J Balvin is experiencing a career Transformer-ation…
The 36-year-old Colombian singer, known as the “Prince of Reggaeton,” is getting his own Transformers figure.
On July 13, Hasbro will make available for pre-order the “J Balvintron,” a 7-inch tall figure with two mini cassette accessories inspired by Balvin’s Energía and Vibrasalbums that transform into a condor and a tiger to create a mash-up J Balvintron 3-pack. The figure also wields a blaster, and incorporates Balvin’s signature rainbow colors and smiley face icon.
While Hasbro has previously partnered with brands like Marvel and Universal to create figures from their respective universes, the J Balvintron is the first figure created with a musical artist or actual living celebrity since Hasbro launched its collaborative program in 2019.
The figure, which will be available exclusively on the NTWRK platform as a limited edition, will retail for $69.99.
“I’ve loved Transformers since I was a kid so this was a dream come true,” Balvin told Billboard.
“The J Balvintron Transformers that are coming out are a reflection of my dream toy. Ever since the proposal came to me I had this vision in mind.”
The Transformer proposal came to Balvin via livestream shopping platform NTWRK, which is known for its exclusive, celebrity-partnership product drops, and which had a strong relationship with both Balvin and Hasbro.
“NTWRK approached J Balvin and Hasbro with the idea to collaborate with Transformers because Balvin is a huge fan of Transformers and we thought it would be an amazing fan experience and cultural moment — For Balvin and Transformers fans,” says president Moksha Fitzgibbons.
Balvin, whose affinity for games in general is well known, was excited.
“I asked them to include elements from my past albums in the design. This is why they have two cassette options, one for Vibras and then one for Energia,” he says. “The colors, the names, I suggested all of these to them for inspiration. When we were in the process of making the design, Colores had just come out so we wanted to make many different color options.”
Evan Brooks, the designer in charge of the Balvintron, knew the singer was a big G1 Transformer fan, so his starting point was Soundwave, a popular Gen 1 transformer whose best-known disguise is as a cassette player. Brooks designed two small cassette players that transform into Balvin albums. Because the cassettes are usually animal-themed, “We looked at his tatoos and saw he had four or five tigers. We ran it past him and had one of them turn into a tiger that turns into Vibras, and the other one is a condor that turns into Energia.”
The first step in designing based on an actual person, says Brooks, is taking the visual elements that define the person and extrapolating them onto a robot. The biggest challenge, he says, was trying to balance Balvin’s many color associations.
“If you look at Balvin’s figure, I found his rainbow hair style very iconic. We went through ten iterations. The robot head has the five color break. We made sure the smiley face was present.”
The whole process, he says, was “very easy and very smooth,” with a bonus. Brooks, who hadn’t heard Balvin before, became a fan, and “Rojo” is now his favorite track.
The J Balvintron will only be available on the NETWRK App, which will premiere the figure along with an animated video and an interview with the Balvintron designers. Balvin will also promote the figure on social media.
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’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.
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
After releasing music videos for his colorful singles like “Rojo” and “Azul,” the 35-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer and aspiring fashion designer has released the new animated video for “Negro.”
Directed by Colin Tilley, the cryptic video released today finds J Balvin trying to take over the empty streets of a Gotham City-inspired town. Although his crew seems to conquer and outnumber any rival, J Balvin is met by the ultimate ruler, a T-Rex who swallows J Balvin whole in one roar.
With the release of “Negro,” all songs but one on his Colores album have a video. While it’s not clear if there will be a video to “Arcoíris,” the Colombian star posted on his social media “closing the chapter on Colores” announcing the release of “Negro.”
“The goal was to create different content that would really stand out and that the reggaetón world hadn’t really seen before,” says director Tilley about the videos. “Jose is just the definition of a true collaborator. My goal was for every video that drops for it to up the previous one. If we’re not doing that, then we’re not doing our job and there’s no point of releasing every single video.”
The 34-year-old Colombian urban singer has released his latest single “Rojo.”
J Balvin also released the emotional and heart-wrenching music video for the softer reggaetón song.
The music video was filmed by Colin Tilley, who directed the music videos for J Balvin’s other tracks “Blanco” and “Morado.”
In the clip, J Balvin, who is on the phone while driving, gets into a fatal car accident while on his way to the hospital to see his newborn. He never gets to see his wife again or meet his daughter, but he’s with them in spirit at all times — even on his widow’s dates with other men.
“I’m helping my wife find the right guy,” J Balvin said about the video in a previous Instagrampost. “It’s about being open and not selfish.”
“Rojo,” “Blanco” and “Morado ” will all be part of J Balvin’s forthcoming studio album titled Colores, which will be released in late March.
The 32-year-old Argentinian writer and director has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA) in all areas.
Born in Buenos Aires, Naishtat is best known for creating experimental and fictional shorts centered on historical and societal complexities. He has made a name for himself on the global film circuit: His first feature, History of Fearplayed at the Berlin Film Festival, and it won the Best Film Award at the Jeonju International Film Festival.
Additionally, he wrote and directed The Movement, which participated in the Cineasti del Presente section of the Locarno Film Festival.
His most recent film Rojomade its world premiere earlier this year at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Platform section; it t was also an official selection at the San Sebastián Film Festival where it won the Silver Shell for Best Director.
