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 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.”
Univision has announced the 2020 Premios Juventud nominations, with the 35-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer leading the pack.
Balvin received 12 nominations, including Video with a Purpose for the heart-wrenching “Rojo,” This Choreo Is On Fire for the dancetastic music video to “Amarillo,” and And Featuring, for being an artist that everyone wants to sing with.
He’s followed by Karol G, who picked up nine nods.
The 29-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer is nominated for Can’t Get Enough of This Song for her hit collaboration with Nicki Minaj, “Tusa,” Breaking the Internet, and Nailed It, for having the best manicure.
Bad Bunny picked up eight nominations, including The Traffic Jam (for songs you listen to while stuck in traffic) for “En Casita,” Sneakerhead and Scroll Stopper.
Other nominees include Anuel AA (7), Daddy Yankee (5), Manuel Turizo (5), Banda MS (4), Maluma (4),Sebastian Yatra (4), and Jennifer Lopez (3).
The New Generation – Female nominees include Jessie Reyez and Mariah, while the New Generation – Male nominees include Jhay Cortez, Lunay and Myke Towers.
The 17th edition of the awards show includes 28 different categories with new and modified categories Spicy Regional Songs, The Perfect Mix, The Quarantune, OMG Collaboration, #StayAtHomeConcert and Influencer with a Cause.
For the first time, Ana Patricia Gámez, Francisca Lachapel, and Borja Voces will host the three-hour live event beginning at 8:00 pm ET on Thursday, August 13, preceded by “PJ Takeover,” a one-hour pre-show hosted by Jomari Goyso, Clarissa Molina and Amara La Negra, beginning at 7:00 pm ET.
Celebrating the hottest artists in Latin music, pop culture, digital media, fashion, TV, and social media, the annual ceremony will air in a different and creative way, keeping safety top of mind.
The show will include a virtual audience, an innovative integration of the latest state-of-the-art, augmented, and virtual reality technologies for award presentations, intros, and musical performances. In true PJ fashion, the 2020 event is set to inspire, motivate and lead, honoring Agents of Change, including the young frontline heroes during the current global health crisis.
PJ 2020 will broadcast live from Miami and feature artist performances, with organizers leveraging technology and innovation to provide a safe environment in delivering a live music awards show.
Producer you know by Shout-Out (When an artist shouts out the producer’s name) CHRIS JEDAY & GABY MUSIC DIMELO FLOW DJ SNAKE PLAY N SKILL OVY ON THE DRUMS SKY ROMPIENDO STEVE AOKI SUBELO NEO TAINY WILL.I.AM
The New Generation – Female (New female artist that make us dance) CAZZU EMILIA JESSIE REYEZ MARIAH YENNIS
The New Generation – Male (New male artist that make us dance) EL ALFA JHAY CORTEZ LUNAY MYKE TOWERS RAUW ALEJANDRO
The New Regional Mexican Generation (NewRegional Mexican Artist) ALEX FERNÁNDEZ CARIN LEÓN GRUPO FIRME NATANAEL CANO NETO BERNAL
Spicy Regional Songs (Regional Mexican songs with “spicy” lyrics) “Amor Tumbado” – NATANAEL CANO “Cosas De La Clica” – HERENCIA DE PATRONES “El Amor No Fue Pa’ Mi” – GRUPO FIRME FT. BANDA COLOSO “El Circo” – EL FANTASMA “Yo Ya No Vuelvo Contigo” – LENIN RAMÍREZ FT. GRUPO FIRME
The Traffic Jam (Songs you listen to while stuck in traffic) “China” – ANUEL AA FT. DADDY YANKEE, KAROL G, OZUNA & J BALVIN “Escondidos” – LA ADICTIVA “Me Quedaré Contigo” – PITBULL X NE-YO FT. LENIER & EL MICHA “No Elegí Conocerte” – BANDA SINALOENSE MS DE SERGIO LIZÁRRAGA “Que Tire Pa’ ‘Lante” – DADDY YANKEE
Can’t Get Enough Of This Song (Songs you can’t stop singing) “Mi Meta Contigo” – BANDA LOS SEBASTIANES “Pegao” – CNCO FT. MANUEL TURIZO “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)” – BLACK EYED PEAS & J BALVIN “Se Me Olvidó” – CHRISTIAN NODAL “TUSA” – KAROL G FT. NICKI MINAJ
