A joint album was not in the 2026 bingo card for J Balvin and Ryan Castro—but here they are 10 tracks later, further cementing the bromance they often show on social media.
Coined Omerta—after the Italian word that means “code of silence”—the album represents a loyalty between the two Colombian artists that goes beyond just a collaborative effort.
“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.”
Home to the previously released “Tonto” and “Pal’ Agua,” Omerta seamlessly blends Castro’s signature dancehall and reggae rhythms as heard in “Una A La Vez” and “Medetown” as well as Balvin’s progressive reggaetón sound, such as “Dalmation” and “Viernes.”
The set also delivers trap, urban-pop fusions, Afrohouse and the alternative-meets-perreo “Melo,” which is Balvin’s personal favorite “because it breaks the mold and has an unexpected energy,” he says. “We brought together things that normally don’t go together, and in the end, it feels very us—evolving without fear.
“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,” explains Castro. “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.”
Though a joint album was technically not planned, its creation happened organically.
“It all started without a plan,” Balvin expresses. “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.”
Castro elaborates: “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.”
Omerta follows a set of singles that both Medellín-born powerhouses have released together including “Nivel de Perreo” in 2022 and “+57” alongside Karol G, Maluma, Feid, Blessd, DFZM and Ovy on the Drums in 2024. Balvin was even a featured 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 gushes. “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.
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