Mala Rodríguez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mala Rodríguez
Rodríguez in 2012
Background information
Birth name	María Rodríguez Garrido
Also known as	La Mala Rodríguez
Born	(1979-02-13) February 13, 1979 (age 46) Jérez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain
Origin	Seville, Spain
Genres	Alternative hip hop Latin rap reggaeton flamenco
Occupation(s)	Rapper singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Universal Music
Associated acts	SFDK Calle 13 Nelly Furtado Julieta Venegas Big Freedia Juan Magán Upsurt Stylo G

María Rodríguez Garrido (born February 13, 1979), better known by her stage name Mala Rodríguez, is a famous Spanish rapper and singer. She is known for mixing Latin rap and flamenco music in her songs. She has won many awards for her powerful music.

Rodríguez is a trailblazer in music. She was the first female artist to win in both the Best Urban Album and Best Urban Song categories at the Latin Grammy Awards. She was also the first urban artist to win Spain's National Music Award, a very important honor. Before releasing her 2020 album Mala, she was a judge on the Spanish TV show La Voz. In 2021, she also wrote a book about her life called Cómo ser Mala.

Early Life and First Steps in Music

María Rodríguez was born in Jérez de la Frontera, a city in the Cádiz province of Spain. When she was a child, her family moved to Seville. Growing up, she came from a working-class family. Her mother was a hairdresser. Rodríguez has said that while her family wasn't rich, she always had what she needed.

As a teenager, she became part of Seville's exciting hip-hop music scene. She loved the energy and creativity of the music. At age 17, she performed on stage for the first time and chose the name "La Mala" for herself. This was the beginning of her amazing career.

Musical Career

Becoming a Star

In the late 1990s, Mala Rodríguez started to become well-known in the Spanish hip-hop world. She worked with other popular artists from Seville, like La Gota Que Colma and SFDK. Her unique voice and style made people notice her.

She released her first solo project, a maxi-single called A Jierro/Toma la Traca, in 1999. A year later, in 2000, she signed a contract with the major record label Universal Music Spain. This led to her first full album, Lujo Ibérico. The album was a big success and earned a Gold certification for its sales.

Gaining Worldwide Attention

Rodríguez performing at the Sónar music festival in 2007.

In 2003, Rodríguez released her second album, Alevosía. One of its songs, "La Niña," became very famous. The music video for the song showed some difficult situations, and it was not allowed on some Spanish TV channels because it was seen as too mature. This album also went Gold.

Her music started to reach audiences all over the world. In 2009, her song "Volveré" was featured in the popular movie Fast & Furious. This brought her music to many new fans. She also performed with famous artists like Julieta Venegas for her MTV Unplugged concert.

Rodríguez in Córdoba, Argentina, in 2008.

In 2012, she performed at a big music festival in Costa Rica with international stars like Maroon 5 and Björk. The next year, she released her fifth album, Bruja, which means "Witch" in Spanish.

Recent Success and Achievements

Mala Rodríguez's influence continued to grow. In 2015, former U.S. President Barack Obama even included one of her songs on his public summer playlist on Spotify.

In 2018, after a few years without releasing new music, she came back with the powerful single "Gitanas." Music critics praised the song for its bold and strong message. In the song, she asks, "Who will protect me?" and then answers her own question with a strong "Me!"

The year 2019 was huge for her. She became the first urban artist ever to win Spain's National Music Award. She also served as a judge on the TV show La Voz. In 2020, she released her album Mala, and in 2021, she published her life story in a book.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Featured in

Collaborations

See also

In Spanish: Mala Rodríguez para niños