History of J Balvin in Timeline
J Balvin, born José Álvaro Osorio Balvín, is a Colombian singer renowned as the "Prince of Reggaeton". With over 35 million records sold globally, he is one of the best-selling Latin artists. Born in Medellín, he briefly moved to the United States at 17 to learn English, living in Oklahoma and New York. Upon returning to his hometown, he rose to fame through performances in local clubs.
May 1985: Early Life and Musical Influences
J Balvin was raised in an upper-middle-class family in Medellín. His musical tastes developed early, influenced by rock bands such as Metallica and Nirvana. He later became interested in reggaeton after listening to Daddy Yankee.
May 1985: Birth of J Balvin
José Álvaro Osorio Balvín, professionally known as J Balvin, was born in May 1985 in Medellín, Colombia.
2004: J Balvin's Musical Debut
J Balvin released his debut song, "Panas," in 2004.
2009: Signing with EMI Colombia and "Ella Me Cautivó"
In 2009, J Balvin signed with EMI Colombia and released the single "Ella Me Cautivó," which gained significant attention, reaching number 35 on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart. He also re-released his mixtape "Real" in the same year.
2012: Mixtape Release and Rising Popularity
J Balvin released a mixtape in 2012, featuring his early hits from Colombia, including "En Lo Oscuro" and "Como un Animal." This further solidified his growing presence in the music scene.
February 2014: Release of "6 AM" and Success of "La Familia"
J Balvin's track "6 AM," featuring Farruko, was released in February 2014, drawing inspiration from the concept of "The Hangover." His album "La Familia" also gained considerable success, reaching the top ten on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.
2014: Breakthrough with "6 AM"
J Balvin's song "6 AM," featuring Farruko, was released in 2014 and became a breakthrough hit, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.
June 2015: Cancellation of Miss USA Performance
J Balvin canceled his scheduled performance at Miss USA 2015 in June 2015, protesting against Donald Trump's comments regarding immigrants.
July 2015: Missed Opportunity for National Television Debut
The cancellation of the Miss USA performance in July 2015 resulted in a missed opportunity for J Balvin's debut on mainstream national television.
October 2015: "Ginza" Tops Charts and Sets Records
In October 2015, "Ginza" reached number one on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart and set a new Guinness World Record for the longest stay at number one on the chart.
2015: Success of "Ay Vamos" and Collaborations
In 2015, J Balvin's song "Ay Vamos" achieved remarkable success, winning a Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Song and garnering over one billion views on YouTube, a first for a reggaeton artist. The remix, featuring Nicky Jam and French Montana, was featured in the film "Furious 7." Balvin also collaborated with artists like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Robin Thicke, Maroon 5, and Prince Royce.
2015: #LatinosSomosFamilia Campaign
In 2015, in response to the Venezuelan economic crisis and deportations at the Colombian border, J Balvin launched the #LatinosSomosFamilia (We Latinos Are Family) campaign. This social media movement encouraged fans to support displaced Venezuelans.
2015: Awards and Recognition at Premios Lo Nuestro and Billboard Latin Music Awards
J Balvin received numerous accolades in 2015, including awards at Premios Lo Nuestro and multiple nominations at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, highlighting his rising influence in the Latin music industry.
2015: VEVO's Most Watched Latin Artist
J Balvin was named the "most watched Latin artist of 2015" by VEVO.
January 2016: "Ginza" Premiere and Music Video Release
In January 2016, J Balvin premiered his single "Ginza" from his upcoming album at the Premios Juventud and released the music video on Vevo. The video broke records for the most views for a Latin music video in the first 24 hours.
June 2016: Release of Energia Album
J Balvin released his third studio album, "Energia," in June 2016. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, marking his first time topping that chart.
August 2016: Plane Crash in the Bahamas
J Balvin was involved in a plane crash while leaving the Bahamas with his family in August 2016. The plane crash-landed shortly after takeoff, but fortunately, no one was injured.
2016: J Balvin Receives Vision Award
J Balvin received the Vision Award from the Latin Heritage Awards in 2016.
2016: Release of Album "Energia"
J Balvin's album "Energia," released in 2016, included popular singles like "Bobo," "Safari," and "Sigo Extrañándote."
2016: Previous Album Success
J Balvin's previous album, "Energia," was released in 2016.
2016: Style Icon of Reggaeton
Since 2016, J Balvin has been recognized as the "style icon of reggaeton music" in Latin America, praised for his innovative fashion sense within the genre.
June 2017: "Mi Gente" Release
J Balvin released the single "Mi Gente" featuring Willy William in June 2017, along with its official music video.
June 2017: Release of "Mi Gente"
J Balvin, in collaboration with Willy William, released the single "Mi Gente" in June 2017.
