{"id":2411475,"date":"2026-05-11T13:13:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T13:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2411475"},"modified":"2026-05-11T13:13:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T13:13:14","slug":"ryan-castro-came-home-to-medellin-and-brought-47000-people-with-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/ryan-castro-came-home-to-medellin-and-brought-47000-people-with-him\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Castro Came Home to Medell\u00edn and Brought 47,000 People With Him"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Following the past year of a grueling world tour, Ryan Castro has come home. The Colombian superstar sold out Medell\u00edn\u2019s Estadio Atanasio Girardot on April 25, with 47,000 fans waiting to dance to his unique mix of reggaeton hits and dancehall smashes. That rare blend of street and Caribbean culture is also reflected in Castro\u2019s style, such as a necklace of icy bling tucked under his bright yellow suit. The five-hour concert was sandwiched in between performing during Karol G\u2019s headlining set at Coachella and dropping a collaborative album, <em>Omerta<\/em>, with Medell\u00edn icon <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spinmagazine.com\/2025\/07\/j-balvin-interview\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:J Balvin;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;J Balvin&quot;}\" class=\"link \">J Balvin<\/a> on May 7. While there\u2019s a lot resting on Castro\u2019s shoulders, he always sees the most important moments in his career as something that\u2019s bigger than him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI\u2019m not putting on a Ryan Castro concert, but I\u2019m putting on a concert for the people from the barrio [hood] and people that are fighting for their dreams,\u201d he tells SPIN from backstage at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot. \u201cIt\u2019s a party for the city that raised me and has supported me since the beginning of my career. I\u2019ve worked a long time to make this moment happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">More from Spin:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>(Credit: El Skinny)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Before becoming a global phenomenon, Castro was born and raised in the barrio of Medell\u00edn. The music that he grew up on was reggae, rap, and dancehall from Panama and Jamaica. The first songs that Castro performed were by Panamanian reggae acts like Kafu Banton, El Roockie, and Baroni One Time. In a stark contrast to the massive stage at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot, he started his music career at 17 by singing in city buses around Medell\u00edn. That\u2019s how Castro also earned his nickname as \u201cEl Cantante del Ghetto,\u201d or the singer of the ghetto.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI really pushed myself to sing on the bus because of the sounds of the traffic of the people,\u201d he recalls. \u201cI also pushed myself to sing well because I had to capture people\u2019s attention on the bus. I had to break the stigma that people singing in the streets were drug addicts or bad people. I learned a lot from that stage in my life that I still apply to my concerts today. No matter what people say, it\u2019s more difficult to sing on a moving bus than in a stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As Castro was starting to make his mark in Medell\u00edn, the city was becoming Colombia\u2019s reggaeton capital with the success of artists like J Balvin, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spinmagazine.com\/2020\/09\/maluma-on-finding-his-voice-again-back-in-colombia-for-new-lp\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Maluma;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Maluma&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Maluma<\/a>, Karol G, and Feid. The first one from that elite group to collaborate with Castro was <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spinmagazine.com\/2022\/09\/feid-medellin-reggaeton\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Feid;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Feid&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Feid<\/a> in 2021, with their hit \u201cMonastery,\u201d which boosted both their profiles in Colombia. A year later, J Balvin took Castro under his wing and put him on a global platform when they performed \u201cNivel de Perreo\u201d at the MTV Video Music Awards. Maluma and Karol G soon tapped him to add hit-making verses to their song. Castro maintains a strong bond with all of them. J Balvin, Maluma, and Feid were also among the 17 special guests at his homecoming concert.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt\u2019s an honor, honestly, to have collaborated with them because I grew up watching them,\u201d Castro says. \u201cI grew up looking to them as examples to follow and hard workers. They inspired me a lot to do what I\u2019m doing now. To have friendships with them and get advice from them helped me achieve my dreams and see that I\u2019m in this game with them, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"J Balvin and Ryan Castro. (Credit: El Skinny)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/wuxfbMWzrKv6KfNbCyDF6g--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/spin_digital_media\/abcf048c20fb5970e53a162dda598b33\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>J Balvin and Ryan Castro. (Credit: El Skinny)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">While being a pillar of Colombia\u2019s reggaeton scene, Castro also blazed a trail for himself as a pioneer of the country\u2019s dancehall takeover. Not only are his music and flow shaped by Medell\u00edn, but also his roots in the Caribbean island of Cura\u00e7ao. For a number of years as a teenager, Castro moved to Cura\u00e7ao to be with his mother, who had relocated there when he was a child. While living the island lifestyle, Castro also picked up words from the local Papiamento language. One of his famous call-outs, \u201cAwoo!