J Balvin Says He Won't Make an English Album — Points to Karol G, Bad Bunny as Proof He Doesn't Need To

Colombian singer J Balvin has ruled out making an English-language album, telling GQ that Spanish-language artists no longer need to switch languages to succeed internationally. The comments were compiled and reported by Consequence on September 1, 2026.

"I don't need to do it"

Asked directly whether he'd consider recording in English to expand his reach, J Balvin gave a blunt answer: "I don't need to do it." He argued that the recent global performance of Spanish-language music has broken the old assumption that crossing over means changing languages.

He framed the current moment for Latin artists with a phrase that doubled as the interview's headline: "It's Our Moment" — describing what he sees as a broader surge of Spanish-language artists in the international market.

The names he pointed to

J Balvin name-checked Karol G and Bad Bunny as his reference points, both of whom have built major global streaming and touring success while recording primarily in Spanish. For J Balvin, their track records serve as direct justification for staying the course with Spanish-language releases rather than pivoting to English.

The full interview appears in GQ, with Consequence providing the roundup coverage referenced here.