Via Wikimedia Commons
Ivy Queen
b. 1972
The 'Queen of Reggaetón,' pioneering female artist who broke gender barriers in Latin urban music
Ivy Queen (Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez, born 1972) is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and songwriter known as the 'Queen of Reggaetón' — one of the only women to achieve lasting prominence in the male-dominated genre.
Born in Añasco and raised in public housing, Ivy Queen began recording in the early 1990s as part of the reggaetón underground. Her breakthrough hit 'Quiero Bailar' (2003) became an anthem, and its message — that a woman can dance with a man without consenting to sex — was revolutionary in a genre often criticized for misogyny.
Ivy Queen has been a vocal advocate for women's empowerment, LGBTQ+ rights, and Puerto Rican independence. She has spoken about the discrimination she faced as a woman in reggaetón, including being told to quit because 'women don't rap.'
Her persistence in an industry hostile to women — combined with her political consciousness and her roots in Puerto Rico's marginalized communities — makes her one of the most significant cultural figures in contemporary Puerto Rican history.