Author, researcher, and singer-songwriter. Visiting Scholar at the University of New Mexico's Sociology Department. Research interests: popular and folk music, Latino and Caribbean studies, reproductive justice. Author of New York Ricans from the Hip Hop Zone (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003) and co-editor of the anthology Reggaeton (Duke University Press, 2009). Research consultant and co-author working with the fierce reproductive justice organization Young Women United. Debut CD as director of the Caribbean neo-roots band Ojos de Sofia titled Las 7 Salves de La Magdalena / 7 Songs of Praise for The Magdalene. Born and raised in Puerto Rico. Lived for many years in NYC. Living in Planet New Mexico. Contact: raquelzrivera@gmail.com. Click here for CV.