J Balvin Says He Wasn't Expecting Grammys Nominations & Shares Crazy Kidnapping Story | GRAMMYs 2025 - video Dailymotion

J Balvin caught up with Billboard's Tetris Kelly and Rania Aniftos on the 2025 GRAMMYs red carpet.

Transcript

00:00My friend, to be here at the Grammys, nominated, how does it feel?

00:04Feels great, man. I wasn't expecting it, for real.

00:06I was doing just music for fun in the studio, and this one really got me by surprise.

00:11Honestly. A thousand percent.

00:13And I mean, you take so much of the community with you when you create.

00:16So what was it about this project that you think pushed you here?

00:19Well, you know, I'm always focusing on elevating our culture in general.

00:23You know, every detail, every new producer that we can support.

00:27The Latinos, you know, songwriters, new artists.

00:31I always want to just, like, if I can help to elevate our movement in general.

00:36And it's just music, I think, as a culture.

00:39Yeah.

00:40That's our vision.

00:41And you're constantly, constantly, I think you're at the forefront of constantly taking Latin music to the next level.

00:46What is the next thing that inspires you as you go on to make another record?

00:50Oh, my God.

00:52You know, like, I feel like I'm a new Jose.

00:55I'm a new J Balvin now.

00:57So I'm so focused now on just that music for fun.

01:01When I started it, I was doing it also for a need.

01:04You know, I needed to support my family.

01:06I needed to eat.

01:08I needed, you know, like now, thank God for all the blessings that people have given me.

01:12I do it from another side.

01:13You talk about blessings.

01:14I heard a story I never heard about you, about you being kidnapped.

01:16What happened?

01:17Yes, yes, yes.

01:18I have so many stories.

01:19I should do a book.

01:20Oh, my God.

01:21I was kidnapped once in Oklahoma.

01:23They took my passport out when I was an exchange student.

01:27But I escaped.

01:28Wow.

01:29Now I'm here.