J Balvin's Tour Proves That Music Creates the Latine Unity We Need Right Now

Get the Full StoryI've been thinking a lot about community lately - how essential it is, especially this year, for marginalized folks living in the US. With mass deportations and the dismantling of DEI initiatives, it's clear that this administration has been targeting Latine communities in its first months of power. However, one of the ways I've been holding onto hope and joy is by turning to Latin music, and I felt that message even more strongly at J Balvin's "Back to Rayo" concert on Sunday, March 30, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It was a celebration of Latine power and solidarity.

I've said it before: Bad Bunny's "Deb Tirar M s Fotos" and Jessie Reyez's "Paid in Memories," albums that both dropped this year, have felt like musical gifts the community needs right now. They're more than feel-good tracks - they're reminders of our worth and resiliency, and Balvin's performance very much embodied that sentiment, too.

Balvin's North American tour kicked off in Atlanta just last week, and it marks his first tour in years. Three years after his 2022 "Jos " tour was postponed because of pandemic-related challenges, he's back- and delivered a vibrant, high-energy show featuring some of his global hits like "Reggaet n," "Con Altura," "I Like It," "La Cancion," and the Latine crowd favorite "Mi Gente."

The concert felt like a tribute to Latine culture and its many branches. At one point, Balvin paused to shout out the diversity in the crowd: "I see people from Venezuela. I see people from Ecuador. I see people from Peru. I see people from Chile," he said in Spanish. "From Bolivia. From Argentina. Paraguay. Uraguay. Brazil. Panama. Puerto Rico. Dominican Republic. Cuba. Mexico. Honduras. Salvador. Nicaragua. Guatemala. Costa Rica." He spoke with pride about being Latino and even acknowledged those without citizenship - clearly referencing the current wave of mass deportations.

Balvin shouted out fellow Colombian icons like Shakira, Karol G, and Maluma, and made sure to include non-Latine fans in his tribute too. "Even if you don't understand Spanish, but you vibe with what we're doing - you're part of the Latino gang." While "Latino Gang" isn't an official collective, artists like Balvin, Bad Bunny, and Tainy have used the term to describe a new wave of reggat n and m sica urbana talent that's taken the global stage - all without compromising their roots or switching to English. These artists have reshaped pop music in the US, proving that Latine culture is American culture, through and through.

When we talk about Latine resilience in the US, music is one of the strongest forces that bind us across countries and generations. And if there's one thing this tour proves, it's the power of music to connect, uplift, and preserve our culture in even the most uncertain times.

Johanna Ferreira is the content director for PS Juntos. With more than 10 years of experience, Johanna focuses on how intersectional identities are a central part of Latine culture. Previously, she spent close to three years as the deputy editor at HipLatina, and she has freelanced for numerous outlets including Refinery29, Oprah magazine, Allure, InStyle, and Well Good. She has also moderated and spoken on numerous panels on Latine identity.

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