Mixteip Has No Misses
J Balvin is one of the few Reggaeton Artists that may actually be able to claim to have run Reggaeton at one point.
His haters would like to use his peak against him to try and portray that J Balvin has somehow fallen of. However, anyone with a pulse and two good working ears attest that J Balvin is still one of the greatest Reggaeton Artists on the planet! So without further ado, let’s jump into this album review!!!! Or as J Balvin would say, leggo!!!!
Bruz Wein
J Balvin starts proceedings in a highly orginal and creative manner.
On Track Number One, J Balvin wastes no time in transporting the listener into his world. Where apparently, J Balvin feels like Bruce Wayne of Batman fame.
To set the tone like this is a huge statement because it makes J Balvin stand out from his peers significantly. This complements the numbers J Balvin’s music has done. As well as, the catalogue that J Balvin has.
Put a different way. Your Reggaeton lyrics hit harder when arguably you are on the Mount Rushmore of Reggaeton. (Or should we just say, on Mount Reggaeton?)
The production on this track is really clean and crisp and the both the beat and J Balvin compliment each other very well which is a must, given that the beat is a non Reggaeton one.
Zun Zun
Presumably, J Balvin arranged the album by opening up with letting you meet Bruce Wayne. Next, in song number two (Zun Zun), J Balvin lets the listener get a full blown taste of his other side (Batman) with Zun Zun.
This Zun Zun track is straight up Reggaeton!!!!
Like Batman and Reggaeton J Balvin owns the night. Full of Reggaeton swagger and energy. Zun Zun is an invitation for all to turn up, party up and have fun!!!!
Bob Marley once said: “one thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain!!!!” Well, when Zun Zun hits you definitely feel no pain but you also feel good (high, musically) due to the energy contained in this awesome song. Well done to J Balvin and all who were a part of this project!!!
Uuu
Sometimes in life you have to just rip up the playbook and go with your gut. After all, as they say diversity is the spice of life. Moreover, spontaneous vibes and trusting your gut tends to bring both fun and vindication.
Uuu is an example of J Balvin doing just that. Is the song a Reggaeton song? Definitely no!!! Well, what kind of song is it? No idea. However, one thing is certain! The song is an emotive, infectious, rollercoaster ride!!!!
The length of the song is just two minutes and five seconds. Again think rollercoaster ride, or sprint. However, the production on this one is steeped in culture and should resonate worldwide particularly, in markets like Columbia, Africa, Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean to say the least. This track feels like a stand out track on a collection of work that already has zero skips.
One of the best things about Uuu is the balance the song strikes between being, ghetto, grimy, gritty, raw and rough. Whilst conversely also being uptempo, high energy, pulsating and movement inspiring. What’s left to say but – this track is amazing – so listen to it as soon as possible!!!!
PQBL
This song, given the themes and tones of all the prior songs, feels like we all come back down to earth from the highs of partying and revelry. To the reality of lost love and romance. Michael Jordan has six rings and never lost in the NBA finals. However, even he, has been divorced.
Point being, mostly all of us know what it is like to lose in love. What is special though is how J Balvin takes that vulnerability and pain and turns it into a top tier Reggaeton song!!!
It would have been more predictable for J Balvin to make this song a pop, ballad or RnB song type of deal. However, instead JB keeps his feet firmly planted in the sands of Reggaeton and instead opts to show that the genre is more than capable of tackling heart break.
What’s more, by doing so, J Balvin low key introduces a discreetly optimistic energy to the song. Keeping it Reggaeton ensures that there is a steady movement to the song that hints at the heartbroken one, jogging on to eventually, see better days. Great work here from J Balvin!!!!
No Te Olvido
J Balvin low key seems to be on a mission to prove that he can still make us move to sad songs once he puts that Reggaeton in it. Truth be told, J Balvin is right!!!! Every cloud does have a silver lining and if we can follow JB’s example, we all will be able to dance our way through bad times of pain or heartbreak. After all, what better way through a heartbreak?
The melody and tonality that J Balvin brings to this one also help ensure that the brighter side of lost love, is seen and felt.
After all, whoever among us that is experiencing a romance that’s been lost but yet has tunes like No Te Olvido to get them through, is truly blessed indeed!!!!
