IVY QUEENSentimiento-Biography- "There is only one significant female reggaeton rapper, Ivy Queen" - New  York TimesFor more than a decade, she has reigned as the woman who forged an entire  genre, enriched the soundscape of Latin music and launched a musical  movement to international success. Now, Her Majesty the diva, Ivy Queen, is  back - with Sentimiento under the Univision Music Group label.This extraordinary release of 12 new songs shares thoughts that reflect the  emotions of a passionate heart. The first cut, "Que Lloren," was written by  Ivy Queen herself.Reggaeton was born in the streets, a tantalizing blend of hip hop, rap and  reggae, and first made a splash on the music scene in the nightclubs of  Puerto Rico, permeated with the hopes and dreams of all those who aspire to  more. Born as Martha Ivelisse Pesante on March 4, 1972 in the Puerto Rican  town of AÃ±asco, and educated in New York, Ivy Queen succeeded in capturing  the sentiment of oppressed youths struggling to make it, via her urban  music.It was in 1995 when Ivy, who by that time had returned to Puerto Rico,  joined the popular reggaeton-rap group The Noise, headed up by DJ Negro.  With the first woman in their ranks, sales reached a half million copies.  One year later, Ivy launched her solo career and in 1997 she released her  album En Mi Imperio, which included the hits "Pon AtenciÃ³n" and "Como  Mujer." She collaborated with different musicians and Latin music producers  of key importance, including Domingo QuiÃ±ones, DLG, Alex D'Castro, Cuco  PeÃ±a and Sergio George.By 1998, Ivy had conquered fans all over Puerto Rico and Latin America, and  had released the hit album "The Original Rude Girl,"' which included the  duet "In The Zone" with Wyclef Jean, co-founder of The Fugees; this  production reflected the original artistic vision of Ivy and earned her an  even greater number of fans around the world. From the United States to  Mexico and Spain, from Panama to the Dominican Republic, Ivy became the  female leader of her genre as well as a spokesperson for female power, and  became known as the Queen of Reggaeton.After her move to New York in 2000, Ivy continued seeking out new  collaborations and experimented in the interest of broadening the scope of  her music, working on various interesting productions. PepsiCo named her  the musical spokesperson for Mountain Dew. In 2001 and 2002, she appeared  in compilations of smash hits such as Boricuas NY, DJ Nelson's: The Flow,  Kilates and The Majestic.-continued-Ivy Queen Biography - page 2In 2003 she launched Diva, after five years of no albums. Diva was a  veritable compendium of her artistic passion, femininity, and culture. She  followed it up in 2004 with Diva Platinum Edition, with pieces she wrote  and co-produced herself.As a composer, Ivy is inspired by her own experiences and by her most  sincere and spontaneous emotions. "I sing what's real, what I feel in the  moment," she says. "My songs are a reflection of what happens day to day."As a singer, Ivy is in powerful command, always with an astonishingly  tough, strong stage presence."Flashback" is a fusion of the past, present, and future, consisting of a  totally contagious medley of the best hits and entrancing rhythms of Ivy,  including "Quiero Bailar," "Te he Querido, Te He llorado," and the  unstoppable "En La Disco." The album also offers four new pieces of  interest produced by Rafi Mercenario, the most highly requested producer in  reggaeton. These new songs include Ivy's latest hit, "Cuentale," as well as  "Marroneo," "Libertad," and a cover of a hit from the late Tejano singer  Selena, "Si una Vez." "I feel honored to be able to sing one of Selena's  songs," declares Ivy humbly. "She was the first artist to make a successful  crossover before Jennifer Lopez and all the rest."From the time Ivy first broke onto the music scene with her unstoppable  talent, she has always been a hit with fans not only because of her talent  and charisma but because of her ability to connect with her fans and her  down-to-earth nature, qualities that earned her the title of Grand Marshal  in 2004 and Goodwill Ambassador in 2005 for the National Puerto Rican  Parade of New York City, where the artist had the opportunity to share  directly with her beloved "NewYorican" fans. Ivy Queen was also the  recipient of two awards at the People's Choice Reggaeton Awards 2005 and  2004 in Puerto Rico. The People's Choice award is given by the public, who  chooses their favorite artists in various categories. Last year, the singer  was honored by her fans at the Premios Juventud Awards for her musical  career. Also in 2006, Ivy Queen was the only artist of her genre invited to  participate in the tribute to Hector Lavoe in Madison Square Garden, where  the princess of salsa India assured her that she would be a complete hit -  which she was. There, Ivy sang the song "Calle Luna Calle Sol" of Hector  Lavoe.Ivy's other honors include: * Being chosen for the Campaign to Fight Domestic Violence Against  Women in Puerto Rico  * Chosen by Latina Magazine as one of the most important Latina women. * Honored by the Premios Juventud Awards for her musical career * Received the Furia Musical Award in 2006 for "Best Reggaeton Singer  of the Year""In Sentimiento we find that love is what keeps us alive, whether it's a  breakup or reconciliation," says Ivy. "Each guest artist is there to tell  the listeners that we have all loved at least once in our lives. The idea  of creating such a profound album is based on the fact that my parents  raised me for 'corta venas,' to love passionately. And I wanted my  generation to have songs that express what they are going through when they  are in love."Sentimiento captures not only the reality of women in love, but reveals to  us the voice of men whom no one can save from the clutches of love."I want people to listen to my growth as an artist and as a woman," says  Ivy Queen. "I want people listening to my album to feel this growth."