J Balvin checks in with Zane Lowe via FaceTime on Apple Music from Medellín to discuss his new album, Colores, why he’s happy he released it, being Drake’s biggest fan, staying in pajamas all day, his desire to be a living legend, and what he misses about being in the streets at home in Colombia.
With everything happening around the world, Balvin told Lowe why he sees isolation as an opportunity…
This is where a lot of inspiration, a lot of ideas, a lot of positive things in community are going to happen, because this is when people have the time to think about how to level things up.
J Balvin Tells Apple Music He’s Happy He Released His New Album ‘Colores’ Despite The Current Climate…
I’m actually real happy about that I dropped the album. I think people never going to forget. My fans and the people that follow me, because this is a tough moment that we’re never going to forget. If you do give them some colors and some light you, they’re never going to forget that either. It’s really, really dope man, to see that people really vibing with the album. It’s great man, I’m grateful that I didn’t stop to drop the album and that we drop it. Hundred percent, a hundred percent man and I think life is perfect man. The fact that the name of the album is Colores, and it dropped in this kind of weird, different, or great moment, call it like gray. It’s just a special man. It was special that the name helps with the situation.
J Balvin Tells Apple Music His Dream of Being a Living a Legend and Why He’s Drake‘s Biggest Fan…
My dream is just, I want to be a living legend. I do. I want to inspire people while I’m alive. Listen, to me, man, a legend is someone that really inspire the world. Someone that inspires, that you want to be like. Like, “Yeah, I want to be like that guy. He did a great job.” And normally, to me, legends have a social impact too, that goes beyond music. It’s like full vibe with your personality, they vibe with way you think, with your thoughts. To me, Drake is a legend. He has broken a lot of records, and I think he keep it real. I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to him, but he looks like a great guy. I haven’t met him and I haven’t even talked to him. Never in my life. And you know what? I’m one of his biggest fans, straight up.
J Balvin Tells Apple Music What He Misses About Being In The Streets at Home in Colombia…
Man, I personally don’t have bodyguards. I don’t like that sh*t. So I’m always around, man. Cars driving around showing me love. I can go anywhere, man. Nothing happened to me. Just love. I miss that. I miss just going to a gas station and talk to the guys. Take a seat there, talking with the people. Anybody who want to approach to me. I miss that. I miss being in touch with people. I miss being in a crowded… I’m used to be in a show performing for people. I’m blessed that I didn’t have to cancel no tour. Because I didn’t want to tour this year.
J Balvin Tells Apple Music About His Friendship With Nicky Jam…
When I first met him, we were in a city called Choco in Colombia. I couldn’t even believe that I was with Nicky Jam. Because he was with Daddy Yankee. They used to be a group Daddy Yankee Nicky Jam. At that time when I met Nicky, Nicky was on his downs. He left Puerto Rico. He was basically like homeless, he left his country. He was just like, start from scratch in Colombia. To me, no matter what was going on, to me it was Nicky Jam. I didn’t care that he was in his downs because he inspired me to be where I’m at too. I was just so happy man to met him, when I met him. It became a real friendship. I met Nicky Jam more like eight years now I think. He inspired me a lot. He was born again, he was reborn again. He was a superstar. Then he just lost everything and then he got it back. His kids got all my respect.
Listen to the conversation in full apple.co/zane.