Let’s be real. In the world of reggae/ton, women are few and far between—unless you count the ubiquitous back-up dancers perreando in the periphery. With few opportunities besides the hip shaking stage-prop, it’s hard out here for the aspiring “rapera” longing to command the mic. So when I had the chance to speak with Demphra, one half of the legendary (and now defunct) duo La Factoría, I made sure to ask her about how she was able to beat the odds and launch a successful career as a female Reggae/ton MC.
Panamanian, by way of DR, Demphra got her first crash course in Reggae music after moving to PTY as a child. Shortly thereafter, she began penning her own verses, and was “discovered” at a local radio station as a teen. In 2001, Demphra joined La Factoría, meaning Music Factory, along with three other up-and-coming artists. Their debut album “DJ Pablito Presents La Factoria” became an international hit and sold over 200,000 albums throughout Latin America. Shortly after the success of their debut album, the male artists left La Factoría to launch solo careers—leaving the group “totalmente feminista.” Undeterred by their departure, Joycee and Demphra went on to record three more successful albums. They have recently been making a name for themselves in the United States with their popular hit “Perdóname” which they recorded with Eddie Lover, a fellow Panamanian reggaetonero. Check out excerpts from my convo with Panamanians’ favorite rude gyal:
