“Forgiveness,” the English-language version of “El Perdón,” the hit single by rapper Nicky Jam featuring Enrique Iglesias, is out now (July 10).
The track, which in its original Spanish-language version tops the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart for the 18th consecutive week, has been a smash throughout Latin America and also parts of Europe, where it currently tops Italy’s digital songs chart.
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A mid-tempo, melancholy reggaetón song about lost love, “El Perdón” is the first No. 1 for Nicky Jam (Nick Rivera Caminero), the 35-year-old rapper whose climb to fame in the early 2000s was derailed by drugs, alcohol and bad decisions. His return to the charts, after years spent in Colombia redefining his sound, is one of perseverance, redemption and a damn good song.
Jam wrote “El Perdon” and invited Iglesias to sing with him after the star called him, expressing an interest in working together.
“I usually write or co-write most of my songs. But when he sent me the song, I called him up and I said, ‘I love it. I don’t care that I didn’t write it,’” Iglesias told Billboard.
“El Perdón” managed to enter the Hot 100 in its Spanish language version thanks to streaming. Its English version will be worked by Sony Music U.S. Latin and sister label RCA.