Rayo is the sixth studio album by Colombian singer J Balvin. It was released on 9 August 2024, through Capitol Records. It contains guest appearances from Chencho Corleone, Luar la L, Feid, Saiko, Bad Gyal, Zion, Dei V, Ryan Castro, Blessd, Carín León, Omar Courtz, Yovngchimi, Quevedo, Mambo Kingz and DJ Luian.[2][3]
| Rayo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 9 August 2024 | |||
| Genre | Reggaeton[1] | |||
| Length | 47:53 | |||
| Language | Spanish | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| J Balvin chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Rayo | ||||
| ||||
Background
editIn a July 2023 interview with Nylon, Balvín revealed that he would release his seventh overall studio album later that year, which would have contained mainly reggaeton and Afrobeats tracks, as well as electronic dance songs.[4] He stated that he would promote the album with "Click, Click, Flash", which remains unreleased, and "Dientes" with DJ Khaled and Usher which is inspired by the latter's hit single "Yeah!".[5] That same year, he revealed that he was working on a collaborative album with English singer Ed Sheeran.[6] In July 2024, he would reveal the album's title as Rayo, which is an "expression" for "earnest need for human connection that drove Balvín to create an album that feels more like a house party than a collection of songs".[7] The album's track list was also revealed in the same month.[8]
Singles
edit"En Alta" was released on 23 June 2023 was released as the lead single for Rayo.[9] It peaked at number 63 on Spain's song chart.[10] "Polvo de Tu Vida" with Chencho Corleone was released on 7 June 2024, as the album's second single.[11] "Gaga" with Saiko was released as the album's third single on 11 July 2024.[12] It peaked at number 45 in Spain.[13] "Doblexxó" with Feid was released on 8 August 2024 as the fourth single from Rayo.[14]
Critics reception
editThania Garcia of Variety described the album as a "a pretty polished collection of pop and reggaeton" and that " there isn’t anything on Rayo that feels like a waste time, either", even if "the lyrical material is less vulnerable and personal" than the previous record projects.[15] Billboard wrote that the album has "the rhythmic-leaning sound that made Balvin a household name in the first place" and it "takes listeners on a joyride, where he often detours from reggaetón to arrive at dembow, house music or electro-pop".[16]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cosa de Locos" | 2:36 |
| 2. | "Polvo de Tu Vida" (with Chencho Corleone) | 2:52 |
| 3. | "Swat" (with Luar la L) | 3:27 |
| 4. | "Bajo y Batería" | 3:21 |
| 5. | "Doblexxó" (with Feid) | 2:56 |
| 6. | "3 Noches" | 3:33 |
| 7. | "Gaga" (with Saiko) | 3:08 |
| 8. | "Gato" (with Bad Gyal) | 3:12 |
| 9. | "Lobo" (with Zion) | 2:36 |
| 10. | "La Noche" (with Dei V) | 2:55 |
| 11. | "Origami" (with Ryan Castro and Blessd) | 3:28 |
| 12. | "Sólido" | 3:24 |
| 13. | "Stoker" (with Carín León) | 3:24 |
| 14. | "Ganster" | 2:51 |
| 15. | "En Alta" (with Omar Courtz, Yovngchimi and Quevedo featuring Mambo Kingz and DJ Luian) | 4:10 |
| Total length: | 47:53 | |
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Portuguese Albums (AFP)[17] | 174 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[18] | 6 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] | 39 |
| US Top Latin Albums (Billboard)[20] | 13 |
| US Latin Rhythm Albums (Billboard)[21] | 5 |
References
edit- ^ Villa, Lucas (9 August 2024). "J Balvin Is Returning To His Roots And Reclaiming His Space In Reggaeton". Uproxx. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ García, Thania (11 July 2024). "J Balvin Announces New Rayo Album, Releases 'Gaga' Single". Variety. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (12 July 2024). "J Balvin announces new album Rayo ft. Feid, Bad Gyal & more, shares 'Gaga' ft. SAIKO". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Herrera, Isabelia (17 July 2023). "J Balvin On New Album, Fatherhood & His Jordan Collabs". Nylon. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (17 July 2023). "J Balvin Will Return With a 'Super Updated' Album This Year". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Lyda, Jake (17 July 2023). "J Balvin & Ed Sheeran Collaboration Album Coming In 2024". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (11 July 2024). "J Balvin Announces Album Rayo With Feid, Carín León Collabs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Flores, Griselda (11 July 2024). "J Balvin's New Album Rayo Release Date Announced: See the Tracklist". Billboard. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Coca, Laura (22 June 2023). "¡Bomba! Quevedo y J Balvin presentan su colaboración 'En Alta' con YOVNGCHIMI y Omar Courtz". Los 40 (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "'En Alta' - J Balvin / Omar Courtz / Yovngchimi / Quevedo / Mambo Kingz". El Portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Avíles Millán, Irina (7 June 2024). "J Balvin y Chencho Corleone experimentan con su nueva canción: 'Polvo de tu vida'". Los 40 (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Williams, Aaron (11 July 2024). "J Balvin & SAIKO 'Gaga' Video Burns Rubber In A Lamborghini". Uproxx. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "'Gaga' - J Balvin / Saiko". El Portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Villa, Lucas (9 August 2024). "WATCH: Feid Reunites With J Balvin on Electronic Reggaeton Banger 'Doblexxó'". Remezcla. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Garcia, Thania (August 9, 2024). "J Balvin Returns — In More Ways Than One — With a Nod to His Early Days on 'Rayo': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ Calle, Luisa; Flores, Griselda; Ratner-Arias, Sigal; Raygoza, Isabela; Roiz, Jessica (2024-08-09). "J Balvin's 'Rayo': All 15 Songs Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – J Balvin – Rayo". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – J Balvin – Rayo". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – J Balvin – Rayo". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
- ^ "J Balvin Chart History (Top Latin Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ "J Balvin Chart History (Latin Rhythm Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2024.