J Balvin is back with new music and feeling completely “recharged.” On Thursday, the reggaeton star announced his album Rayo, reviving the lightning themes of his magnum opus 2016 LP, Energía. He also revealed the album’s 15-song track list — which includes collabs with Feid, Ryan Castro, Bad Gyal, and Carín León — and dropped a single, “Gaga,” featuring Saiko.
“Life has shown me that breaks are essential for human growth. I’m here again, recharged with energy, grateful and enjoying music like when I started,” Balvin wrote in Spanish on Instagram. “I present to you Rayo, an album that I really enjoyed creating with the greats of music and the new generations.”
“I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and feel the energy I felt while creating it,” he wrote. “I love you.”
The new LP is slated to arrive Aug. 9 and includes songs such as “Polvo de tu Vida” with Chencho Corleone, “Doblexxó” with Feid, “Gato” with Bad Gyal, and “Stoker” with Carin León. The new single features Spanish reggaetonero Saiko, which Rolling Stone included in its Future 25 earlier this year.
Balvin’s album’s title — and cover art — pays homage to Balvin’s first car, which was named Rayo, he shared in his post. With the LP’s title, he adopted the lightning ray themes of his album Energía, which featured hits such as “Safari,” “Bobo,” and “Ginza.”
The album announcement arrives several months after the singer made headlines for his alien-themed Coachella performance, including an appearance from Jowell and Randy and Will Smith, reprising his role in Men in Black.
Rayo marks Balvin’s sixth solo album and follows his eponymous LP José, which dropped in 2021. He also released a collaborative LP with Bad Bunny in 2019 titled Oasis and has teased an album alongside Ed Sheeran.
Rayo Track List:
1. “Cosa de Locos”
2. “Polvo de tu Vida” featuring Chencho Corleone
3. “Swat” featuring Luar La L
4. “Bajo y Batería”
5. “Doblexxó” featuring Feid
6. “3 Noches”
7. “Gaga” featuring SAIKO
8. “Gato” featuring Bad Gyal
9. “Lobo” featuring Zion
10. “La Noche” featuring Dei V
11. “Origami” featuring Ryan Castro y Blessd
12. “Sólido”
13. “Stoker” featuring Carin León
14. “Ganster”
15. “En Alta” featuring Omar Courtz, YOVNGCHIMI, Quevedo, Mambo Kingz, DJ Luian
From Rolling Stone US