J Balvin, Billboard‘s current cover star, spoke with Billboard‘s chief content officer Leila Cobo for a Superstar Q&A on Wednesday (Oct. 16) during Billboard Latin Music Week 2024. He spoke about his vision on the future of reggaeton, the power of collaborations and the importance of mutual support in difficult times.

Here are the best ten quotes from the Colombian superstar:

About A Great Day With J Balvin: “[The series] is really about sharing with artists, public figures, and getting them out of their comfort zone. Talking about topics that normally no artist talks about— their fears, their concerns. I don’t know how I did it, but I managed to get a lot of information out of them about their spiritual and mental health situations. With Jimmy Butler, Demi Lovato, Anitta and Brooklyn Beckham.”

About collaborating with new talents: “Since I started [my career] I have always loved collaborating with new artists. It’s not something that’s just happening at this stage of my life. [When I started] I always wanted the opportunity that gave me that thrill to collaborate with [established] artists that could allow people to get to know me. So, I want that to happen for others, to be able to share in that dream of elevating their careers; to serve as a medium, without any interest of absorbing what they do.”

About Latino Gang: “My mindset has not only been about José or J Balvin, but about the general Latin culture, with Latino Gang. That our culture continues rising, that we are present, that in places where before we did not have the opportunity to sit, now we [are seated at the table].”

Explosion of Latin music: “Now there is a movement in Colombia with artists from different urban genres, trap, drill, dancehall, afrobeats, reggaeton. Now there is indeed a movement. Before in Colombia there were very few. The first ones who had the opportunity to get that exposure in the United States… at the beginning I was alone. Not because I was the best; simply because I worked and I was allowed to be one of the first to open the door for reggaeton [in the United States].”

About his friend Karol G: “Carolina is a person to be admired and highly respected. I had the opportunity to see all her process, all her patience and resilience to endure until her time finally came. I always had faith that this moment would come, and she knows it, and I think it has just begun. There’s a lot more to do. She is definitely the woman who strongly empowers everyone, not only women, but all the people who dream and say it can be done.”

About Colombian reggaetón: “We didn’t have a map, but we had a desire. Obviously reggaeton came from Puerto Rico. [In Colombia] we had Juanes, Carlos Vives, Shakira, but in the end, it’s a completely different genre. We lack a reggaeton artist that represents Colombia. We don’t have one. And I saw the opportunity to achieve that.”

About his downfall: “After that storm that fell on me, that earthquake, well here we are, stronger and more mature than before. We have had so many No. 1s non-stop, for a long time. I felt like, I was laughing, ‘why does all this happen to them, and nothing happens to me?’ And then, when it happened to me, I said: ‘Ah! Okay, I wasn’t the exception, it happens to me too.’ And that learning served me a lot, it helped me to know who my friends are and who are not, to give myself more to my family, to my wife, to my closest friends, accompanying me at the time of darkness.”

About his latest album Rayo: “Thank God, that I can make music, not out of necessity, as we did before, but being able to do it from another point of view and from another situation. It allowed me to connect with that inner child and enjoy the music without caring if it sells or not, but what makes me happy.”

About Coachella, extraterrestrials, and Will Smith: “I have always been very fanatical about extraterrestrial life, it makes me very curious. And I, wanting to revive my inner child, decided on that concept. I explained to Will Smith, from artist to artist, that the alien was part of the original concept. We both had our problems. The greatness of a person cannot be overshadowed by a few mistakes. I am not going to judge Will Smith for his mistake. You cannot erase the legacy that man has made.”

Latin Music Week coincides with the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards set to air at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 20, on Telemundo. It will simultaneously be available on Universo, Peacock and the Telemundo app, and in Latin America and the Caribbean through Telemundo Internacional

Alessia Cara has taken to social media to slam TMZ‘s unethical decision to share portions of graphic photos of Liam Payne‘s body following his death on Wednesday (Oct. 16).

First reported by TMZ and confirmed by CNN, the 31-year-old One Direction singer died after suffering a fatal fall from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, according to Argentinian police. TMZ‘s original post featured cropped photos of Payne’s body, showing his arm and waist, which were identifiable by his tattoos. “TMZ obtained a photo showing Liam’s body on a wooden deck at the hotel with tables and chairs nearby,” the story read. “We’re not showing the whole body, but you can clearly see his tattoo — a clock on his left forearm, and a scorpion on his abdomen.”

Shortly after, Cara took to X to tag the outlet and write, “ur gross.”

The photos have since been removed from the post, with the story now reading, “TMZ has seen a photo showing Liam’s body.”

