Originating from the streets of Puerto Rico and Panama, Reggaeton has undeniably surged in popularity. However, amidst its male-dominated facade, a silent revolution has been brewing since its beginning – one led by women, reshaping the very essence of reggaeton.
In a genre filled with subliminally degrading and objectifying lyrics, these women have flipped the patriarchal roles. Here lies a narrative of female resilience, creativity and innovation.
7 - Villano Antillano
Villano Antillano is a Puerto Rican rapper and singer. She emerged into mainstream reggaeton through her music session with producer Bizzarap. Their “Villano Antillano: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 51,” has over 200 million streams on Spotify and reached No.5 in Spain, becoming the first transgender woman to enter Spotify’s Global Top 50.
As an LGBTQ+ icon, Villano was named Them’s 2023 Now Awards honoree in Music, a recognition given to 12 LGBTQ+ people who represent theí Queer community in media.
In 2018, Villano released a song titled “Pato Hasta La Muerte,” a play on words from Anuel’s emblematic “Real Hasta La Muerte” tagline. In this track, Villano called out Anuel for his homophobic and misogynistic lyrics against other women in the genre.
6 - Natti Natasha
Working alongside top artists in the genre like Ozuna and Becky G, Natti Natasha produced hits like “Sin Pijama” and “Criminal.” Notably, the song “Sin Pijama” marked the first time in history two credited women led the list on Airplay’s Latin music chart.
Natti Natasha’s rise to fame coincided with a growing movement within the Latin music industry to highlight and uplift female voices. She became a symbol of empowerment for women in music, inspiring a new generation of female artists to pursue their dreams and assert their presence in traditionally male-dominated spaces.
5 - Becky G
Becky G, full name Rebbeca Marie Gomez, is a prominent Mexican American singer, rapper and actress. Starting her career at a young age with hits like “Becky from the Block” and “Shower,” Becky G has become one of the most well-versed artists in the genre at only 27 years old. She first gained popularity within reggaeton and Latin music for her collaboration with Pitbull, “Can’t Get Enough,” establishing herself as one of the only Mexicans and U.S.-born “reggaetoneras” to hit mainstream charts.
Throughout her time in the spotlight, Becky G has repeatedly been one of the largest Latin artists in the Coachella lineup. She even reached a No.1 spot on Billboard for her collab with Karol G on their song “Mami,” an undeniable female anthem. Becky is currently the fifth Latin female artist with the most monthly listeners on Spotify with over 29 million listeners.
4 - Nina Sky
Nina Sky is an American musical duo of twin sisters Natalie and Nicole Albino. They gained fame in the mid-2000s with their hit single “Move Ya Body,” which blended elements of reggaeton, R&B and hip-hop. The song achieved commercial success and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
To many, their voices may sound similar as they sing the popular chorus on “Oye Mi Canto” by N.O.R.E. featuring Nina Sky and Daddy Yankee. Nina Sky was the only woman competing against men in the Latin charts, alongside Ivy Queen.
3 - Rosalia
Rosalía Vila Tobella, known professionally as Rosalía, is a Spanish singer and songwriter. Rosalía gained international recognition for her distinctive approach to flamenco music, blending traditional flamenco elements with contemporary urban sounds. Her second album, “El Mal Querer,” released in 2018, propelled Rosalía to global stardom. The album’s lead single, “Malamente,” became a massive hit, earning Rosalía widespread praise for her boundary-pushing sound and captivating performances.
Many members of the Latinx community question whether Rosalía should be recognized as a Latin artist since she is from Spain, previously nominated for Billboard Music Awards as Top Latin Female Artist, over 12 nominations in Billboard Latin Music Awards and another one for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album in the Grammys.
Whether you love her or not, her chill-inducing voice has brought new influences to reggaeton that no other artist has ever attempted to do.
2 - Karol G
Karol G, also known as Carolina Giraldo Navarro, is the current female reggaeton powerhouse. Proudly from Medellin, Colombia, the parcera is reaching numbers no other Latina woman has ever seen. The “Bichota’' pioneer has created a movement surrounding her brand that uses her music to empower Latinas and break gender norms.
In 2017, Karol G released her debut studio album, “Unstoppable,” which included hits like “Ahora Me Llama” featuring Bad Bunny and “Hello” featuring Ozuna. However, her second studio album, “Ocean,” released in 2019, catapulted Karol G to international fame. The album included hit singles like “Tusa” featuring Nicki Minaj and “Secreto” with Anuel AA.
Karol G is the first Latina artist to score a No.1 album entirely in Spanish on the Billboard 200 chart with her Album “Mañana Sera Bonito.” Her previous album, “KG0516,” became one of the largest debut female Spanish albums on Spotify. Recently, Karol G also became the first Latin artist to be awarded the Billboard Woman of the Year where she performed a rendition of her top hits with a salsa ensemble. She even became the first woman to win the Grammy for Best Urban Album.
Despite her sold-out stadium tours and No.1 hits, Karol G’s talent and charisma stand alone.
1- Ivy Queen
La diva, la potra, la caballota, Ivy Queen, is indisputably the mother of reggaeton music. Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez is one of the O.G. Puerto Rican rappers and singers.
Early reggaeton music by male artists often included overtly sexual and oftentimes degrading lyrics towards women, Ivy Queen turned that around. “Yo Quiero Bailar” is one of Ivy Queen’s most iconic and popular songs, released in 2003 as part of her album “Diva.” While “Quiero Bailar” might not have been a chart-topping mega-hit, it holds a special place in the hearts of fans, becoming a cultural renaissance within reggaeton and the fight for female empowerment, as did most of her other hits.
Although Ivy Queen may not have the sold-out tours and No.1 albums, compared to the rest of the equally talented women on this list, none of them would be here without the foundation Ivy Queen laid. Ivy Queen opened doors for Latinas when it was demanding to even be a fan of the genre.
With National Women’s History Month coming to an end, Dimelo honors the women who changed the genre of reggaeton. Through their lyricism and man-eater characteristics, these women have topped charts, filled sold-out stadiums and received some of the highest awards in music.