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Once upon a time, in pre-revolution North Mexico, there lived a local legend and hero named Jesus Malverde. Known as the Spanish Robin Hood, Malverde would steal from the rich and give to the poor. Paying homage to this Mexican legend by adopting his name, rapper Malverde wants to continue the legacy of his folk-tale hero with what he describes as “musica del alma, musica pa’ el pueblo.”

Born and raised in Coachella, California with his mother--who made a living picking grapes to support the family--and grandfather, Malverde was exposed to a “cultural awakening” at an early age. Living in a town of predominantly Mexican laborers he realized that the opportunity to pursue the American dream was not afforded to them. However, Malverde did not let such obstacles stand in his way. He acquired a lust for cultural knowledge and ambition that he credits to his grandfather, who introduced his grandson to the legacy of Jesus Malverde, recited Mexican dichos, and instilled within the emcee, with words of wisdom. With these motivations, Malverde began to express his thoughts on political injustices through poetry and to participate in protest rallies throughout the Southwest.

After 10 years of self and artist development, Malverde educated his audience on Latino culture with his first album titled Mi Palabra, released on Machete Music (Universal Music Group). He made a conscious decision to create an entire rap album in Spanish that “shows the beauty of the language, was grammatically correct, conceptual, and filled with substance and depth.” With themes on life, action, and consequences and lyrics filled with “forgotten expressions of another time” it’s no wonder that his album is becoming as popular as artists like Shakira and Daddy Yankee. Overall, he wants to spread the message that “within each of us there is a possibility of being a Malverde.” Seeing hip-hop as a platform for social progress and change, Malverde will continue to spread his cultural knowledge to the legacy of hip hop with the much anticipated release of his second album La Leyenda Continua this fall.