J Balvin Talks Latin Music's Meteoric Rise and Why Working With Beyonce Was Fate

Spanish-language music hit new highs and reached more people than ever before in America in 2017, but don’t think for a minute it was just a momentary phenomenon. The Latin genre in all its forms has been growing in popularity around the world—but the eventual takeover has finally started stateside.

Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” helped kick things off early in the year, and J Balvin quickly followed with the global smash “Mi Gente,” which was yet another incredibly catchy Spanish cut he’s released throughout his career. Those two hits introduced millions of people—who may not have normally listened to Latin music—to the art form. Because of their successes, more deserving Latin artists will achieve great things that wouldn’t have been possible just a few years ago.

J Balvin hasn’t slept on his newfound fame with an audience who wasn’t aware of him before last year. With a slew of new music (including "Ahora," "Machika" and "X" with Nicky Jam), 2018 could see the Colombian talent finally become a household name in America. The international superstar spoke with Fuse about his past year, why “Mi Gente” resonated with millions, and how he convinced Queen Bey to collaborate with him.