Niña Dioz

When you call yourself Niña Dioz in a country full of Catholics, you've got some explaining to do.

Carla Reyna, aka Niña Dioz, says her stage name is about self-empowerment: "I don't intend to make fun of people's faith, it's the other way around." The 23-year-old rapper from Monterrey credits American hip hop – Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill and Notorious B.I.G. – as her inspiration to pick up a mic and cites the beat writers Charles Bukowski, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs as her lyrical influences.

Niña Dioz made her debut in November of 2007 with the release of a seven-track EP titled Marcapasos (Pacemaker). Featuring chopped-up strings, husky horns and Reyna's self-described Mala Rodriguez-ish flow, Cuando, Cuando got heavy rotation on Mexico City's popular Reactor 105.7 radio. She soon found herself opening for acts like The Beatnuts, Ghostface Killah, Molotov, Plastilina Mosh and Sonidero Nacional. Toy Selectah of Monterrey's Control Machete, México's first successful hip hop act, is one of her producers and biggest backers.

Reyna is wary she may become the face of rap in México, a country without a mainstream hip hop scene. But that isn't preventing her from making waves. After showcasing her sound at this year's SXSW music festival, Niña Dioz will perform at Vive Latino – a massive concert in Mexico City usually reserved for rock acts. The Norteño-sampling "Prefiero El Asfalto," from her forthcoming album, Nueva Escuela (New School), is also featured on the Rudo y Cursi the soundtrack.