Calle 13 frontperson Rene Perez, also known by his stage name Residente, was honored with the award at the 15th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Barcelona, Spain.

The award recognizes cultural and entertainment figures who have contributed to human rights and social justice. Previous winners of the award include Sean Penn and Bob Geldof.

Many of Perez and Calle 13's songs feature themes of anti-racism, immigration, Latin American identity, and other social issues. During the 2014 Latin Grammys Perez used the event to protest the disappearance of 43 students in Ayotzinapa, Mexico.

Perez has also worked with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and a handful of other human rights organizations. He is the first Latin American to win the Nobel Peace Summit Award.

Calle 13 itself first garnered massive public attention in Puerto Rico in late 2005, with the release of the protest anthem “Querido FBI” (Dear FBI). The song was released online shortly after the FBI shooting of Puerto Rican independence fighter Filiberto Ojeda Rios.