Isabela Raygoza and Jessica Roiz (Billboard) drew up a list of Latina rappers (raperas) who sing in Spanish and “elevate the movement.” Among them are Cuban-born Danay Suárez; Dominican rappers MelyMel, J Noa (shown above), and La Ross María; Puerto Ricans Alexxa “La Matriarca” Kim, La Duraca, Nesi, Villano Antillano, Queen of Reggaetón, Ivy Queen, and Young Miko; Arianna Puello, born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Spain; and quite a few Colombians (e. g. Goyo and Farina) and Venezuelans (e. g. Gabylonia and Mestiza), among so many others. Here are excerpts:
[. . .] This year, the Latin Grammys nominations for best rap/hip-hop song include just two women, 18-year-old Dominican newcomer J Noa and Argentina’s Nicki Nicole (Meanwhile, eleven male songwriters are nominated in that category). These talented female MCs not only deserve the recognition they are receiving but also deserve to be celebrated for their contributions to the genre, as they are part of our list of 32 Spanish-language female rappers who are, or have been, making waves in the Latin hip-hop scene — whether they stay true to the rap style or go beyond. [. . .]
On this list, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español dive into the contributions of 32 Latina artists, acknowledging their vital role in shaping a genre today. Through their music, these trailblazing women have challenged the status quo, paving the way for future generations of female Latin hip-hop artists. Here are 32 Spanish-language female rappers, in alphabetical order, who are (and in some cases have long been) elevating the movement.
Alexandra Acosta Torres, also known as Alexxa ‘La Matriarca’ Kim, hails from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and is known for her fast-paced rapping skills, mainly about hustle and street life. La Matriarca, who has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, gained virality on social media when she participated in a freestyle competition for Jay Wheeler’s “Pacto,” where she showed off her distinct tongue-twisters. She’s been releasing original music since 2021, and is popular in countries such as Colombia, Chile and Peru.
Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Spain, Arianna Puello emerged as a trailblazing pioneer of Spanish rap. Her career took a significant turn in the mid-’90s, when she joined forces with El Meswy of El Club de los Poetas Violentos for “Mujer Chingona.” By the turn of the millennium, Arianna earned critical acclaim for her groundbreaking album El Gancho, which played a pivotal role in shaping Spain’s hip-hop landscape. In 2001, she released “Soy la Puello,” further solidifying her status as a leading female rapper. This year, she teamed up with Allmargen to star in “Pisando los Tablados.” [. . .].
Danay Suárez, often celebrated for her enchanting boleros, has impacted the Latin rap orbit with her dynamic fusion of traditional Cuban rhythms and hip-hop. Her 2014 debut album Polvo de la Humedad garnered critical acclaim for its live music approach and soul-stirring lyrics. Suárez’s artistry knows no bounds, as she has forged captivating collaborations with an array of artists, including the likes of Israeli singer Idan Raichel, the legendary Stephen Marley, Cuban jazz virtuoso Roberto Fonseca and many more. Through her thought-provoking lyricism, she masterfully explores themes of identity and resilience [. . .]
Singer/rapper Goyo is a force in Latin music. In the mid aughts, she arrived as the captivating voice of Afro-Colombian trio ChocQuibTown. Born in Chocó, Colombia, the poetess combines her passion for traditional music of her country with a deep love for hip-hop, as evinced in her conscious lyrics that blends soulful melodies and powerful rhymes. [. . .].
Ivy Queen is the undisputed Queen of Reggaetón — just go ahead and ask Siri. Thanks to her prowess as both a rapper and a reggaetón icon, La Reina has elevated the música urbana movement since the mid ‘90s, carving a space for females in a heavily male-dominated scene. Just listen to her fire delivery of “Somos Raperos Pero No Delincuentes” and “Muchos Quieren Tumbarme” as part of DJ Negro’s influential collective, The Noise. Throughout her career, Ivy Queen’s albums, such as Sentimiento (2007) and Drama Queen (2010), not only showcased her mastery of reggaetón but also highlighted her exceptional ability to seamlessly blend rap elements with infectious melodies. [. . .]
Just in her teens, J Noa reveals a jaw-dropping kind of awareness of her environment that she delivers with unflinching critique. The Dominican rapper, who was featured in Billboard‘s Latin Artists on the Radar in January, has continued to demonstrate her lyrical prowess. Her Sony debut album, Autodidacta, released in May, sees the young artist making bombastic declarations. [. . .]
La Duraca (real name: Zuleika Marie Rodriguez) is a Puerto Rican rapper who — with unapologetic tracks such as “La Pistola,” “Envidia,” “La Vida” and “Encima” — has become known as “The OG Bichota.” Duraca’s potent rap verses rose to commercial prominence when she joined Natti Natasha’s “Las Nenas” in 2021, alongside fellow raperas Farina and Cazzu. [. . .]
Hailing from the Dominican Republic comes La Ross Maria, born Rosa Maria Pineda. In her 2020 single “Mi Regalo Mas Bonito,” the rising talent flaunted her hoarse-yet-delicate vocals in an empowering rap track about respecting women and treating them like princesses. The teen MC quickly got on the public’s radar in the midst of the pandemic, later receiving a stamp of approval from Romeo Santos, who collaborated with her on “Tú Vas A Tener Que Explicarme.”
Melymel (real name: Melony Redondo) is known as “La Mama del Rap” in her native The Dominican Republic. Kicking off her music career in 2005, inspired by acts such as 2Pac and Lauryn Hill, Melymel became one of the first female rappers to spit bars about empowerment in the male-dominated genre. Melymel’s versatility across styles is particularly notable, as she is proficient at both fearlessly improvising and carrying a strong melodic tune.
Nesi first gained viral recognition with her freestyle videos on Facebook before becoming the voice behind the empowering hook of Bad Bunny’s 2020 hit “Yo Perreo Sola.” She was discovered by Bad Bunny thanks to her presence on social media. The Puerto Rican rapper also has collaborations with artists such as big-name artists as El Alfa (“Mi Bom Bom”), Jowell & Randy (“S.O.L.O.”) and YovngChimi (“Drippin”).
“Yo no soy artista, yo soy un movimiento,” howls Villano Antillano on “Precaución, esta canción es un hechizo.” Equipped with a fierce flow and saucy one-liners, Villano Antillano is helping shatter hate speech through wicked wordplay. She began dropping material on SoundCloud in the late ’10s, like her 2019 EP Tiranía, a dissonant, grim outing which sees the Puerto Rican lyricist combating demons. [. . .]
Young Miko’s laidback approach to rapping makes her stand out from the música urbana landscape of today. Unhurried and nonchalant, the Puerto Rican wordsmith spits punchy lines that are as braggadocious as they are clever. She weaves her queer identity through a kitsch aesthetic, often over trap and reggaetón beats. The pink-donning rapper went from self-releasing music on SoundCloud to making several Billboard charts, including entries on the all-genre Hot 100 for her collaborations with star artists Feid (“Classy 101”) and Bad Bunny (“Fina”). Her latest solo effort “Wiggy” brims with playfulness, which has already captured nearly 34 million views in just three months since it dropped on YouTube.
For full article and to sample singles, see https://www.billboard.com/lists/female-rappers-best-spanish-language-artists-latin-hip-hop/melymel/
Repeating Islands 