Ivy Queen

Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez, known professionally as Ivy Queen, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and songwriter recognized as a pioneering figure in reggaeton. Ivy Queen began her career as a member of The Noise, an all-male collective in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she contributed to the evolution of Spanish-language rap into reggaeton. She has spoken about the genre's early days as a form of musical expression for the marginalized African diaspora community in Puerto Rico, with music distributed through mix tapes sold from car trunks in San Juan.

After launching her solo career, Ivy Queen released her debut studio album, "En Mi Imperio," which was distributed by Sony Discos. She followed with "The Original Rude Girl," featuring the single "In the Zone." Her third studio album, "Diva," released through an independent label, marked a turning point in her career. The lead single, "Quiero Bailar," became the first Spanish-language track to reach number one on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart of Miami's WPOW, a station that typically does not play Spanish music. Ivy Queen addressed the machismo prevalent in reggaeton culture with "Yo Quiero Bailar," a song that became an anthem for female empowerment and appeared on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart.

Ivy Queen's music incorporates reggaeton, Latin hip-hop, and tropical pop, with recurring themes of female empowerment, love, betrayal, and social justice. Over her career, she has released multiple influential albums, including "The Original Rude Girl," "Diva," "Real," "Flashback," and "Musa." Her albums "Diva," "Flashback," and "Sentimiento" have achieved Gold and Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Ivy Queen has placed several singles on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, with multiple entries reaching the top 10. Her album "Musa" featured the single "Peligro de Extinción" and highlighted her versatility, including her performance in The Vagina Monologues.

Ivy Queen became the first urban artist to perform at Carnegie Hall, a milestone for urban music on a global stage. Her contributions to the music industry have been recognized with honors such as induction into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Billboard Icon Award, and the Pioneer Award, which acknowledge her groundbreaking impact and influence on Latin music. Latina Magazine named her the best Latina rapper of all time. Ivy Queen is also known for her advocacy on women's rights, addressing issues such as domestic violence and gender equality through her platform.

In addition to her recording career, Ivy Queen hosts the Spotify original podcast "Loud," where she discusses the history of reggaeton and features prominent Latin artists. She continues to release new music, including the single "Casi Casi," and remains an influential figure in Latin music, shaping the cultural conversation around reggaeton and inspiring future generations of artists.