Maluca Takes Cameras to Pick Up Food Stamps

The Dominican performer has toured with international pop. But she's still broke.

By Jorge Rivas Mar 01, 2011

Natalie Yepez, better known by her stage name Maluca Mala, has toured with international pop stars, been featured in major publications and even starred in a BlackBerry commercial. But she’s still broke. 

The 29-year-old first generation Dominican parents recently from New York took a cue from Ol’ Dirty Bastard, a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan. In 1994 Ol’ Dirty Bastard took MTV News cameras on a limousine ride with him to pick up state issued food stamps just as the Wu-Tang album went gold.

In a sign of the times Maluca, who say’s she’s legitimately broke, took her own cameras to a NYC Department of Social Services office to apply for food stamps.

"I ain’t got no money. I got like $4 in my pocket, I live with my mom and I want you to see what it’s really like out here in the real world. So come join me inside, we’re about to get some food stamps," Maluca tells the camera.

She then takes viewers from the application process to a grocery store.

Maluca’s influences include artists such as ESG, Wu-Tang, Gil Scott Heron, Nina Simone to styles like merengue, aalsa, cumbia, house, disco, and freestyle. Her latest album ‘El Tigeraso’ is available in stores, y’know, go buy a song or a dozen.

And relive some history by watching Ol’ Dirty Bastard on MTV News back in 1994.