J Balvin is celebrating his birthday in style: He has officially released Omerta, his collaborative album with Ryan Castro. The genre-hopping 10-track project is out now, and includes features from DJ Snake, Eladio Carrión, and Judeline.
Omerta marks the first collaborative project from the Colombian stars as they join forces to shake up the Latin music industry and, of course, display their unwavering pride for their shared hometown, Medellín. The LP has been a long time coming; Balvin and Castro built a close friendship over five years and describe each other as family. It only made sense for them to finally collaborate. “I never had the chance to find a partner from Colombia to make an album together,” Balvin told Rolling Stone for his cover story with Castro. “We have a really beautiful relationship that became family.”
The theme of family and sticking to code of conduct amongst trusted loved ones is a recurring one through out the album. “We have a really beautiful relationship. We became family, and that’s why we call this album Omerta, because it’s about family and taking care of ourselves and our people,” Balvin said.
Due to their close bond, the pair were able to make the album in a week, recording in New York before flying to Turks and Caicos to properly add the dancehall sounds that Castro has become known for in his solo work. “We enjoyed the entire album experience. It felt like a really special chapter. Beyond just the music or the visuals we created, it was really about the camaraderie, sharing that time with all the different teams, the whole family. We had a blast making it,” Castro told Rolling Stone.
Both Balvin and Castro took to Instagram earlier to celebrate the Omerta release day. “Today marks the release of the album with my soul brother and it’s his birthday, too!” Castro wrote on his Instagram story. “What a privilege it is to be a part of everything J Balvin has built within the world of music. Today, I’m raising a glass with my brother. May you celebrate many more birthdays, and may we be right there beside you to honor you while you’re still here with us, for everything you do for urban music and for the Colombian genre. I LOVE YOU,” he added.
Balvin also posted a heartfelt message reflecting on the release and his birthday. “Life gave me so much,” he writes. “But it also taught me that mental health, peace, and real love are non-negotiable. Keep being ambitious… but don’t forget to be happy, too,” Balvin added.
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