J Balvin

J Balvin Talks New Album ‘Vibras,’ Bad Bunny Collab, and More

Ebro and J Balvin

Ebro and J Balvin
Ebro Darden and J Balvin

With his new album Vibras set to drop on Friday, J Balvin recently sat down with Beats 1 radio’s Ebro Darden to discuss the project and his career.

The Colombian superstar covered many topics, from the possibility of making an album with Bad Bunny to how he hopes to break down the narco stereotypes of his country. He also discussed wanting to collaborate with artists like Drake, Bruno Mars, and The Weeknd, and what it was like working with Beyonce on the remix of “Mi Gente.”

“I think it was a really beautiful cultural move. People see me with the queen, like, if she’s working with him it’s because he’s for real,” Balvin told Ebro. “She’s not the type of girl that works with everybody.”

“All the other collaborations are helping me a lot to keep spreading the vibe that I want,” he added. “That’s what I love about the situation. We’re showing the world that we’re not one-hit wonders when it comes to global stuff. It’s not a coincidence.”

Balvin has so far released six singles from Vibras: “Mi Gente” with Willy William, “Machika” with Jeon and Anitta, “Ahora” “Ambiente,” “Donde Estaras,” and “No Es Justo” with Zion & Lennox.

Watch highlights from the interview below and stream it in full exclusively on Apple Music.

Related: Liam Payne and J Balvin Team for New Single, ‘Familiar’

Liam Payne and J Balvin Team for New Single, ‘Familiar’

Liam Payne and J Balvin
Liam Payne and J Balvin (Source: Instagram)

Former One Direction member Liam Payne has teamed with Latin superstar J Balvin for a bilingual single called “Familiar.” The track follows Payne’s UK hit “For You” with Rita Ora, and Balvin’s Latin crossover “X” with Nicky Jam.

“Familiar” was produced by an up-and-comer by the name of Mike Sabath. He has previously worked on songs for Chris Brown and Wale.

Stream “Familiar” below and download it on DJcity.

Related: Watch: Nicky Jam Explains How J Balvin Collab ‘X’ Was Made

Watch: Nicky Jam Explains How J Balvin Collab ‘X’ Was Made

Nicky Jam

Latin superstar Nicky Jam recently sat down with Billboard to explain how his J Balvin-assisted hit single “X” was made. The video is part of Billboard’s How It Went Down series.

Produced by Afro Bros and Jeon, “X” currently sits at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart and No. 47 on the Hot 100. It was DJcity’s eight most-downloaded song of March.

Nicky discusses how he knew the track was going to be a hit as soon as Balvin played it for him and that he quickly realized he needed to be a part of it. He goes on to talk about how he kept Balvin from changing the original beat then describes the meaning of his lyrics.

Watch How It Went Down above and download “X” on DJcity.

Related: Chuckie Talks J Balvin Collab, ‘Machika’

Chuckie Talks J Balvin Collab, ‘Machika’

Chuckie

Chuckie
Chuckie at Exchange LA on Oct. 6, 2017. (Source: Facebook)

Dutch legend Chuckie recently spoke with Billboard about co-producing J Balvin, Jeon, and Anitta‘s international club anthem, “Machika.”

The track, which is currently No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, was also produced by Dutch trio ChildsPlay and frequent Balvin collaborator Sky Rompiendo El Bajo.

In the interview, Chuckie explains that the foundation of “Machika” isn’t reggaeton like some listeners may think. Instead, it’s rooted in a Dutch Caribbean house style called “bubbling.”

“Bubbling was born in the late 1980s when DJ Moortje, a Netherlands-based DJ from Curacao, accidentally speeded up a dancehall track during a club set …,” Billboard writes. “The rhythms of Jamaica [including reggaeton instigator dembow] have been favorites in the Netherlands,” Chuckie says. “Bubbling changed the speed to almost double the tempo.”

“The sound of ‘Machika’ is [the sound] of the evolution of bubbling … A lot of the grooves are sounds I was using back in the ’90s. It’s kind of reinvented itself for this new generation of kids.”

Along with his experience in the style, Chuckie also recognized the importance of mashing different cultures.

“Now with the Internet, we’re all world citizens; [through music] we get to learn about other cultures and I think that’s beautiful,” Chuckie says. “They know that whatever I’m going to send them sounds different. It’s nice to have different flavors in a genre. That keeps it interesting for everyone.”

According to Billboard, “Machika” has been rumored to be in the running to be used as a World Cup song. That makes sense, given the track’s high energy, fusion of cultures, and international appeal.

Watch the video for “Machika” above download the track and its remixes on DJcity.

Related: J Balvin, Jeon, and Anitta Drop New Single and Video, ‘Machika’

J Balvin, Jeon, and Anitta Drop New Single and Video, ‘Machika’

J Balvin

Following his crossover hit “Mi Gente,” J Balvin has joined Aruban newcomer Jeon and Brazilian singer Anitta for an international anthem, “Machika.”

The track features production from The Netherlands’ Chuckie and ChildsPlay and Colombia’s Sky Rompiendo El Bajo. The latter is a frequent collaborator of Balvin’s, having produced hits like “Safari,” “Bobo,” and “Ginza.”

Along with the track, J Balvin, Jeon, and Anitta also dropped a post-apocalyptic-style video, which was shot in Colombia.

Watch above and download the “Machika” on DJcity.

Related: Watch Major Lazer’s ‘Buscando Huellas’ Video Feat. J Balvin and Sean Paul

Watch Major Lazer’s ‘Buscando Huellas’ Video Feat. J Balvin and Sean Paul

Major Lazer has dropped a video for “Buscando Huellas,” their reggaeton-influenced track with J Balvin and Sean Paul. The visuals feature Balvin and Jillionaire showing off their dance moves at a warehouse.

The single, which appears on Major Lazer’s Know No Better EP, was DJcity’s sixth most downloaded track of June. It marks the second collaboration between Major Lazer and J Balvin, following 2015’s “Lean On” remix. Sean Paul has also worked with the trio, having been featured on their 2014 single, “Come On To Me.”

Watch the video above and download “Buscando Huellas” on DJcity.

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