J Balvin Unveils ‘Rayo’: The Story Behind His Latest Album

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J Balvin (José Álvaro Osorio Balvín, Medellín, 1985) has undeniably changed the game for the internationalization of reggaeton. He became the first Latin artist of the new wave to achieve global success in the 2010s, and the rest is history. After a nearly two-year break from music, the Colombian artist is making a big comeback with ‘Rayo,’ his latest studio album.

‘Rayo’ is actually named after the artist’s first car, a key element in the expansion of his career. “The story is very special. Rayo was my first car; my father gave it to me with all his effort to help me start moving in my career, visiting studios, schools, and going to interviews. That’s what ‘Rayo’ sounds like—about that beginning, that support from my family, that energy,” Balvin wrote a few days ago on his Instagram account. In fact, he has also created a profile specifically for ‘Rayo.’

At LOS40 US, we got an exclusive first listen to J Balvin’s latest, so here are all the details.

Deconstructing ‘Rayo’: All the Details About J Balvin’s Album

‘Rayo’ recalls the “started from the bottom” essence that J Balvin has infused throughout his career. As one of the first artists to represent the internationalization of reggaeton since 2010, his influential position has contributed to the rising popularity of other major artists like Bad Bunny, María Becerra, Rosalía, and Jhayco, among others.

His debut studio album, La Familia (2013), was certified gold, platinum, and multi-platinum internationally, and his single ‘6 AM’ topped the Billboard charts, becoming his first song to earn a diamond record in the U.S. In 2015, hits like ‘Ginza’ and ‘Bobo’ solidified his international recognition, much like his studio work Energía (2016).

His true peak came with Colores (2020) and Jose (2021), albums that define the paradigm J Balvin established in the urban scene as a leading figure. Now, after a nearly two-year hiatus and several controversies, the artist has used his time off to make an artistic reset and bring us his most refreshed version in ‘Rayo.’ Here, Balvin presents a studio work that continues to affirm reggaeton ‘bellako,’ but also dives into a holistic experimentation with other genres, including dembow, electronic music, regional Mexican sounds, and fusions that resonate as urban pop.

Additionally, one of the notable features of ‘Rayo’ is its intimate connection with the new generation of artists who came after Balvin. “Just as Balvin’s father handed him the keys to his future, in ‘Rayo,’ Balvin shares these keys with the new generation and honors the artists making giant waves,” states the press release for the album.

This is shown in ‘Doblexxó’ featuring Feid, which kicks off this lineup of collaborations with the most sought-after figures of the new wave, such as Spanish artists Saiko, Bad Gyal, and Quevedo in ‘GAGA,’ ‘Gato,’ and ‘En Alta,’ respectively, or the Colombians Ryan Castro and Blessd in ‘Origami,’ featuring pure chiptune style. He also joins the wave of Mexican music with the norteño style icon Carín León in ‘Stoker.’

‘Rayo’ is a venture that seeks to return to the roots while continuing to reinvent itself. A meticulously crafted project that reflects the rebirth of a genre legend aiming to keep rising on the charts, remembering his more youthful side and showing that he too comes from humble beginnings.

Rayo: Tracklist

1. ‘Cosa de Locos’
2. ‘Polvo de tu Vida’ ft. Chencho Corleone
3. ‘Swat’ ft. Luar La L
4. ‘Bajo y Batería’
5. ‘Doblexxó’ ft. Feid
6. ‘3 Noches’
7. ‘Gaga’ ft. SAIKO
8. ‘Gato’ ft. Bad Gyal
9. ‘Lobo’ ft. Zion
10. ‘La Noche’ ft. Dei V
11.’Origami’ ft. Ryan Castro and Blessd
12. ‘Sólido’
13. ‘Stoker’ ft. Carín León
14. ‘Ganster’
15. ‘En Alta’ ft. Omar Courtz, YOVNGCHIMI, Quevedo, Mambo Kingz, DJ Luian