Mexicos First Openly Gay Female Rapper Is Making Waves In The Hip-Hop Industry

The hip-hop industry is not known for being welcoming to gay artists, and that goes double within a broadly machista society such as Mexico. However, one openly lesbian rapper is changing the game, making waves in the hip-hop community both in Mexico and abroad with her potent lyrics, global bass beats and recent genre boundary-breaking collabs. Here’s what you need to know about LA-based Mexican rapper Niña Dioz.

Raised in Monterrey, Mexico, the birthplace of many of the country’s most successful artists, Dioz – real name Carla Reyna – had a hometown legacy to live up to when she released her first 2007 EP Marcapasos. Live up to it she did, winning the Best Hip-Hop Album at the Indie-o Music Awards two years later, just a few years after getting her start playing to small crowds in obscure Monterrey bars.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUSRCW3gMmA/?taken-by=ninadioz&hl=en

Since then, and with the release of her second disc, Indestructible, Dioz’s fledgling career has gone from strength to strength: she’s partnered with some of Mexico’s biggest names across diverse genres, such as electronic/alt rock group Plastilina Mosh (also from Monterrey), the indie pop-rock sensations Natalia Lafourcade and Julieta Venegas, and Mexico City rock band Molotov. Alongside this, you might recognise her music on some huge ad campaigns, or perhaps from Grand Theft Auto V.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFGySlID7xo/?tagged=ninadioz&hl=en

This road to recognition hasn’t always been easy for the white skinned, blue-eyed rapper, who breaks with a multitude stereotypes, whether through her sound, her appearance or her very female, gay presence in the heavily male hip-hop industry. In fact, while Indestructible was receiving glowing reviews in People en Español, she was fielding online abuse and fighting with her reliance on alcohol, something she’s since overcome. Since then, she’s been described variously as the Mexican M.I.A and one of the most influential Latina rappers of all time, accolades achieved while working as an entirely independent artist, touring across multiple continents and releasing a number of mix tapes and EPs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC91pFuN3W7/?tagged=ninadioz&hl=en

Most recently, Dioz released the Cynthia Vance-directed video for her latest single ‘Dale’, filmed in LA and Monterrey. While the name conjures up a reggaeton vibe, the intensely hip-hop sound of her latest single tells a different story, and we’re sure to hear more tracks like it on her upcoming (and supposedly somewhat trap-influenced) Capitán Planet and Futura-produced EP Bautizada en Fuego, set to be released later this year.

Alongside this project, Dioz also recently teamed up with Detroit-based jazz and hip-hop heavyweight producer Shigeto, a collaboration that came about as a result of the Smirnoff Sound Collective sessions. The result, ‘Nubes’, is captivating and unexpected. Incidentally, it was on this international stage that she chose to come out as lesbian, a move which made her the only openly gay rapper in Mexico. One thing’s for sure – you need to keep your eyes and ears peeled for plenty more Niña Dioz in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V4maSYnf8o

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.