These two are seemingly inseparable. The Nigerian afropop superstar and the Colombian reggaeton sensation continue their transatlantic connection with third high-flying collaboration.
“Since we met in 2018, J BALVIN and I have been like brothers,” says Mr Eazi in a statement about the relationship that began when Balvin chose him as the opening act for his North American tour in 2018. “He introduced me to his world of urban and reggaeton music, and I introduced him to mine. It was a cross-cultural interaction and a marriage between what I consider cousins. It was in this spirit that we made “Lento,” one of the many tracks we recorded together.” Reggaeton is certainly a dance of Latin origin, but it is largely rooted in reggae, hip-hop and salsa.
This third collaboration between these two artists is the first to be released as a single. Giants in their respective fields, Mr Eazi and J Balvin bridge their musical worlds, finding themselves complicit in not-so-distant, undulating rhythms once again, where they exchange lyrics in Spanish, English and Yoruba. There is also a nod to Elvis Crespo’s classic “Suavemente.” The duo has already collaborated on “Como Un Bebé” and “Arcoíris” from J Balvin’s Colores which recently won the Latin Grammy for Best Urban Music Album. Reggaeton is blowing up around the world, and for those who have doubts about the genres legitimacy, especially given the misogynistic nature of some of the lyrics, it is important to remember that this style allows many women to express their desire and sexuality on the dance floor without feeling judged. Seen through this lens, reggaeton then becomes a safe space for sexual expression, as opposed to the street, the workplace or the queue for the club bathrooms.
The track is available on all streaming platforms.
Listen to Mr Eazi & J Balvin in our Songs of the Week playlist on Spotify and Deezer.
