There’s an electricity that follows J Balvin and Ryan Castro lately: red carpets, surprise appearances, a quiet but undeniable alignment. Fans have been asking the same question: why have they been moving in tandem? With “TONTO,” the answer begins to surface.
As a collaboration between J Balvin, Ryan Castro, and global architect DJ Snake, the track feels less like a standalone release and more like the opening scene of a larger narrative – a record that understands the past while designing its own future. J Balvin moves with measured melodic cadence, gliding between sung hooks and rhythmic phrasing, while Ryan Castro counters with a slightly grittier, street-rooted tone that adds texture without overcrowding the mix. Nothing feels forced; their chemistry feels deliberate, each verse folding naturally into the next. As the track unfolds, slightly warped synths begin to surface, a subtle yet unmistakable touch from DJ Snake that broadens the sound without disrupting its pulse.
Directed by UN JACKALOPE and produced by BROKEN MINDS, “TONTO” unfolds like a gangster musical fantasy. It opens with a stark title card: “Érase una vez en paz” (once upon a time in peace). A quiet domestic moment unfolds as Valentina Ferrer holds their son, Río, the calm subtly interrupted by a man delivering a simple message: it’s time to go. Set against the streets of New York, J Balvin and Ryan Castro move in fur trench coats with a deliberate cool, channeling 1930s noir. The video revisits iconic films through a modern cinematic prism – echoes of Pulp Fiction, the playful coexistence of humans and cartoon characters from Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and the era’s cinematic textures that inspire mood and framing reminiscent of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. There’s choreography, restraint, and theatricality, a visual conversation with Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” with J Balvin leaning into the anti-gravity tilt as a salute to pop mythology reframed in their own style. “TONTO” feels meticulously staged without ever feeling stiff, a carefully controlled chaos that’s entirely intentional.
Which brings us back to the question: why now? Why this pairing, this aesthetic? If “TONTO” is the opening act, what story are they about to tell?
J Balvin and Ryan Castro recently premiered “TONTO” during this year’s Premio Lo Nuestro Awards, delivering one of the night’s most talked-about moments. Looking ahead, J Balvin is preparing to embark on a Mexico arena tour this spring, reinforcing his status as one of the most in-demand live performers worldwide. With a career defined by innovation and global influence, he continues to shape music trends and set the standard for contemporary urban and pop music.
Every detail in “TONTO” feels deliberate, a puzzle whose next piece is waiting to be revealed.