Arianna Puello

Spanish rapper Arianna Puello admits motherhood has changed her – but only a little: "My philosophy about life has changed for the better, but I'm still a non-conformist."

Born Arianna Isabel Puello Pereyra in the Dominican Republic, the breakdancer-turned-MC began her hip hop career 15 years ago in Spain – her home since age eight – under the name ARI. Before Mala Rodríguez made Spanish hip hop famous in the U.S. and México, the petite Puello was the only female lyricist cranking out streetwise raps about life in urban Spain.

No longer the beanie-rocking tough girl of albums like El Tentempié (A Taste), Gancho Perfecto (Perfect Hook) and La Fecha (The Date), Puello strikes a more feminine pose on the cover of her newest release, 13 Razones (13 Reasons). Produced by Echo (Tego Calderón, Don Omar, Daddy Yankee), Puello is comfortable alternating between club-friendly jams like Todo el Mundo Gritando and Juana Kalamidad alongside gritty, rapid-fire tracks like "Duelo de Titanes."

Despite a decade in the game and collaborations with some of the biggest names in Latin hip hop – Orishas, Cartel de Santa and La Mala – Puello says the grind isn't over: "You don't get [success] from one day to the next. You have to work hard and be consistent."

See: myspace.com/ariannapuello