August 2017: "Mi Gente" Tops Global Charts
In August 2017, "Mi Gente" achieved the top spot on Spotify's Global Top 50 chart and later surpassed one billion views on YouTube.
September 2017: Beyoncé Remix and "Mi Gente" Success
A remix of "Mi Gente" featuring Beyoncé was released in September 2017 and reached number three in the United States, marking Balvin's first US top-ten single.
2017: Balvin and Bad Bunny's First Collaboration
Balvin and Bad Bunny first collaborated in 2017 on the track "Si Tu Novio Te Deja Sola."
2017: First English Song Release
Despite his preference for singing in Spanish, J Balvin released his first English-language song, "Hey Ma," in 2017 as part of "The Fate of the Furious" soundtrack, featuring Pitbull and Camila Cabello.
2017: J Balvin's Impact on Latin Music
In 2017, J Balvin was recognized for his contributions to the Latin music industry, receiving the BMI Latin Awards' Contemporary Latin Songwriter of the Year. He also won the first Global Icon Award at the Lo Nuestro Awards, acknowledging his role in popularizing Latin music globally.
2017: Ovadia and Sons Catalogue Appearance
J Balvin was featured in the Spring 2017 catalogue for the clothing brand Ovadia and Sons.
2017: Fashion Influence and Recognition
J Balvin's unique fashion sense garnered attention, with his appearance as an ambassador at the 2017 New York Fashion Week highlighting his influence in the fashion world. His style, often described as a blend of streetwear and luxury brands, earned him recognition as a trendsetter.
January 2018: Release of "Machika"
J Balvin released the hit single "Machika" in January 2018, featuring Jeon and Anitta.
April 2018: Announcement of Vibras Tour
Balvin announced the dates for his "Vibras" tour in April 2018, which included performances in 27 cities.
April 2018: Balvin Discusses "Vibras" Sound
In an interview in April 2018, Balvin described the sound of "Vibras" as a blend of dancehall, R&B, and reggaeton, emphasizing the love and different vibes poured into the album.
May 2018: Release of Vibras Album
J Balvin released the album "Vibras" in May 2018, featuring the singles "Machika" and "Ahora."
June 2018: Vibras Chart Success
"Vibras" achieved record-breaking streaming numbers for a Latin album in June 2018 and topped the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, becoming Balvin's second number-one album on the chart.
July 2018: Colombiamoda Fashion Week Debut
J Balvin debuted his fashion designs at Colombiamoda Fashion Week in Medellín in July 2018, showcasing a collaboration with Gef France inspired by his album "Vibras".
2018: Homage to Ricky Martin
In 2018, J Balvin paid tribute to Ricky Martin's influence on his career, acknowledging Martin's role in opening doors for Latin artists and referencing Martin's hit "Livin' la Vida Loca" in his song "Reggaetón".
2018: Most Streamed Artist on Spotify
J Balvin became the most streamed artist on Spotify in 2018, surpassing Drake's previous record.
2018: Relationship with Valentina Ferrer
J Balvin began dating Argentine model and Miss Argentina 2014 Valentina Ferrer in 2018.
January 2019: Guess x J Balvin Collaboration Launch
In January 2019, J Balvin made history as the first Latin man to collaborate with Guess, launching the Vibras-inspired "Guess x J Balvin" clothing collection.
June 2019: Release of Oasis Album
J Balvin and Bad Bunny released their collaborative album "Oasis" as a surprise release in June 2019.
August 2019: Uforia Latino Mix Live Concert Series
Balvin and Bad Bunny headlined the Uforia Latino Mix Live concert series in August 2019 to raise funds for victims of the shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas.
September 2019: Release of "Que Calor"
Balvin collaborated with Major Lazer and El Alfa on the single "Que Calor," released in September 2019.
November 2019: Release of "Blanco" Music Video
The music video for Balvin's single "Blanco," featuring a futuristic aesthetic, was released in November 2019.
2019: Most Viewed Artist on YouTube Global
In 2019, J Balvin achieved the title of "most viewed artist on YouTube Global."
2019: J Balvin Wins Golden Artist Award
In 2019, J Balvin was named the Golden Artist of Latin Urban Music at the Premios Heat.
2019: Criticism for Response to Colombian Protests
J Balvin faced criticism for his unclear stance on the 2019 national strikes in Colombia. Some felt he was not vocal enough in condemning police violence, which led to a decrease in his music streaming within the country.
2019: Revitalizing Reggaeton
J Balvin is credited with revitalizing reggaeton in the late 2010s and early 2020s, incorporating a diverse range of musical influences and contributing to the global rise of Latin music. In 2019 alone, streaming of Latin music generated $8.9 billion worldwide.
