J Balvin, “RAYO.” Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin morphs once again on RAYO, latest collection of dance bangers and melodramatic lyricism. RAYO J Balvin Capitol, Aug. 9 7/10 Get the album on Amazon Music. But unlike his last album, 2021’s kaleidoscopic, vibrant and family-centered Jose, RAYO is dark, sleek…

RIFF photographers’ best work in 2021 included these shots of (clockwise from top left) Lil Baby, Lindsey Stirling, J Balvin, Murs, Black Veil Brides, Tinashe, Bleachers, MisterWives, J. Cole, Korn, Megan Thee Stallion and KISS. Concerts returned, first tentatively and then in full force. We asked our photographers to…

The best albums of 2021 include Jackson Browne, J Balvin, Cheekface, Jame Blake, Tori Amos, Billy Gibbons, IDLES, Paul Weller, Jon Batiste, Rostam, The Killers and Between the Buried and Me. Welcome back to RIFF’s top album countdown! If you’re here just to complain about the order or lack…

J Balvin performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 31, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — There are a lot of accolades you can give J Balvin: Global superstar, Prince of Reggaeton, one of Time magazine’s most influential people. But one that doesn’t get enough attention is…

For all of his existing accomplishments as the reigning king of reggaeton—the Latin Grammys, the duets with Beyoncé, Cardi B and other English-speaking heavyweights, the billions of streams—new album Jose might become the first entry by Colombian artist J Balvin into middle America. Rather than being solely an urbano or Latino…

“The Metallica Blacklist.” In honor of the 30th anniversary of their self-titled album, mostly referred to as the Black Album, Metallica is doing two things. The band is re-releasing the album with a lot of concert recordings and alternate versions. It’s not their first time doing so; in 2008…