J Balvin mourns the death of Liam Payne, a friend and collaborator

The news of the sudden death of British singer Liam Payne has shocked the entire world. As the news went public and spread online, fans couldn't believe what had happened and took the opportunity to leave their farewell messages for the idol. Likewise, some celebrities appeared on social media to pay tribute.

Among the figures who dedicated a farewell message to Liam was Colombian artist J Balvin, who, upon hearing the news, decided to dedicate a few words to his colleague. Through his official Instagram account, the reggaeton artist posted a photo of both artists lying against a wall, showing big smiles on their faces.

To this warm image, he added the message "Rest in peace my g," confirming the closeness between both performers. Although for many, Balvin's farewell might have come as a surprise, the truth is that they knew each other and had had the chance to collaborate.

Balvin and Payne met in 2018 in New York. Payne was working on his first and only full-length album, "LP1," while J Balvin was consolidating himself as one of the greatest exponents of Latin music. In this first meeting, they talked about a possible collaboration, and a couple of months later, they released the single "Familiar."

The song became an instant phenomenon, surprising fans with such a unique collaboration between the two artists. The track combined Liam's R&B style with J Balvin's Latin pop and urban sounds. Although it seemed like a risky proposition, it ended up being a success in both of their careers.

The single, along with its music video, was released on April 20, 2018. The clip was filmed in Miami and featured both artists in what appears to be a parking lot, accompanied by other people as they sang while a group of dancers performed choreography.

In addition to the positive reactions regarding the technical and musical aspects, many internet users also pointed out a certain resemblance between the singers. Similarly, the two seemed quite close throughout the song's promotion. Balvin was even seen teaching the British singer some Spanish words.

With that said, it's no surprise that the Colombian singer took to social media to say goodbye, not only to a colleague but to someone he had the opportunity to meet and work with a few years ago.

So far, there are no further updates on the investigation into Liam Payne's death. Argentine authorities are still investigating whether it was a suicide or a terrible accident. Although fans have already shared some theories, there is still no official or conclusive information on the case.