Mala Rodríguez

Spanish rap star Mala Rodríguez rose to fame quickly from the fertile hip-hop scene of Seville during the late '90s (she was known then as La Mala, an indication of the hardcore nature of her early work). Her debut album, Lujo Ibérico (2000), established her immediately as one of Spain's more notable rappers, and spawned the popular song "Yo Marco el Minuto," which was featured in the well-known film Lucía y el Sexo (2002). Her popularity was cemented when the video for "La Niña," from her second album, Alevosía, was banned from Spanish TV because of its depiction of a drug-dealing young girl. In time, Rodríguez lightened up her music and began experimenting with new sounds; however, she remained a potent rapper and thoughtful lyricist. ~ Jason Birchmeier