Nicky Jam Breaks Down "X"

Nicky Jam first ignited his reggaeton career in the early aughts, gaining recognition for his features on Daddy Yankee songs like “Entre Sábanas Blancas” and “Guayando.” Unfortunately, Jam’s music career was put on hold after developing addiction issues. But he’s successfully returned to the spotlight over the past few years, releasing Fénix in 2017—his first full-length album in a decade.

“X” is Jam’s latest hit with his frequent collaborator and close friend J Balvin. Since sharing the official video for “X” earlier this month, it’s raked in over 300 million YouTube streams and landed on the Billboard charts.

Produced by Afro Bros and Jeon, the dance track fuses Caribbean genres with hip-hop. Jam tells Genius that Balvin approached him with “X,” and that the song is about trying to pursue women while having a player reputation.