J Balvin and Residente Put an End to Their Long-Running Beef

After years of public tension, J Balvin and Residente have decided to leave their conflict behind. Both artists surprised fans on New Year’s Eve by sharing a joint Instagram post that officially confirmed their reconciliation.

The image was accompanied by a reflective message, translated into English, in which they highlighted the importance of listening and understanding one another. In an increasingly complex world, they explained, reconnecting through dialogue holds special value. According to both artists, this rapprochement was not immediate: they met months ago, spoke calmly and, over time, came to understand each other’s perspectives. “In the end, time always reveals the truth,” they concluded.

The origin of the conflict

The dispute began in late 2021, when J Balvin publicly expressed his intention to boycott the Latin Grammy Awards due to the lack of reggaeton representation among the nominations. Residente’s response was direct and forceful. He released a video titled “Querido José” (“Dear José”), in which he questioned Balvin’s stance and the real impact of such a boycott within the music industry.

In that message, Residente argued that many artists rely on these kinds of accolades to advance their careers. For that reason, he felt Balvin’s decision did not represent the entire genre.

Previous tensions and public escalation

Over time, Residente explained that the tension had existed long before the Grammy controversy. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he recalled that during their first meeting, Balvin mocked him for not having strong Spotify numbers. That comment lingered until the Grammy dispute ultimately triggered his public response.

The situation escalated through indirect shots and provocations on social media. The conflict reached its peak in March 2022, when Residente took part in Bizarrap’s BZRP Music Sessions. There, he released a direct diss track aimed at Balvin, criticising different aspects of his career, his music and his public positioning.

The road to reconciliation

For a long time, the relationship seemed beyond repair. However, Balvin gradually made it clear that he harboured no resentment. In later interviews, he said he had moved on and spoke openly about forgiveness.

This was not the first high-profile conflict Balvin had resolved. He had also managed to repair his relationship with Bad Bunny, with whom he staged a public reconciliation on stage in Mexico.

In that context, many interpreted Balvin’s recent appearance in the BZRP Music Sessions as a sign of change. Shortly afterwards, the image alongside Residente confirmed what until then had only been speculation.

A new chapter for 2026

Following a similar pattern to other reconciliations, both artists chose to resolve their differences privately before making them public. Looking ahead to 2026, everything suggests that the conflicts surrounding Balvin within the Latin music scene are now behind him.

The big question now is whether this new chapter will lead to future collaborations. What is clear is that peace between two key figures reinforces the idea of a genre in constant evolution, increasingly united and with a stronger global projection.

Bad Bunny invites J Balvin and puts an end to their rivalry at the closing show of his residency in Mexico.