J Balvin and Ryan Castro Release Omerta, Their First Joint Album

J Balvin and Ryan Castro have released Omerta, their first joint album. The 10-track project arrives after years of collaborations between the two Medellín-born artists.

Ryan Castro & J Balvin
Angel Buzio

They titled the record Omerta, after the Italian word that means “code of silence.” The name frames the album as a statement of loyalty that stretches beyond a single song or feature.

“It’s like sealing our musical and personal brotherhood,” Balvin tells Billboard. “In this career, it allows you to grow without ego, share visions, and forge new paths; it also pushes you out of your comfort zone to create something distinct.”

“J Balvin is a very selective person when it comes to choosing his favorite artists, his friends, and his inner circle,” Castro adds. “I feel that he saw something very special in me—he saw my unique talent. I admire his work deeply and to be able to say that in my career and in my process I have an album with him is a dream come true.”

The collection includes previously released tracks “Tonto” and “Pal’ Agua” and moves across genres. It blends Castro’s dancehall and reggae leanings on songs like “Una A La Vez” and “Medetown” with Balvin’s progressive reggaetón approach on cuts such as “Dalmation” and “Viernes.” The record also explores trap, urban-pop fusions and Afrohouse.

One standout is the alternative-meets-perreo cut “Melo.” Balvin calls it his personal favorite “because it breaks the mold and has an unexpected energy.” He adds, “We brought together things that normally don’t go together, and in the end, it feels very us—evolving without fear.”

Castro described the collaboration as a literal and cultural blending. “We blended the two worlds: the Caribbean, the island, is deeply ingrained in my DNA, while he lives more in the city, in New York,” he says. “Culturally, we share very similar musical tastes, and I think we came up with a lot of ideas that we both really loved. Bringing those two worlds together was truly awesome.”

Both artists say the album took shape organically. “It all started without a plan,” Balvin says. “We were in the studio, laughing and making music without any pressure, and the vibe just came together naturally. That’s when we realized there was something special there—and when we looked back, we already had a project without even realizing it.”

“Beyond the friendship and respect we share, we are family. We didn’t approach this from a business perspective; rather, we did it for fun and to vibe together,” Castro elaborates.

Omerta follows a string of joint releases that trace the two artists’ creative relationship: “Nivel de Perreo” in 2022 and the star-studded “+57” in 2024, which featured Karol G, Maluma, Feid, Blessd, DFZM and Ovy on the Drums. Balvin also appeared as an actor in Castro’s 2025 “Mi Fortuna” music video.

“Ryan possesses a truly authentic essence—a voice and a flow that connect on a different level,” Balvin says. “I bring a different creative vision, one that involves daring to push the boundaries of genre a bit until the song finds its true form. Ultimately, it’s about complementing who each of us is.”

Stream and listen to Omerta below.