This Is Why You Need to Know Who J Balvin Is (If You Don't Already)

In case you haven’t heard, J Balvin is the newest sensation in reggaeton -from Medellín, Colombia. With a sharp, business-oriented mind and contagious charisma, it is not a matter of if, but when, he will skyrocket into massive superstardom and become a global, multi-industry brand. There are many heartening lessons we can learn from J Balvin. He is an excellent example of the amazing things that can happen when you fight for your dreams. But perhaps what is to be admired most about this inspired dreamer is his resilience.

Although he is now flying high on the success of his hits “6AM” and “Ay Vamos,” with the music video for his latest single “Ginza” premiering yesterday (the song is already #1 in 8 countries, including the U.S.), many might not know the obstacles he’s overcome on the way to fame. This feature from Billboard recounts his journey in detail.

As he states over and over again, he just wants to be real, which can only be interpreted as being true to himself. At one point early in his career he did lose sight of his true self, including his passion for music, but he recognized that and fought to reclaim what he had lost, and that is admirable. He didn’t spiral into darkness or let himself be lead down a self-destructive path, as we see so many other celebrities do. Every time he has been in danger of sacrificing himself for his career, he recognized it and prevented the situation from escalating into catastrophe.

He so appropriately emphasizes the importance of dreaming as well. His dreams are now becoming his reality, after all. Still, he acknowledges that dreams require hard work to achieve. In the Billboard interview, he stated: “There’s no dream without sacrifice”. His eyes reveal that he has indeed made plenty of sacrifices to get to where he is today. Heavy and wise and filled with kindness, they sparkle with the excitement of dreams yet to be fulfilled.

And after all he’s been through he still doesn’t take himself too seriously. He knows how to have fun, that’s for sure. If you follow him on Instagram, where he has an astronomical 4 million + followers, you will see that this is the place where his personality truly shines. From sharing his morning coffee in short clips on Instagram to his goofy videos with buddy Nicky Jam, J Balvin fans can delight in his lighthearted antics.

It is also through social media that you will see the crucial role fashion plays in Balvin’s identity as an artist. He has admitted that he admires producer/rapper Kanye West for his fashion ventures and mogul Jay Z for his business savvy. He just might be the next mogul of not only the Latin music industry, but of the entire entertainment industry regardless of language.

So it comes as no surprise that he has expressed interest in crossing over into the English-language music market, and he has already had a little taste of it as a featured artist on remixes of “Blurred Lines,” (Robin Thicke, T.I., Pharrell), “Can’t Stop Dancing” (Becky G), and “The Way” (Ariana Grande). Should he become a full fledged crossover artist, he will slay the English-language market without question.

There is no doubt that J Balvin is a force to be reckoned with, destined to find success that knows no bounds. Check out his latest hit "Ginza" and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @JBalvin