\u201d is actually a friendly greeting from Cura\u00e7ao. In his albums <em>Send\u00e9<\/em> and <em>Hopi Send\u00e9<\/em>, Castro leaned heavily into reggae and dancehall while paying homage to Caribbean heritage. He has also collaborated with legends of the genres like Shaggy and Sean Paul, who joined Castro to perform Kybba\u2019s fiery \u201cBa Ba Bad\u201d remix during the concert.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI want to put more of Cura\u00e7ao on the map,\u201d Castro says. \u201cThat\u2019s the idea. I want to take advantage of my moment to keep giving back to the island that\u2019s given me so many beautiful things. I don\u2019t only represent Medell\u00edn, but I also represent the island of Cura\u00e7ao. I\u2019m very happy that people are learning words in Papiamento from my songs because that\u2019s part of my essence and my culture. For people to learn those words, sing them with me, and make them feel like they\u2019re a part of my universe, I\u2019m very proud.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A few days before his concert at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot, Castro performed during weekend two of Coachella. Karol G brought out J Balvin and Castro during her headlining set. She described Castro as a representative of Colombia\u2019s \u201cnew era\u201d of reggaeton. Castro took center stage and performed his recent smash \u201cSanka,\u201d which is Papiamento slang for ass. \u201cThat was a very special moment for me because I have a great friendship with Karol G,\u201d he says with a smile. \u201cI had so much fun seeing all the Latino and American people in the crowd having a great time when I came out. I\u2019m very grateful to Karol G for inviting me, and that\u2019s also given me the motivation to make Awoo-chella happen one day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Now Castro\u2019s latest album, a collaborative project with J Balvin, is his most ambitious yet. The only other artist J Balvin has made a joint LP with is <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spinmagazine.com\/2021\/08\/bad-bunny-interview-2021\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Bad Bunny;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Bad Bunny&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Bad Bunny<\/a> in 2019. With reverence, Castro says, \u201cNow that Balvin has chosen me to make an album with, I feel like he sees something very special in me. He sees my talent and that I\u2019m original. I\u2019m very proud and to say that I have an album with him is a dream come true.\u201d The title of the album, <em>Omerta<\/em>, is taken from an Italian code of honor among associates who have each other\u2019s backs. Castro and J Balvin see it more as an expression of their brotherhood. The two artists masterfully fuse their genres of reggaeton and dancehall in songs like the alluring \u201cPal Agua\u201d and the club banger \u201cTonto\u201d featuring DJ Snake.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe had a lot of fun making this album,\u201d Castro adds. \u201cUniting our worlds was very awesome because culturally we have so much in common. I have my DNA that\u2019s very island and Caribbean, and [Balvin] now lives more in New York and that big city life. We have musical tastes that are very similar. We agreed on a lot of ideas that we both really liked and songs that we\u2019re comfortable singing, performing, and dancing to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Castro and J Balvin also shot a short film for <em>Omerta<\/em> that features one of Colombia\u2019s biggest stars in Hollywood, Sof\u00eda Vergara. That may signal where Castro is hoping to go next in his career. \u201cTo be acting alongside Sof\u00eda and let myself be guided by her, it was a pleasure,\u201d he says. \u201cThat moment was a big step for me towards acting. Maybe I\u2019ll do movies and things like that in the future, but what\u2019s most important for me is to cross borders with my music.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/spinmagazine.com\/2021\/07\/the-greatest-rock-stars-of-all-time\/?utm_source=yahoo&amp;utm_medium=bottomlink&amp;utm_campaign=yahoolink\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:click here;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;click here&quot;}\" class=\"link \">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Following the past year of a grueling world tour, Ryan Castro has come home. The Colombian superstar sold out Medell\u00edn\u2019s Estadio Atanasio Girardot on April 25, with 47,000 fans waiting to dance to his unique mix of reggaeton hits and dancehall smashes. That rare blend of street and Caribbean culture is also reflected in Castro\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2411476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[349771,471712,348249,356162,369201,471713,470720],"class_list":["post-2411475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-colombia","tag-estadio-atanasio-girardot","tag-j-balvin","tag-karol-g","tag-medellin","tag-reggaeton-hits","tag-ryan-castro"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ryan-Castro-Came-Home-to-Medellin-and-Brought-47000-People.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2411475"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411475\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2411477,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411475\/revisions\/2411477"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2411476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2411475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2411475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2411475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}