Iconográfica is a column that celebrates divas that not only bring it artistically on a regular basis but exude grrrl power in the process. It’s a pop culture exploration of Latin icons with original illustrations and animated gifs by Cristóbal Saez.
Twitter: @PopAesthete
In a world where the hip-hop scene is dominated by bling, swag, and brightly colored wigs, it’s hard to find an artist that can spit dope rhymes and maintain a level of genuineness. Thankfully, us Latinos can count on the driving force that is La Mala Rodríguez. The Andalucian beauty, born María Rodríguez Garrido, has been running the Spanish rap game since the tender age of 19 with style, class, and a whole lot of sass. Her voice has the ability to transform itself entirely, sometimes within a single song.
Sure, there are tracks like “Toca Toca” that mainly deal with how low your ass can drop on the dance floor, but La Mala’s verses are usually tinged with politics, female empowerment, and simple yet effective life philosophies. In “Por Eso Mato,” my personal fave, the chorus speaks about reciprocity, karma, carpe diem, and her ability to “dejar bonito su caminar.” No, but seriously, this is life-changing stuff. Especially when she’s singing it a cappella (below).
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Ojo con la Mala.
Watch the music video of La Mala Rodriguez’s “33” below:
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