J Balvin Becomes First Latino Artist to Headline NFL Kickoff Concert

J Balvin has earned a place in NFL history…

The 37-year-old Colombian singer performed at Alamitos Beach in Long Beach, California, on Thursday, September 8 as part of the NFL Kickoff Experience to celebrate the beginning of the 2022 NFL season, becoming the first Latino artist to headline an NFL kickoff concert.

J BalvinJ Balvin performed ahead of the first game of the year, which saw the Buffalo Bills battle with reigning Super Bowl champs, the Los Angeles Rams.

Attendees defied the L.A. heat wave and made their way to the beach for a free day event that featured all sorts of activities and activations, including a beach football field.

Before Balvin took the stage, a local mariachi band serenaded the sweaty crowd before the Alabama State Marching Hornets took over for a riveting number.

Opening for Balvin was West Coast-based DJ and producer Tokimonsta, who was able to get the concertgoers out of the shade and closer to the main stage where they danced to her eclectic set.

Then, an inflatable giant hand appeared onstage holding up an equally large smiling face balloon — Balvin’s signature smiley face— which could only mean that the chart-topping artist was ready to take make his grand entrance. While his set was scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm, Balvin took the stage 10 minutes earlier to perform a nearly one-hour show.

He appeared in a two-piece, army-like outfit styled with a matching balaclava that only exposed his eyes.

“Cómo está la vibra esta tarde, how’s the vibe today?” he asked the crowd.

Balvin kicked off with the fan-favorite “Mi Gente” and went on to perform back-to-back hits like “Reggaeton,” “Nivel de Perreo,” “Con Altura,” “Loco Contigo,” “Blanco,” “Ritmo,” “Amarillo,” “Ginza,” “I Like It” and “In Da Getto.” He also brought out a special guest, Trueno, an emerging rapper from Argentina, to perform their collaboration “Un Paso.”

“My name is Jose but they call me J Balvin,” he added. “Where are all the warriors that fight for their dreams? I see my Latino gang representing here.”

Throughout the years, artists like Shawn MendesMeek MillMeghan Trainor and Ed Sheeran have performed at the NFL Kickoff Concert.

Ozuna Earns 27th No. 1 on Billboard Latin Airplay Chart with DJ Snake-Collaboration “SG”

Ozuna is celebrating another massive hit…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper’s collaboration “SG” with Lisa of BLACKPINK, Megan Thee Stallion and DJ Snake has reached No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart.

Ozuna, Lisa, Megan Thee Stallion, DJ SnakeThe track rises from No. 3 to rule the April 2-dated survey.

It’s Ozuna,’s 27th champ and second of the year: “Emojis de Corazones,” with Wisin, Jhay Cortez, which also features Los Legendarios, arrived at the summit on the January 8-dated list.

Lisa of BLACKPINK and Meghan Thee Stallion earn their first No. 1s on the chart.

DJ Snake, who clocks his third straight No. 1, returns to lead the all-Latin genre tally after “Loco Contigo,” with J Balvin and Tyga, reigned for one week in November 2019.

With the new No. 1 on Latin Airplay, here’s a look at the acts with the most No. 1s on the 27-year-old survey:

33, J Balvin
32, Enrique Iglesias
27, Ozuna
25, Daddy Yankee
21, Maluma
20, Wisin
19, Romeo Santos

The bilingual “SG” and its music video were officially released on October 22, 2021, via DJ Snake/Interscope. It didn’t, however, make its Latin Airplay appearance until four months later, when the track debuted at No. 37 on the February 19-dated ranking.

The song wraps a steady seven-week trek to No. 1 to lead the current chart with 8.4 million in audience impressions, up 26%, earned in the U.S. in the week ending March 27, according to Luminate, formerly MRC Data.

 

Both LISA and Meghan Thee Stallion concurrently score their first No. 1 on Latin Rhythm AirplayMeanwhile, Ozuna captures his 26th champ and DJ Snake returns to the upper reaches with a third No. 1.

J Balvin Earns 13 Latin Grammy Award Nominations, Including Two for Album of the Year

J Balvin is the man to beat…

The Latin Grammy Award nominations have been announced, with the 35-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer leading the pack of nominees with 13 nominations.

J Balvin

J Balvin’s nominations include two for album of the year and two for record of the year (“Rojo” & “China”).

Balvin has a chance to win his first album of the year prize — a category with 10 contenders — thanks to his fifth solo album “Colores” and “Oasis,” his collaborative project with Bad Bunny. Other nominees include Bad Bunny’s sophomore release “YHLQMDLG” as well as albums from Ricky Martin, Carlos Vives, Jesse & Joy, Kany García, Natalia Lafourcade, Camilo and Fito Paez.

Bad Bunny received nine nominations, including two for album of the year (YHLQMDLG & Oasis) and one for record of the year (“Vete”).

