safari,” and “Sigo Extrañándote.”

Notable Works and Milestones

During this period, Balvin became the first Colombian singer to record with “The Prince of Bachata” and establish himself as an international artist. He was featured on remixes of popular songs by artists like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Robin Thicke, Maroon 5, and Prince Royce. Balvin was also 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.”

International Success (2017-2018)

On 30 June 2017, Balvin released “Mi Gente” featuring Willy William. On 1 August 2017, the song became number one on Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart and soon reached 1 billion views on YouTube. In September 2017, the song was remixed with American artist Beyoncé, reaching number three in the United States. On 19 January 2018, Balvin released “Machika” featuring Jeon and Anitta. His collaboration with Nicky Jam, “X,” was released on 1 March 2018, and the music video received 288 million views on YouTube in less than a month. He also appeared on Cardi B’s “I Like It” with Bad Bunny, becoming his first number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100. Balvin released the album Vibras on 25 May 2018, which claimed the record for the most-streamed Latin album in 24 hours on streaming platforms for 2018. It debuted at number one on the Top Latin Albums chart and number 15 on the US Billboard 200.

Recent Work (2019-Present)

On 27 June 2019, Balvin released Oasis, a collaborative album with Bad Bunny that peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200. In August 2019, Balvin and Bad Bunny headlined the Uforia Latino Mix Live concert series. Balvin’s collaboration with Spanish singer Rosalía “Con altura” won Best Urban Song at the 2019 Latin Grammy Awards. On 20 March 2020, Balvin released the album Colores, in which every song is named after a color except “Arcoíris” (rainbow). In 2021, Balvin released José, his sixth studio album, and earned his 33rd No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Airplay Chart with “Una Nota,” breaking the record for the most No. 1s on the chart. On 25 March 2022, Balvin collaborated with Ed Sheerin on “Sigue” and “Forever My Love.” In 2024, he had his first acting role in the Canadian crime drama film Little Lorraine, slated to premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

J Balvin Award Nominations

Throughout his career, J Balvin has received numerous award nominations recognizing his contributions to Latin music and global entertainment. He has been nominated four times for Grammy Awards, including for Record of the Year for “I Like It”. In 2020, he made history with a record 13 Latin Grammy nominations in a single year. Balvin has also been nominated for multiple Billboard Latin Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and Latin American Music Awards, cementing his status as one of the most nominated Latin artists in history.

J Balvin Awards Won

J Balvin has won numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, solidifying his position as one of Latin music’s most successful artists. He has won eleven Billboard Latin Music Awards, six Latin Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, and seven Latin American Music Awards. In 2017, he was named the Contemporary Latin Songwriter of the Year at the BMI Latin Awards. He received the first Global Icon Award from Lo Nuestro Awards in recognition of his contribution to spreading Latin music worldwide. In 2019, he won the Golden Artist of Latin Urban Music at the Premios Heat. In 2023, he was awarded ‘Fashion Icon of The Year’ at the Latin American Fashion Awards held in the Dominican Republic.

J Balvin Family

J Balvin’s family has played a significant role in his life and career. His mother has the rare genetic condition acute intermittent porphyria, which causes seizures, chronic pain, and mental health difficulties. In her honor, Balvin has the word “Familia” tattooed on his chest. He has one son, born on 27 June 2021 in New York City, with his partner Valentina Ferrer, an Argentine model and Miss Argentina 2014. Balvin and Ferrer have been in a relationship since 2018. Despite his international fame, Balvin continues to live primarily in his hometown of Medellín, Colombia, explaining “It keeps me real. I’m gonna be real everywhere I go, but I’m with my people, I’m connected to my roots – I’m in my country! I don’t need to live somewhere else.”

Personal Life

J Balvin is known for being outspoken on social and political issues. He supports LGBT rights, explaining “It’s all about love. A lot of my closest friends are gay,” and has dyed his hair rainbow colors to show support for Pride. In August 2016, Balvin was involved in a plane crash while leaving the Bahamas, though nobody was injured in the accident. He has experienced panic attacks and stated that “meditation saved his life.” Unlike many popular reggaeton singers who move to the United States upon gaining popularity, Balvin continues to live in his hometown of Medellín, where he has a home but spends most of his time. In 2020, it was revealed that Balvin contracted COVID-19, but he has since recovered.