Following the news of Payne’s death, celebrities including his “Get Low” collaborator Zedd and Paris Hilton mourned the loss of their friend. “RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real… absolutely heartbreaking …,” Zedd wrote on X alongside a broken-heart emoji, while Hilton tweeted, “So upsetting to hear the news of @LiamPayne passing … Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend.”

Musicians and fans alike are mourning the tragic and untimely death of Liam Payne on Wednesday (Oct. 15), but in the hours leading up to his passing, the superstar was actively sharing on social media what looked like a beautiful and fun vacation.

An hour before news of his death broke, Payne was sharing now-deleted Snapchat Stories from his trip to Buenos Aires with his girlfriend, influencer Kate Cassidy. “Lovely day in Argentina,” he said in a selfie-style video from the hotel breakfast table, looking relaxed and happy as he playfully called out Kate for leaving a hat on the table. “Children,” he jokingly muttered in the clip.

“It’s a lovely day here in Argentina,” he continued, showing a gorgeous view of a grassy backyard, palm trees and blue skies. “This is the breakfast table. Just enjoying coffee and breakfast even though it’s 1 p.m.”

Kate then chimes in, “Literally, we sleep in every day until at least 12. We’re such losers!” Payne’s final Snapchat Story was a mirror selfie posing alongside his girlfriend, both wearing swimsuits. Kate has yet to publicly share a statement on Payne’s death. The couple began dating in October 2022.

First reported by TMZ and confirmed by CNN, Payne died after suffering a fatal fall from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, according to Argentinian police. He was 31 years old. The artist was best known as a key member of British boy band One Direction, which also included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan.

Bloomberg reports Jay-Z and the NFL plan on continuing their partnership.

During the NFL’s owner’s meeting in Atlanta on Tuesday (Oct. 15), commissioner Roger Goodell said, “It’s been a mutually positive relationship, I’m not sure either one of us really spend much time talking about contracts. Jay is happy. Desiree Perez is happy. I’m happy, so we’re all good.”

According to ESPN, the previous deal was valued at $25 million over five years which included Roc Nation’s input on the Super Bowl Halftime Show and helping out with the league’s social justice program Inspire Change, which has given out $375 million in grants.

The marriage has had it’s fair share of controversy, though. Since making the announcement in the summer of 2019, Jay was criticized for getting in bed with a league that allegedly blackballed San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for choosing to kneel during the national anthem in protest of police brutality. And most recently, the rapper and businessman felt the ire of some in the rap community when it was announced that Kendrick Lamar and not Lil Wayne would be headlining this season’s Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Since Jay and Roc Nation took over the reigns of the coveted Super Bowl Halftime slot, they’ve picked mostly hip-hop centric acts with Shakira, J.Lo, The Weeknd, Dr. Dre and friends, Rihanna, and Usher all hitting the stage. This year’s show will be highly-anticipated as Lamar sets out to put an exclamation point at the end of an already stellar year.

Billboard reached out to both the NFL and Roc Nation for comment.

News of Liam Payne‘s death has left the world stunned, with fans and music industry peers alike quickly flooding the internet with posts mourning the 31-year-old former One Direction star after news of his passing came to light Wednesday (Oct. 16).

First reported by TMZ and confirmed by CNN, Payne died Wednesday evening after suffering a fatal fall from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, according to Argentinian police. Based on Snapchats Payne posted as recent as an hour before his death was first reported, the musician was there on a trip with his girlfriend, influencer Kate Cassidy.

In the first moments after the news broke, the overall feeling experienced by people online was shock. “I can’t believe Liam Payne is really dead like what the f–k,” one fan wrote on X. “I know celebrities die all the time but it just hits so much harder bc that’s like the first major celeb of our generation who we grew up with.”

“why does it feel like we entered into another alternate universe…like wdym liam payne is dead,” tweeted another fan.

Meanwhile, Payne’s peers in the entertainment industry also spoke out. “So upsetting to hear the news of @LiamPayne passing😢 Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. 🙏 RIP my friend🥺,” tweeted Paris Hilton, while the former boy bander’s “Get Low” collaborator, Zedd, posted: “RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real… absolutely heartbreaking …”

“damn this liam payne news got me speechless… looked up to 1D so much during the wdw days,” wrote singer Corbyn Besson.

Payne leaves behind a 7-year-old child, Bear, whom he shared with British singer Cheryl. His music career extended beyond One Direction, with the singer dropping solo music — including Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit “Strip That Down” with Quavo — after the band dissolved in 2016.

See reactions to Liam Payne’s death below.

if this Liam Payne news is true that shit is honestly so gut wrenching… was such a nice guy the few times me and G ran into him, fuck the Internet for being so ruthless over the past few months… forreal such a toxic environment on here mannnn that’s so sad

— J (@JVCKJ) October 16, 2024

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