Mysterio
Is a continuation of the, I will dance my pain away vibes from J Balvin. However, though the theme continues, the method in which the theme is delivered is new. As J Balvin teams up with Gilberto Santa Rosa to give us a Reggaeton meets Salsa track.
This song is highly relatable, emotional and downright therapeutic for anybody that can relate to the feeling of thinking they found that forever love, only for it to suddenly one day, vanish away.
It happens to most if not of all of us so, what are you going to do? Cry and ask why me, when maybe you should be asking why not me? Or, instead, will you embrace the pain and sing along with J Balvin about how mysterious it is that what looked like love, could one day disappear so soon!
The latter is definitely the more fun option, that your doctor would recommend (if they were fun too).
St. Tropez
Is a high tempo, party hard and be careless type of tune. On this one, J Balvin is on full emcee mode as he is spitting that heat that your favorite rapper would likely approve of. As aforementioned, few can hold a candle to all that JB has achieved.
On this track, JB allows himself to shine, show off and show out!!!! Given how, well produced and catchy the beat is, it all welcome because that beat is only suited to the confident!!!!
KLK Featuring Omega.
This track is Urban Merengue Meets Reggaeton. The Trumpet helps set an upbeat and happy mood to this song as the vibe throughout, is celebratory.
This song is an anthem for those willing to choose happiness, as, it is a call to action. More specifically, KLK is a call to dance, move and be happy. The video is a visual display of J Balvin’s love of Dominican (people from the Dominican Republic as opposed to the Commonwealth Of Dominica) people and their culture.
Omega fully understands the assignment and drops a verse that assimilates to the rhythm of the beat perfectly. This is a let the good times roll anthem.
Rio
Is romantic Reggaeton at its best. It feels warm, like a hug and blissful, like a chill day at the beach or under the covers with your lover. If feels, like your happy place. (Whatever that means to you).
It’s songs like Rio that make it a no-brainer to decree Mixteip a complete success. Firstly, the primary job of music is to make people feel good and/or to be a medicine that all can afford. Mixteip by J Balvin definitely passes this test with flying colors.
Secondly, Mixteip has no skips on it. Every single song is a banger. One can say that a particular song is out of sync with their personal preferences. However, for the open minded, Mixteip is a straight up success.
Whereas on some songs J Balvin tackles how it feels to have love and lose it (eg Mysterio). In Rio, the subject matter is to have love and be completed by it. With Rio, J Balvin shares what it feels like to be in true love. That feeling is priceless and it is why Río might just be the best song on the Mixteip album.
Dónde Está Jose
Is a short piece that serves as invitation from J Balvin to the listener to create a piece of music to the beat of that song and send it to him. Just like when we see artists send out an open verse invite for others to collaborate and showcase what they can do. Here, J Balvin is doing the same thing and letting people know that he would like to connect with them.
There is of course an element of mystery inserted here as no one seems to know where J Balvin is, or how he’ll respond when he returns and sees the replies to his invitation. That this invite is included in his Mixteip album, is definitely unique and puts JB in a class of his own.
Noventa
Here J Balvin links up with DJ Snake – one of his favorite partners in crime – for a major alley-oop Dunk!!!! The track wants for nothing as both parties play their parts in making it a top tier party track!
If any Reggaeton DJ, or DJ playing a Reggaeton set wants to grab folks attention and make sure a party turns all the way up – Noventa is the track to achieve this.
DJ Snakes provides a thumping, relentless beat that is so hard to say no to!!!! Meanwhile J Balvin brings an energy, swagger, flow and lyrics to close, the, deal!!!! (Alley-oop indeed!!!!) Next time you’re at the club during a Reggaeton set, you know, which song to ask for!!!!
Si Te Vas
J Balvin is really, really, on his grown man ish with this tune!!!! Having the strength to be vulnerable and let your person know what they mean to you, is adulting done right! One of J Balvin’s greatest strengths is his ability to communicate through music. Even non Spanish speakers can feel what he is saying through the music. Without necessarily understanding the words.
With this song, JB lets his lover knows that he loves them and that they mean the world to him. The honesty, intensity, emotion and vulnerability on display in this song, makes it an exceptionally beautiful one. Lovers around the world owe J Balvin a debt of gratitude.