The Perfect Mix (Best collaboration song) “China” – ANUEL AA FT. DADDY YANKEE, KAROL G, OZUNA & J BALVIN “Indeciso” – REIK, J BALVIN & LALO EBRATT “Pegao” – CNCO FT. MANUEL TURIZO “Qué Maldición” – BANDA SINALOENSE MS DE SERGIO LIZÁRRAGA FT. SNOOP DOGG “Qué Pena” – MALUMA FT. J BALVIN
The Quarentune (Songs born during quarantine) “Cuando Amanezca” – NIBAL, JUSTIN QUILES, DANNY OCEAN, FEID “Color Esperanza (2020)” – Artistas múltiples: DIEGO TORRES, NICKY JAM, REIK, CAMILO, FARRUKO, RUBÉN BLADES, CAMILA, CARLOS VIVES, MAU Y RICKY, THALÍA, LESLIE GRACE, RAUW ALEJANDRO, PRINCE ROYCE, PEDRO CAPÓ, KANY GARCÍA, LEONEL GARCIA, RÍO ROMA, DIEGO EL CIGALA, JORGE VILLAMIZAR, CARLOS RIVERA, IVETE SANGALO, COTI SOROKIN, LALI, GENTE DE ZONA, FONSECA, DANI MARTÍN, MANUEL TURIZO, ÁNGELA TORRES, ARA MALIKIAN , DILSINHO “El Mundo Afuera” – ALEJANDRO SANZ “El Tiempo Pasa (Cuarentena)” – FARRUKO “En Casita” – BAD BUNNY “Es Hora De Unirse” – BANDA SINALOENSE MS DE SERGIO LIZÁRRAGA “Esta Cuarentena” – ABRAHAM MATEO “I Believe That We Will Win” – PITBULL “Resistencia” – KENDO KAPONI “Tomar Distancia” – PISO 21
OMG Collaboration (Unexpected collaborations) BANDA SINALOENSE MS DE SERGIO LIZÁRRAGA & SNOOP DOGG – “Qué Maldición” NATANAEL CANO & BAD BUNNY – “Soy El Diablo (Remix)” REYKON & WILLIE COLÓN – “Perriando (La Murga Remix)” SHAKIRA & ANUEL AA – “Me Gusta” T3R ELEMENTO & FARRUKO – “DEL Barrio A La Ciudad”
And Featuring… (The artist that everyone wants to sing with) ANUEL AA DADDY YANKEE J BALVIN MANUEL TURIZO NATTI NATASHA
Can’t Get Enough (Artist that I follow on social media that I always want to see) BAD BUNNY FRIDA SOFÍA JENNIFER LOPEZ KAROL G SEBASTIÁN YATRA
Together They Fire Up My Feed (Couple or friends that appear on each others’ feeds) CAMILA CABELLO & SHAWN MENDES KAROL G & ANUEL AA NICKY JAM & CYDNEY MOREAU ROSALÍA & KYLIE JENNER SEBASTIÁN YATRA & MAU Y RICKY
Scroll Stopper (Artists that halt us from scrolling just to see their posts) BAD BUNNY CARDI B GUAYNAA SEBASTIÁN YATRA THALÍA
#Pet Goals (Artists that post with their pets) EL DASA CON BENITO FRIDA SOFÍA CON PHILLIPPE J BALVIN CON PAZ Y FELICIDAD KAROL G Y ANUEL AA CON GOKU MALUMA CON BONNIE Y CLYDE
#Stay Home Concert (Best at-home concert) ALEJANDRO SANZ & JUANES – “#LaGiraSeQuedaEnCasa” CARLOS VIVES – “#NoTeVayasDeTuCasa El Show de Carlos Vives” CHRISTIAN NODAL – “Juntos Por La Música #StayHome #WithMe #QuédateEnCasa GERARDO ORTIZ – “Juntos Por La Música #StayHome #WithMe #QuédateEnCasa” SECH – “#YouTubeAndChill Concert”
Breaking the Internet (Artists that post pictures that break the internet) CHIQUIS RIVERA KAROL G LUNAY MALUMA NATTI NATASHA
Triple Threat (Influencer that does it all and dominates at least 3 areas: Social Media platforms, television, film or music) DANILEIGH JUANPA ZURITA ISABELA MERCED LUISA FERNANDA W MARIO BAUTISTA
Name a Better Duo (Friends, siblings or couples that frequently create content together) ANALISSE & KAT RODRÍGUEZ CALLE Y POCHÉ JUANPA ZURITA & MARIO RUIZ KAREN GONZÁLEZ & SEBASTIÁN ROBLES MARTÍNEZ TWINS
Best LOL Award (Funny content creators) ALEX GUZMAN (BLESIV) GADIEL DEL ORBE LEJUAN JAMES LOUIE CASTRO SALICE ROSE
Influencer With A Cause (Influencers who use their platforms for a good cause) CANELO ÁLVAREZ EDWIN CASTRO INDYA MOORE JESSICA Y JP DOMINGUEZ JULISSA CALDERÓN
High Fashion (Always dressed “High Fashion” for Red Carpet Events) BAD BUNNY JENNIFER LOPEZ MALUMA SOFÍA CARSON THALÍA
Sneakerhead (Loves sneakers more than anything) BAD BUNNY DE LA GHETTO J BALVIN KAROL G ROSALÍA
Hair Obsessed (Has the trendiest hairstyles) AMARA LA NEGRA CAMILO J BALVIN JENNIFER LOPEZ PABLLO VITTAR
Nailed It (Has the best “Manicure”) BAD BUNNY BILLIE EILISH CARDI B KAROL G ROSALÍA
This Choreo Is On Fire (Best dance choreography in a music video) “Aguardiente” – GREEICY “Amarillo” – J BALVIN “Bogaloo Supreme” – VICTOR MANUELLE Y WISIN “Que Tire Pa’ ‘Lante” – DADDY YANKEE “Whine Up” – NICKY JAM Y ANUEL AA
Video With A Purpose (Video with best social messaging) “Aleluya” – REIK Y MANUEL TURIZO “Me Estás Matanado” – NATTI NATASHA “No Ha Parado De Llover” – MANÁ Y SEBASTIÁN YATRA “Rojo” – J BALVIN “Tiburones” – RICKY MARTIN