2019: Support for LGBTQ+ Rights
J Balvin showed his support for Pride 2019 by dyeing his hair in rainbow colors, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights with the message "It's all about love."
March 2020: Release of Colores Album
J Balvin released his album "Colores" in March 2020, featuring a song for each color and a collaboration with Mr Eazi.
April 2020: Top 5 Most Streamed Artist on Spotify
As of April 2020, J Balvin remained one of the Top 5 most streamed artists on Spotify.
2020: Grammy Nomination for Oasis
"Oasis" was nominated for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards.
2020: Controversial Statements About Colombian Politicians
In 2020, J Balvin sparked controversy by referring to Colombian president Ivan Duque and former president Alvaro Uribe as "cool guys" in an interview, despite widespread accusations of human rights abuses against both politicians.
2020: Recovering from COVID-19
In 2020, it was publicly announced that J Balvin had contracted COVID-19, but has since recovered.
2020: First Latin Artist to Collaborate with Nike
In a groundbreaking partnership, J Balvin became the first Latin artist to collaborate with Nike in 2020, designing a shoe that sold out in just one minute.
2020: Guinness World Record for Latin Grammy Nominations
J Balvin made history in 2020 by receiving a Guinness World Record for the most Latin Grammy nominations in a single year, earning 13 nominations.
2020: GUESS x J Balvin Colores
J Balvin, alongside stylist Sita Abellán, co-curated the "GUESS x J Balvin Colores" collection in Spring 2020.
2020: J Balvin Recognized for Global Influence
Time magazine included J Balvin in its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020. Billboard also recognized him as one of the Greatest Latin Artists of All Time.
March 2021: Release of Album "José"
J Balvin's latest album, "José," was released in March 2021.
June 2021: Birth of First Child
J Balvin and his partner, Argentine model Valentina Ferrer, welcomed their first child, a boy, in New York City in June 2021.
September 2021: Release of "Wherever I May Roam" Remix
In September 2021, J Balvin released a remix of Metallica's "Wherever I May Roam" for the charity tribute album, "The Metallica Blacklist".
December 2021: Billboard Latin Airplay Chart Record
J Balvin achieved a record-breaking 33rd No. 1 hit on the Billboard Latin Airplay Chart with his song "Una Nota" in December 2021, marking the most No. 1s on the chart by any artist.
2021: Criticism and Accusations
J Balvin faced criticism in 2021 from artists like Residente and Lido Pimienta regarding his musical talent and authenticity. He also drew accusations of cultural appropriation, particularly for his song "In Da Getto," which some argued exploited Black Latino culture.
2021: Controversies Over Racial Sensitivity
J Balvin faced several controversies in 2021 related to racial sensitivity. His initial response to the George Floyd protests using the #EveryLivesMatter and #LatinoLivesMatterToo hashtags drew criticism, though he later apologized and expressed a commitment to learning about the Black Lives Matter movement. Further controversy arose from his music video for "Perra," which depicted Black women on leashes and was criticized as racially insensitive. Balvin apologized and removed the video. Additionally, his acceptance of the "Afro-Latino Artist of the Year" award at the 2021 African Entertainment Awards USA sparked outrage, leading to discussions about cultural appropriation and the award name being changed to "Best Latin Artist of the Year." Balvin clarified that he is not Afro-Latino but accepted the award for his contributions to the genre through collaborations with Afro-Latino artists.
2021: Criticism and Controversy Over Colombian Protests
J Balvin's response to the 2021 national strikes in Colombia sparked controversy. His delayed and perceived inadequate response to the protests, along with his use of protest imagery to promote his documentary, drew significant criticism. Additionally, his support for Cuban protests under the hashtag #SOSCuba, while remaining relatively silent on Colombian issues, further fueled the controversy.
March 25, 2022: Collaboration with Ed Sheeran
On March 25, 2022, J Balvin released two collaborative tracks with English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, titled "Sigue" and "Forever My Love".
August 2022: ACE Awards - International Style Icon
J Balvin was honored with the International Style Icon award at the ACE Awards in August 2022.
2022: Air Jordan 2 Collaboration
Continuing his partnership with Nike, J Balvin is set to release his Air Jordan 2 collaboration in 2022, featuring a unique cloud-like design.
2023: 91.1 Billion Streams
By 2023, J Balvin had accumulated an impressive 91.1 billion streams across platforms like YouTube and Spotify.
2023: Fashion Icon of The Year
J Balvin was crowned 'Fashion Icon of The Year' at the Latin American Fashion Awards in the Dominican Republic in 2023, receiving a trophy crafted by Salvadoran artist Studio Lenca.
