Back in the summer of 2024, when J Balvin dropped the refocused and revitalised Rayo, he revealed to Apple Music that he had three more albums’ worth of material at the ready. Given how diverse that full-length was, the Colombian hitmaker hinted that what could follow might be similarly expansive from a genre perspective. Yet regardless of whether or not Mixteip contains any of those recordings, this relatively shorter follow-up seizes upon the flexibility of its titular format to show a range of styles over which he can shine and thrive. Well-timed with a certain cinematic superhero’s reboot, opener “Bruz Wein” harkens back to his rise during the Latin trap surge of the mid- to late 2010s as he proffers hazy, nocturnal bars. Naturally, his status as an elite reggaetonero ensures there are plenty of dembow-driven moments like “No Te Olvido”, the slinky single “Rio” and the comparatively poppier “Zun Zun” with Lenny Tavárez and Justin Quiles. Subtly calling back to “La Canción”, the slo-mo “PQBL” shifts into a more balladic mode to match its heartbroken theme without sacrificing the rhythm. More surprising are Balvin’s successful forays into genres less characteristic of his catalogue, generally achieved through credible collaborations with known entities. Veteran salsero Gilberto Santa Rosa gradually guides him into a tropical space with the timely “Misterio” while Dominican merengue Omega raises the tempo considerably for their irresistible “KLK”. The unmistakably British hip-hop sound of “Uuu” benefits both from Stormzy’s prominent feature and the ease with which his host adjusts to the urgency of its beat.