Ozuna has eight nominations, including one for record of the year (“China”).

For record of the year, which also has 10 nominees, contenders include popular hip-hop-flavored Latin songs that have dominated the Latin music charts and earned hundreds of millions plays on streaming services, with some even reaching the billion-mark on YouTube, including Karol G and Nicki Minaj’s global hit “Tusa” and “China” by Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna, Balvin and Marco Masis. Other nominees include Balvin’s “Rojo” and Bad Bunny’s “Vete.”

“Tusa” is the sole Latin trap nominee in the song of the year category, where 11 tracks are in contention. It’s a departure for Karol G, who didn’t receive a single nomination last year and was part of the group of uber-successful Latin trap and reggaeton artists who were dissed in top categories like album, song and record of the year.

This year, the 29-year-old Colombian performer, who was named best new artist in 2018, has four nominations, including two shared with Minaj. Karol G’s fiance, Puerto Rican rapper-singer Anuel AA, marked a major breakthrough this year as a first-time nominee. He scored seven nominations, including a bid for best new artist.

“Over the last year, we continued engaging in discussions with our members to improve the awards process and actively encouraged diverse Latin music creators to join and participate,” Latin Academy President and CEO Gabriel Abaroa Jr. said in a statement, calling this year’s nominees “a group that reflects the constant evolution of Latin music.”

As a result of last year’s debacle social media exploded as Latin artists posted images of the Grammy logo with a large red “X″ across it, with words on the image reading in Spanish: “Without reggaeton, there’s no Latin Grammys.” Balvin even skipped the live show and Bad Bunny, who won best urban music album during the telecast, told the audience: “With all due respect, reggaeton is part of the Latin culture.”

To honor Latin rap and reggaeton performers, the Latin Grammys added new categories this year, including best reggaeton performance and best rap/hip-hop song.

Balvin’s 13 nominations includes several categories where he will compete with himself: Outside of album and record of the year, he’s a double nominee in the best urban music album, best urban fusion/performance and best reggaeton performance categories. Ozuna and Bad Bunny will also compete with themselves in several categories.

Others who scored multiple nominations include Juanes, Martin, Alejandro Sanz, Camilo, Carlos Vives, Kany García and Residente, the most decorated winner in the history of Latin Grammys. Rosalía, who won album of the year last year and became the first solo female performer to win the top honor since Shakira’s triumph in 2006, earned four nominations this year.

Apart from Minaj’s two nominations, other popular American artists who will compete for awards include rapper Travis Scott (best short form music video for “TKN” with Rosalía); jazz master Chick Corea and his Spanish Heart Band (best Latin jazz/jazz album for “Antidote”); DJ-producer Diplo (best urban song for “Rave de Favela” ); and rapper Tyga (best reggaeton performance for “Loco Contigo” with DJ Snake and Balvin). Justin Bieber’s right-hand songwriter, Jason Boyd aka Poo Bear, earned an album of the year nomination for his work on Jesse & Joy’s “Aire (Versión Día).”

The 21st annual Latin Grammy Awards will air live on November 19 on Univision. The nominees in the 53 categories were selected from more than 18,000 entries. Songs and albums released between June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020 were eligible for nomination.

Click here to see the full Latin Grammy nominations.

J Balvin Earns 17th No. 1 on Billboard Latin Airplay Chart with “Loco Contigo”

Make that 17 for J Balvin

The 34-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer and rapper’s collaboration with DJ Snakeand Tyga, “Loco Contigo,”rises 2-1 on the BillboardLatin Airplaychart dated November 2. 

J Balvin

With the move, J Balvin goes into a four-way tie with Daddy YankeeRicky Martinand Romeo Santosfor the second-most No. 1s in the chart’s history , all with 17 (Enrique Iglesiascontinues at the helm with 30).

“Loco Contigo” arrives at the summit almost a year after DJ Snake claimed his first leader on the tally with “Taki Taki” (on the December 8, 2018-dated chart). Meanwhile, it marks the first No. 1 for American rapper Tygaon any BillboardLatin chart.  

The Spanglish track released via DJ Snake/Geffen/Interscopeon June 14, lands in the penthouse in its 14th week on the chart with 12.7 million in audience impressions (up 1%) earned in the week ending October 27, according to Nielsen Music.

Written by J Balvin, Tyga, Justin Quilesand DJ Snake, “Loco Contigo” is the sixth single off DJ Snake’s Carte Blanchealbum, which debuted at No. 2 on the Top Dance/Electronic Album Saleschart (August 10-dated list).As “Loco Contigo”  arrives at the pinnacle of Latin Airplay, it makes progress on other Latin rankings. The song climbs an equal 2-1 on both the Latin Pop Airplayand Latin Rhythm Airplaycharts.vaScript