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Puerto Rican Women in Music: The Voices You Need to Hear
Puerto Rico’s influence on music is undeniable. From bomba and plena to salsa, reggaetón, Latin pop, and trap, the island has shaped global sounds for decades. But while Puerto Rican men have often dominated the spotlight, it’s Puerto Rican women who have been pushing the boundaries, setting trends, and making history, even when they didn’t always get the recognition they deserved.
From the early days of salsa to today’s urbano explosion, Puerto Rican women have been leading the charge. Ivy Queen broke barriers in reggaetón, Kany García infused Latin pop with deep storytelling, and Villano Antillano is redefining the genre by challenging gender norms. Then there are Afro-Latinx artists like La India and Calma Carmona, whose music is rich with Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Unfortunately, Black Puerto Rican voices have often been underrepresented in mainstream discussions.
Beyond the music, these women have used their voices to speak on feminism, social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and Afro-Latinx identity. iLe, for instance, has been a vocal advocate against gender violence, and many of today’s younger artists are challenging the expectations placed on women in the industry.
This is a tribute to the legends who paved the way and the new generation making waves. If you want to know where Puerto Rican music is headed, start with these names.
The Queens Who Paved the Way
Ivy Queen
When people talk about reggaetón, you can’t leave out Ivy Queen. Before it went global, the genre was mostly a boys’ club. But Ivy Queen broke down barriers and made it clear that women have a place in reggaetón too.
She kicked off her career in the ’90s underground scene, part of The Noise, an all-male collective where she had to carve out her own spot. But her undeniable talent and fierce personality couldn’t be ignored. By the early 2000s, she was dropping hits like ‘Yo Quiero Bailar’, a reggaetón anthem that asserted women could dance without being disrespected, and ‘Quiero Saber,’ cementing her status as “La Caballota” of the genre.
Even as reggaetón evolved, Ivy Queen stayed relevant, proving that real talent has longevity. Her influence is still felt today, with every female reggaetonera owing part of their success to the doors Ivy Queen kicked open.
J.Lo
Jennifer Lopez isn’t just a pop star: she’s a whole cultural movement. She’s one of the most successful Latina entertainers of all time, dominating music, film, fashion, and business.
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Her big moment came with the Selena biopic, but she didn’t stop there. She dove into music, blending Latin and pop influences with hits like “Let’s Get Loud,” “Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” and “On the Floor.” She became the first Latina to have both a No. 1 album and a No. 1 movie at the same time, proving that Puerto Rican women could be mainstream powerhouses.
Beyond the charts, J.Lo has opened doors for Latinas in Hollywood, showing that they can lead films, set trends, and be taken seriously in an industry that often sidelined them.
La India
Salsa has always been a male-dominated genre, but La India made sure her voice couldn’t be ignored. Born in Puerto Rico with deep Afro-Caribbean roots, she took the salsa world by storm in the ’90s, proving that an Afro-Latinx woman could be just as powerful as any male salsero.
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Nicknamed “The Princess of Salsa,” she collaborated with legends like Eddie Palmieri and Marc Anthony, delivering timeless hits like Ese Hombre and Vivir lo Nuestro. But La India’s music goes beyond just salsa, she’s mixed it with house, Latin pop, and even reggaetón, always keeping her Afro-Caribbean influences at the forefront.
Kany García
If you’re into deep, emotional songwriting, then Kany García is the artist for you. She’s one of Puerto Rico’s most respected singer-songwriters, renowned for her talent in transforming personal experiences into universal anthems.
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Her lyrics delve into love, heartbreak, identity, and feminism with a rawness that truly sets her apart. With multiple Latin Grammys and critically acclaimed albums, she’s proven that you don’t need flashy beats or viral dances to make an impact, just great music that speaks to people’s hearts.
The New Generation Changing the Game
Villano Antillano
Reggaetón hasn’t always been the most inclusive space, but Villano Antillano is here to change that. As a non-binary rapper, they’re challenging gender norms and bringing LGBTQ+ visibility into a genre that has long been hyper-masculine.
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Villano took the music scene by storm with Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 51, showcasing their flow, lyrics, and presence that set reggaetón ablaze. Their music blends hard-hitting rhymes, queer empowerment, and social commentary, establishing them as one of the most thrilling new voices in the genre.
Young Miko
As one of the leading figures in the new wave of urbano music, Young Miko is bringing a fresh, effortless style to trap, reggaetón, and R&B.
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With hits like Classy 101 and Lisa, she’s not just making bangers, she’s representing a new generation of queer artists in urbano, something that was unheard of just a few years ago.
Her sound is smooth, playful, and infectious, and with her debut album, Attn:, she’s proving that she’s not just a viral sensation, she’s here to stay.
RaiNao
RaiNao is what happens when reggaetón meets jazz, R&B, and electronic sounds. She calls her music “perreo alternativo,” and it’s unlike anything else coming out of Puerto Rico right now
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She caught the attention of Bad Bunny, who featured her on his 2025 album Debí Tirar Más Fotos on the song PERFuMITO NUEVO. Her debut album Capicú is a genre-bending masterpiece, proving that reggaetón can evolve into something completely new.
Calma Carmona
Mixing soul, Latin rhythms, and jazz, Calma Carmona brings a completely different energy to Puerto Rican music.
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She’s opened for Beyoncé, performed at major festivals, and continues to push the boundaries of Latin soul, blending influences from artists like Sade and La Lupe.
These women aren’t just making music—they’re transforming the industry, shattering barriers, and standing up for their communities. Whether it’s gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, Afro-Latinx identity, or social justice, they’re using their voices on and off the mic.
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