Carnegie Hall

Born in New York and raised in Añasco, Puerto Rico, Martha Ivelisse Pesante—better known as Ivy Queen—burst onto the music scene in the 1980s with the group The Noise, with whom she wrote and performed her first song, “Somos Raperos Pero No Delincuentes.” Following successful performances across Latin America, Ivy Queen left the group to debut as a solo artist and recorded her first album, En Mi Imperio, in 1997. The following year—with the support of Wyclef Jean—she debuted The Original Rude Girl. Her third album, Diva (2003), was a major success, selling more than one million copies and achieving platinum status. In 2004, she released the platinum edition of Diva and her fourth album, Real.

In 2005, Flashback was shared with the world—known as E5 in the United States and Reggaeton Queen in Japan. In 2006, she collaborated with Gran Omar on the reggaeton compilation album Cosa Nostra: Hip Hop. In 2007, she released Sentimiento, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Latin chart, and included hits like “Que Lloren” and “En Que Fallamos.”

In 2008, Ivy Queen embarked on a world tour that culminated with a sold-out show at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, recorded as World Tour Live! on DVD and CD. In 2010, her seventh album, Drama Queen, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Latin chart, where it stayed for five consecutive weeks. Two years later, she released Musa—which included the single “Peligro de Extinción”—and showcased her versatility as a performer in The Vagina Monologues, reaffirming her status as a symbol of female empowerment.

In 2014, Ivy Queen debuted the EP Vendetta: First Round, and in 2015 unveiled Vendetta: The Project, an innovative production comprising four albums in different genres: urban, salsa, bachata, and hip-hop. In 2017, she released “Ámame o Mátame” with Don Omar. In 2019, she received the Premios Tu Música Urbano Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame at the Musa Awards.

In 2020, Ivy Queen released “Un Baile Más,” featuring Colombian actor Gregorio Pernía. The pandemic forced her to postpone the Raíz No Rama World Tour, but she instead recorded “Antídoto,” a song inspired by quarantine. In July 2020, she debuted The Way of Queen, a documentary with four unreleased songs.

In 2023, Ivy Queen returned to her homeland with a historic, sold-out performance at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, reaffirming her position as the pioneering and undisputed queen of reggaeton. Additionally, she released videos for “Quién Dijo” and “Villana”—both with a message of female empowerment. Recently, she dropped “Bye Bye,” a reggaeton track encouraging the end of toxic relationships. Her latest release, “De Luto,” marks a new chapter in her personal life, conveying empowerment and self-respect.

With more than 30 years in the industry, Ivy Queen is renowned for her steadfast advocacy for women. She has been nominated for three Latin Grammy Awards and received special recognition from the Latin Recording Academy. She was celebrate by People en Español as one of the “25 Most Powerful Women” and one of the “50 Most Beautiful People.” In 2023, she was honored with an Icon Award at both the Billboard Women in Music ceremony and Billboard Latin Music Awards. She also received the Premio Lo Nuestro Musical Legacy Award.