Malverde

Named for the mythical 19th century Mexican bandit who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, this century's Jesus Malverde may not be robbing anyone, but he's certainly poised for mythical status. Born in Coachella, California, to migrant farmworker parents, the odds were clearly stacked against him -- but somehow he made it to college, got a B.A. in political science and began writing poetry to boot. As he perfected his lyrical style, he turned to hip-hop as a logical extension of his talents, forgoing the usual ghetto glorification for a more nuanced and political look at the reality of Mexican and Mexican-American culture. His debut record, Mi Palabra, was first released in 2004 to wide acclaim in the underground scene; Machete Music rereleased the album in 2006, hoping to reach a wider audience.