“Life has shown me that pauses are necessary for human growth,” J Balvin wrote last month on social media, which almost served as a prelude to what seems like a momentous event in his career: releasing his first album in three years. “I’m here again, recharged with energy, grateful and enjoying music like I did when I started.”
In a time when the music industry is moving at warp speed, Balvin went against the current and slowed down, going back to his roots in an effort to reconnect with his day ones with new set Rayo. Even the name of the album is a nod to the early days of his career: “Rayo” was the name of a humble little red car he drove to personally hand out his CDs in Medellín when he was just starting out.
Rayo kicks off with a soft reggaetón banger, “Cosa de Locos,” which is reminiscent of the rhythmic-leaning sound that made Balvin a household name in the first place. From there, the Colombian hitmaker takes listeners on a joyride, where he often detours from reggaetón to arrive at dembow, house music or electro-pop, with collaborators that are just as eclectic as his album, including Carín León, Feid and Saiko.
Rayo follows Balvin’s Grammy-nominated Jose, which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. Overall, Balvin has placed four No. 1 sets on the tally since 2016 – also including Energía, Vibras and Oasis, his 2019 joint album with Bad Bunny.
Below, Billboard ranks all 15 songs from Rayo, in descending order.
“Bajo y Batería,” or bass and drums, lives up to its name by offering a powerful mix highlighting the strength of these two instruments that builds a compelling musical foundation from start to finish. Over a mesmerizing melody, Balvin sings to a seductive woman he can’t resist. It may not be a standout song on the album but the storyline does keep you on the edge of your seat.
A dynamic nod to old-school reggaetón, “Swat” features the rising Puerto Rican star Luar La L, capturing the genre’s raw and explosive essence. The duo delivers aggressive lyrics filled with braggadocio and toughness, as showcased in standout lines like “Vestidos de negro como si somos el swat.” The track creates a bombastic and electric atmosphere, underscoring their lyrical prowess while fitting the gritty spirit of early reggaetón.
A song that doesn’t shy away from sexuality, “Gato” featuring Bad Gyal, finds both artists singing about perreo and sex — a somewhat repetitive theme on the album — over a classic reggaetón drum beat. The dynamic between the Colombian star and the Spanish singer works both lyrically and vocally, and gives them the opportunity to shine together and separately.
While Balvin dabbles in Afrobeats and EDM throughout the album, he mainly sticks to the purest form of reggaetón, including in “La Noche” with Puerto Rican singer Dei V — a song about flirting, perreo and sex. “The night is for getting high, she passes me the smoke with her mouth/ That’s what happens when she calls on me, I possessed her and she went crazy,” they sing on the chorus of this club-ready track.
Balvin reeled in one of the genre’s OGs for “Polvo de tu Vida,” an eerie, sci-fi-inspired, old-school reggaetón banger that has a catchy and impassioned hook. “Soy el polvo de tu vida, esta noche no se olvida,” they chant in the track — which guarantees they are having the best sex ever. Backing up the sensual track and its lyrics is a futuristic music video that alludes to a dystopian theme.
Produced by Hear This Music (also featuring Mambo Kingz & DJ Luian), “En Alta” is an infectious electro-trap fusion about manifesting nothing but good vibes and being surrounded by positive-minded people. “We continue at the top/ Everyone in the middle, I don’t want fake people/ We are better than yesterday, thank God/ Today there is a party on the terrace, we are chilling,” goes the chorus. The song—recorded in collaboration with newcomers Quevedo, Omart Courtz and YOVNGCHIMI — marked Balvin’s return to music after a 10-month social media break.
While paying homage to old school reggaetón, Balvin but also manages to be innovative in this collaboration with Zion (from Zion & Lennox). The lyrics talk about an attractive woman who lives her life carefree. “Lobo” is a catchy reggaetón jam that will undoubtedly remain on repeat for many listeners.
Electronic music fused with Latin is almost certain to result in a banger, as both global genres have proven to work well together in the past. “Gaga” — featuring Spanish reggaetón and trap singer Saiko — is a club-ready track that thrives on electronic head-bobbing beats, further fueling the EDM/Latin momentum.
Throughout his album, Balvin encourages artists to step out of their comfort zones. Reggaetón singers Castro and Blessd — representing the new generation of Medellín hitmakers — are hardly an exception here. The two leave their in-your-face reggaetón they’re known for to join Balvin on this dance track, with a hypnotic tune that instantly lures you in.
Set against a hard-hitting reggaetón beat, “Gangster” spins a frisky and flirty narrative around a captivating night. The song delves into a one-night stand with a mesmerizing gangster girl whose allure captivates everyone, earning admirations even from women. With vocal embellishments that set the tone from the start, the track captures a playful chase and tug-of-war vibe, highlighting her notable assets and irresistible charm.
Balvin brings out his romantic side and dives into a warm Afrobeats track in “3 Noches.” Over a slow and sensual base, the Colombian expresses how difficult the days have become after a girl has left him. With soft vocal nuances, he tries to capture her attention and persuade her to return to him soon. The sweet song has potential to become a favorite on this album.
Balvin and Feid’s bromance continues to be solidified on “Doblexxo,” the pair’s latest collaboration following a string of tracks together including “Que Raro,” “Bebé Que Bien Te Ves” and “Porfa (Remix),” to name a few. With a distorted perreo melody, the track is representative of Medallo’s vibrant nightlife. In “Doblexxo” (which loosely translates to “double,” and spelled in true Ferxxo fashion), the Colombian bros encourage women to ignore the men who are not good for them, and instead, go out with their friends.
A fast-paced, hard-hitting reggaetón track meshed with futuristic synth beats set the tone for “Cosa de Locos.” In the lyrics, Balvin is confused as to when the girl he used to hook up with changed. “What happened? What pushed you away?/ Don’t tell me it was since your sister got married/ Or your mom threatened you […] tell them you don’t have a heart/ And that we did it dancing, it was something crazy,” he chants in the infectious track.
With a sensuous delivery, J Balvin perfectly encapsulates his signature Colombian reggaetón style with a laid-back, undulating groove. This track, imbued with romance and smooth rhythms, showcases his lyrical prowess as he shrugs off rumors and declares mutual destiny in the chorus: “Lo que digan de ti, lo que digan de mi, es puro chisme, es pura mentira, tu naciste pa’ mi, yo nací pa’ ti,” blending heartfelt lyrics with infectious beats.
As soon as you see Carín León’s name, you probably think it’ll be another regional Mexican-urban collab mashup. But, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that it’s not. Balvin and León aren’t as predictable here and place all bets on an Afrobeats-laden track. The artists — who linked up at Coachella earlier this year — unite their melodic vocals to give life to “Stoker,” a heartbreak track — which starts with acoustic guitars then transitions into a tropical beat — about becoming almost obsessive over a girl who has clearly moved on. Come for the star power, stay for the storytelling as León and Balvin deliver some of the best verses in this album.
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