C. Tangana ignited social media last Friday by publicly attacking J Balvin following the heartfelt tribute the Colombian paid to the Mexican producer and creative director Óscar Botello, known as Milkman, during his concerts at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City.
It all began when Balvin, on stage, wanted to remember Milkman, who passed away on February 12 of this year, describing him as "a brother" and "my right hand since we started with Energía, with Vibras, with Colores."
"Unfortunately, he is no longer with us. I couldn’t say goodbye to you, but here I am in your beloved land, brother. In Mexico, sending all my love, all my strength to your family, to your parents, to your siblings, and to all the people who love and respect him," expressed the Colombian before thousands of fans.
The moment was captured on video and quickly went viral. That's when 'El Madrileño' lost his composure.
"If we talk about how you treated him while he was still alive, your circus will fall apart, clown. You should be ashamed," wrote C. Tangana on his social media, directly questioning the authenticity of Balvin's gesture.
With those words, the Madrid artist hinted that the real treatment the Colombian gave to Milkman during his lifetime did not match the affectionate image he projected after his death.
Milkman was a key figure in the aesthetic construction of J Balvin, serving as the creative director for the album Energía (2016), which is considered a turning point in the aesthetics of Latin pop and reggaeton, as well as in later projects like Vibras and Colores.
His death, which occurred after being urgently hospitalized and undergoing two surgeries, generated numerous expressions of affection within the industry. Before his passing, the singer Belinda had publicly requested financial assistance and blood donations for his treatment.
The episode is not the first to involve J Balvin within the urban genre. In September 2021, the Colombian called for a boycott of the Latin Grammys, claiming that urban music was not valued by the Academy, which sparked a chain of reactions from artists like Yotuel Romero, who responded that “the urban movement didn’t start with you.”
Months later, in March 2022, Residente released a direct diss track against Balvin in the "BZRP Music Sessions #49," one of the most talked-about moments in the genre. In January of this year, media reported a possible reconciliation between the two.
C. Tangana, whose real name is Antón Álvarez, was also at the center of that debate: his album El Madrileño received five nominations and won three awards at the Latin Grammy 2021, solidifying his status as one of the most influential voices in the genre in Spain.
After the controversy erupted, social media became divided: one sector applauded Tangana's bravery for highlighting what they see as public hypocrisy, while Balvin's supporters defended the sincerity of the tribute and questioned the intentions of the Madrid native.
For now, J Balvin has not publicly responded to the criticism, although in the urban music scene it is not ruled out that he will do so in the coming days, given the magnitude that the controversy has reached.
Filed under: