La Mala Rodríguez
Encyclopedia
María Rodríguez, also known as La Mala, La Mala María, or Mala Rodríguez (Mala, Spanish for bad), is a Latin Grammy Award-Winning Spanish hip hop
singer.
, Cádiz
on February 13, 1979. She grew up in Seville
and became involved with the city's thriving hip-hop scene as a teenager. The daughter of a hairdresser
, she describes herself as being from a middle class family, saying, "My mother and I are both young, and all I know is that my family experienced hunger back then, and that sticks with you. I didn't grow up with luxury, but I never missed a meal either." At age seventeen, she performed onstage for the first time, and adopted the stage name La Mala.
, and La Alta Escuela. After she adopted the stage name La Mala, she appeared on La Gota Que Colma's album Mordiendo el Micro on the songs "No Hay Rebaja", and "Dando Guerra". She also appeared on SFDK's Siempre Fuertes and La Alta Escuela's En Pie de Vuelo on the song "Espectáculo en la Gancha". She made her solo debut with A Jierro/Toma la Traca, a maxi-single released by Zona Bruta
in 1999. The song was originally planned for release by Zeroporsiento, a Sevillian label for which she had recorded the tracks. In 2000, she signed to Universal Music Spain, and released her full-length debut album, Lujo Ibérico. The album went gold and sold over 50,000 copies. Her second album, Alevosía, was also popular, featuring the single, "La Niña". The song gained notability when its controversial music video was banned from Spanish TV because of its depiction of a young female drug dealer.
Over the next three years, Rodríguez collaborated with many artists, including Mayúscula ("Como un Titere,"), R de Rumba ("Fabricante,"), Full Nelson ("La Carta,"), Akon
("Locked Up
[Remix],"), Vico C
("Vamonos Po' Encima,"), Kultama ("Nacional e Importación,"), Antonio Carmona ("Ay de Ti,"), and Calle 13
("Mala Suerte con el 13,"). She released her third album, Malamarismo, in 2007. On the album, Rodríguez experimented with a more diverse variety of styles, collaborating with Puerto Rican
rapper Tego Calderón
, Mexican pop star Julieta Venegas
, and Solo los Solo producer Griffi. The album featured the singles "Nanai" and "Por La Noche".
Her hip-hop songs are greatly influenced by flamenco
music. Her songs often discuss issues such as poverty
, racism
, domestic violence
, and female empowerment.
Her music has been featured of the soundtracks of the Spanish films, Lucía y el Sexo (Sex and Lucía), Yo puta (her songs were used on the movie's television adverts and trailers), the Mexican film, Y tu Mamá También
, and the French film, L'Auberge espagnole.
She was also featured on the soundtrack for the EA Sports
FIFA 2005, Scarface: The World is Yours
, and Need for Speed: Shift
video games.
Her single "Por la noche" was featured in the 2006 Spanish film, Yo soy la Juani
. She also features on the track "Mala Suerte con el 13" from Puerto Rican
rap duo Calle 13
's album Residente o Visitante
. As well as the track "El Andén" from Bajofondo's "Mar Dulce" album.
In 2008, Rodriguez was invited to join Julieta Venegas
for her MTV Unplugged performance singing the song "Eres Para Mí".
She, along with Julieta Venegas, collaborated with Nelly Furtado
on the song "Bajo Otra Luz", as featured on Nelly's 2009 album Mi Plan
.
Featured in the track "Magia Negra" on Romeo Santos' debut solo album, Formula (Vol. 1) (2011).
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
singer.
Early life
Maria Rodríguez was born in Jerez de la FronteraJerez de la Frontera
Jerez de la Frontera is a municipality in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southwestern Spain, situated midway between the sea and the mountains. , the city, the largest in the province, had 208,896 inhabitants; it is the fifth largest in Andalusia...
, Cádiz
Cádiz (province)
Cádiz is a province of southern Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, the southernmost part of continental Western Europe....
on February 13, 1979. She grew up in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
and became involved with the city's thriving hip-hop scene as a teenager. The daughter of a hairdresser
Hairdresser
Hairdresser is a term referring to anyone whose occupation is to cut or style hair in order to change or maintain a person's image. This is achieved using a combination of hair coloring, haircutting, and hair texturing techniques...
, she describes herself as being from a middle class family, saying, "My mother and I are both young, and all I know is that my family experienced hunger back then, and that sticks with you. I didn't grow up with luxury, but I never missed a meal either." At age seventeen, she performed onstage for the first time, and adopted the stage name La Mala.
Musical career
She rose to prominence in the late '90s alongside fellow Sevillian hip-hop acts such as La Gota Que Colma, SFDKSFDK
SFDK is a Spanish hip-hop group, founded in Seville in 1993. The name of the group is an acronym itself, whose meaning was, in the beginning, Straight From Da Kranny . However, later on, this derived in the new meaning Siempre Fuertes de Konciencia , which was more suitable for a group formed in...
, and La Alta Escuela. After she adopted the stage name La Mala, she appeared on La Gota Que Colma's album Mordiendo el Micro on the songs "No Hay Rebaja", and "Dando Guerra". She also appeared on SFDK's Siempre Fuertes and La Alta Escuela's En Pie de Vuelo on the song "Espectáculo en la Gancha". She made her solo debut with A Jierro/Toma la Traca, a maxi-single released by Zona Bruta
Zona Bruta
Zona Bruta is a Spanish hip hop record label in Madrid founded in 1996. It’s the first Spanish hip hop specialised label, and the most important...
in 1999. The song was originally planned for release by Zeroporsiento, a Sevillian label for which she had recorded the tracks. In 2000, she signed to Universal Music Spain, and released her full-length debut album, Lujo Ibérico. The album went gold and sold over 50,000 copies. Her second album, Alevosía, was also popular, featuring the single, "La Niña". The song gained notability when its controversial music video was banned from Spanish TV because of its depiction of a young female drug dealer.
Over the next three years, Rodríguez collaborated with many artists, including Mayúscula ("Como un Titere,"), R de Rumba ("Fabricante,"), Full Nelson ("La Carta,"), Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
("Locked Up
Locked Up
"Locked Up" is the debut single by American singer Akon, taken as the lead single from his debut studio album, Trouble. The single was released in 2004, reaching #4 on the UK Singles Chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first Top 10 hit in both countries.-Background:Although it was...
[Remix],"), Vico C
Vico C
Vico C is an Puerto Rican rapper and rap artist. He is considered one of the founding fathers of rap and has played an influential role in the development of Latin American hip hop....
("Vamonos Po' Encima,"), Kultama ("Nacional e Importación,"), Antonio Carmona ("Ay de Ti,"), and Calle 13
Calle 13 (band)
Calle 13 is a band formed by stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar , who calls himself Residente and Eduardo José Cabra Martínez , who calls himself Visitante Calle 13 is a band formed by stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar (born February 23, 1978 in Hato Rey, a subsection of San Juan, Puerto Rico), who calls...
("Mala Suerte con el 13,"). She released her third album, Malamarismo, in 2007. On the album, Rodríguez experimented with a more diverse variety of styles, collaborating with Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
rapper Tego Calderón
Tego Calderón
Tegui Calderón Rosario is a Puerto Rican rapper and actor.-Early life:Calderón was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, the son of Pilar Rosario Parrilla, a schoolteacher, and Esteban Calderón Ilarraza, a government worker for Puerto Rico's Department of Health. Moving at a young age from his native...
, Mexican pop star Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas Percevault , known professionally as Julieta Venegas, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, who sings pop-rock in Spanish. She speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish fluently. She has a twin sister, Yvonne, who is a photographer...
, and Solo los Solo producer Griffi. The album featured the singles "Nanai" and "Por La Noche".
Her hip-hop songs are greatly influenced by flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
music. Her songs often discuss issues such as poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
, and female empowerment.
Her music has been featured of the soundtracks of the Spanish films, Lucía y el Sexo (Sex and Lucía), Yo puta (her songs were used on the movie's television adverts and trailers), the Mexican film, Y tu Mamá También
Y tu mamá también
Y tu mamá también is a 2001 Mexican comedy-drama film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, and co-written by Cuarón and his brother Carlos. The film is a coming-of-age story about two teenage boys taking a road trip with a woman in her late twenties; it stars Mexican actors Diego Luna and Gael García...
, and the French film, L'Auberge espagnole.
She was also featured on the soundtrack for the EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
FIFA 2005, Scarface: The World is Yours
Scarface: The World is Yours
Scarface: The World Is Yours is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games. The game is based on and is a quasi-sequel to the 1983 motion picture Scarface starring Al Pacino reprising his role as Tony Montana, with André Sogliuzzo providing Montana's...
, and Need for Speed: Shift
Need for Speed: Shift
Need for Speed: Shift is the 13th installment of the long-running racing video game franchise Need for Speed; published by Electronic Arts. It was announced in December 2008 as part of a three-game announcement that includes Need for Speed: Nitro and Need for Speed: World...
video games.
Her single "Por la noche" was featured in the 2006 Spanish film, Yo soy la Juani
Yo soy la Juani
Yo soy la Juani is a 2006 Spanish comedy- drama film written and directed by Bigas Luna.-Plot summary:...
. She also features on the track "Mala Suerte con el 13" from Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
rap duo Calle 13
Calle 13 (band)
Calle 13 is a band formed by stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar , who calls himself Residente and Eduardo José Cabra Martínez , who calls himself Visitante Calle 13 is a band formed by stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar (born February 23, 1978 in Hato Rey, a subsection of San Juan, Puerto Rico), who calls...
's album Residente o Visitante
Residente o Visitante
Residente o Visitante is the second studio album by Puerto Rican Urban/hip hop duo Calle 13, released on April 24, 2007, by Sony BMG.-Background:...
. As well as the track "El Andén" from Bajofondo's "Mar Dulce" album.
In 2008, Rodriguez was invited to join Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas Percevault , known professionally as Julieta Venegas, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, who sings pop-rock in Spanish. She speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish fluently. She has a twin sister, Yvonne, who is a photographer...
for her MTV Unplugged performance singing the song "Eres Para Mí".
She, along with Julieta Venegas, collaborated with Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
on the song "Bajo Otra Luz", as featured on Nelly's 2009 album Mi Plan
Mi Plan
Mi Plan is the fourth studio album by Canadian recording artist Nelly Furtado and the first she has released in Spanish. It was first released on September 11, 2009 by Furtado's own record label, Nelstar Entertainment...
.
Featured in the track "Magia Negra" on Romeo Santos' debut solo album, Formula (Vol. 1) (2011).
Albums
- Lujo Ibérico
- AlevosíaAlevosía-Track listing:All tracks by La Mala Rodriguez except were noted# "Fácil Cae Ligero" – 5:39# "En la Hoguera" – 4:08# "Jugadoras, Jugadores" – 5:41# "Como el Ruido del Mar" – 1:07# "Una Raya en el Agua" – 3:34...
- MalamarismoMalamarismoMalamarismo is the third studio album by Spanish hip hop singer La Mala Rodriguez. The album was nominated for the 2007 Latin Grammy Awards in the category Best Urban Music Album.-Background:...
- Grandes Exitos
- Dirty BailarinaDirty Bailarina-Chart performance:...
Collaborations
- La Gota que Colma "Mordiendo el micro" (1998)
- SFDKSFDKSFDK is a Spanish hip-hop group, founded in Seville in 1993. The name of the group is an acronym itself, whose meaning was, in the beginning, Straight From Da Kranny . However, later on, this derived in the new meaning Siempre Fuertes de Konciencia , which was more suitable for a group formed in...
"Siempre fuertes" (1999) - El Imperio "Monopolio" (1999)
- La Alta Escuela "Espectaculo en la cancha" (1999)
- Jota Mayúscula "Hombre negro soltero busca..." (2000)
- Ygryega "XXL" (2000)
- Poison "El Poeta de Mi Barrio" (2001)
- Dnoe "Que Piensan Las Mujeres 1: Personal" (2002)
- La Super K "Agüita" (2002)
- VV.AA. "Laboratorio Hip Hop CD1" (2003)
- VV.AA. "Flow Latino (Habana - Madrid)" (2003)
- Jota Mayúscula "Una vida Xtra" (2004)
- R de Rumba "Fabricante" (2004)
- Full Nelson "Confía en mí" (2005)
- VV.AA. "Bien Sobre Mal Vol.3" (2005)
- AkonAkonAliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
"Locked Up (reedición)" (2005) - Vico CVico CVico C is an Puerto Rican rapper and rap artist. He is considered one of the founding fathers of rap and has played an influential role in the development of Latin American hip hop....
"Vamonos Po' Encima" (2005) - Kultama "Nacional e importación" (2006)
- Antonio Carmona "Vengo venenoso" (2006)
- Griffi "Los Impresentables" (2006)
- Calle 13Calle 13 (band)Calle 13 is a band formed by stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar , who calls himself Residente and Eduardo José Cabra Martínez , who calls himself Visitante Calle 13 is a band formed by stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar (born February 23, 1978 in Hato Rey, a subsection of San Juan, Puerto Rico), who calls...
"Mala suerta con el 13" (2007) - BajofondoBajofondoBajofondo is a "Río de la Plata" based music band consisting of eight musicians from Argentina and Uruguay. The band, which refers to itself as a "collective of composers, singers and artists", was formerly called "Bajofondo Tango Club", but shortened the name to "Bajofondo" after they felt their...
"El Anden" (2007) - Julieta VenegasJulieta VenegasJulieta Venegas Percevault , known professionally as Julieta Venegas, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, who sings pop-rock in Spanish. She speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish fluently. She has a twin sister, Yvonne, who is a photographer...
"Tiempo Pa`Pensa" Malamarismo (2007) - VicenticoVicenticoGabriel Julio Fernández Capello is a musician and composer better known by his stage name Vicentico. Co-founder and vocalist of the band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs along with Flavio Cianciarulo...
y Kumbia All StarzKumbia All StarzKumbia All Starz are a Mexican cumbia music group from Corpus Christi, Texas, created by A.B. Quintanilla. Kumbia All Starz are not to be confused with Los Kumbia Kings although some members are originally from Los Kumbia Kings...
"Vuelve" (2008) - Jota Mayúscula "Juega con el monstruo"
- Jota Mayúscula "Como un títere"
- Mentenguerra "Por La Noche"
- Nelly FurtadoNelly FurtadoNelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
and Julieta VenegasJulieta VenegasJulieta Venegas Percevault , known professionally as Julieta Venegas, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, who sings pop-rock in Spanish. She speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish fluently. She has a twin sister, Yvonne, who is a photographer...
"Bajo Otra LuzBajo Otra Luz"Bajo Otra Luz" is the third single released by Nelly Furtado during a special iTunes promotion counting down to the release of her fourth studio album, Mi Plan. The song features Julieta Venegas and La Mala Rodríguez vocals and was written entirely by Venegas...
" (2009) - Diego TorresDiego TorresDiego Antonio Caccia Torres , is an Argentine Grammy Award-nominated pop singer and composer.-Biography:Diego Torres was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the son of Argentine singer Lolita Torres...
"Mirar Atrás" (2010) - Sebastian Yepes "De Lo Oscuro a Lo Puro" (2011)
- Romeo Santos "Magia Negra" (2011)
External links
- Official Website
- Official Fansite
- BrownPride.com
- RockEnEspanol.com
- DiarioLasAmericas.com Article in Spanish posted July 13, 2007 in Miami's Diario Las Americas daily newspaper
- Mala Rodriguez Concludes Her Appearance at the LAMC with Great Success Mala Rodriguez article posted in Chicago's Extra News, July 13, 2007