One of reggaeton’s most talked-about rivalries has officially come to an end. On New Year’s Eve, Residente and J Balvinshared a smiling photo together, signaling that they’ve finally put their years-long feud behind them.

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In a joint message, the two artists acknowledged that while their dispute may seem small compared to global events, reconciliation still matters. They revealed that they met months ago, talked things through, and reached mutual understanding—proving that time and conversation can heal even the most public of rifts.

The conflict dates back to 2021, when Balvin suggested reggaeton artists boycott the Latin Grammy Awards over the genre’s lack of recognition. Residente responded with a viral, sarcastic video comparing Balvin’s music to a hot dog cart, a moment that quickly became reggaeton lore. Balvin leaned into the joke, even sharing photos behind a hot dog stand and selling themed merchandise.

Tensions escalated further in 2022 when Residente released a scathing diss track during a Bizarrap “BZRP Music Session,” criticizing Balvin’s artistry, public controversies, and commercial approach. The exchange marked one of the genre’s most intense public fallouts.

Their reconciliation follows another recent truce in the reggaeton world: Bad Bunny and Balvin also recently squashed their own disagreement, with Bad Bunny publicly acknowledging a private apology and mutual respect.

With these reconciliations, reggaeton enters 2026 on a more united note—reminding fans that even the genre’s biggest clashes don’t have to last forever.