Born Maria Isabelle Perez Vega to Nuyorican parents (los quieros!) and raised on St. Paul's Westside, Maria Isa is a vocalist, songwriter and performs Afro-Puerto Rican music Bomba and Plena with a mix of Hip-Hop, R&B, and Reggaeton. She has attended McNally Smith College of Music and Columbia College Chicago. Maria Isa teaches Boricua history/song/vocal instructions to children at El Arco Iris Center for the Arts in St. Paul, while performing with the folklore group "RAICES"(roots). Performing since she was a young girl, Maria Isa was inspired by the artistic values of Mila Llauger (her aunt) Evaristo Rodriguez (Artistic Director of Africaribe), and the many Fania, Motown/Soul, and Ol'Skool Hip-hop played by her family. "We're (the family) like the Boricua 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding,' except we say WEPA instead of OPA!" Muchas gracias a mis abuelos! ALCADIA CAYITA VEGA, FELIX JESUS PEREZ, AMINTA INEZ ORTIZ PEREZ, Y SANTIAGO EUGENIO "KIKO" VEGA "Never for get the pride for our cultura, our language, our movement or else we become descendents! We become lost.... For those who are lost, it's our duty to respect and educate them towards freedom." At the age of 7, Maria Isa was invited on stage with Salsa singer La India and given timbales sticks from the late great Tito Puente. From then she knew she wanted to be reaching others by being in the light and behind a mic. She thanks Los Nativos member FELIPE CHAUTLI for believing in her and being a guiding hand in opening many opportunities, MELISA RIVIERE (Maria Isa's manager/president of Emetrece Productions/Anthropologist/Hip-Hop Prof) for educating,opening more doors, introducing her to B-GIRL BE, and being a sista on da look out! Also my brother HAREL "RAY2" PEREZ for pushing me around...not to get hurt, but to be ready to battle what's ahead. Isa's words express who she is: a female activist recognizing her heritage and culture as a "Boricua de las Ciudades Gemelas" (Puerto Rican from the Twin Cities). She flows her opinions on the political movements that take place and errupt from the USA owning Puerto Rico. Through her voz (voice) and Spanglish tracks Maria Isa hopes to reach those who are on the same mission as her..... to place the truth in the textbooks and to teach people of all ages what is being missed in the classrooms. Quoting the Young Lords Party "Siempre Pa'lante," being hip-hop's Lolita Lebron, and Moochie (da girl on da block aka Maria's nickname since an infant) remains to tell others, "although bad things attack us, there is always good that can come out of any situation.. we gotta keep learning something new every day about the world and moving foward. Paz, Salud, y Felicidad."-Maria Isa You can grab a hold of Maria Isa's solo-debut album: "M.I. SPLIT PERSONALITIES" under Emetrece Productions/Baby Step Records May 29th, 2007!! With guest featurings from RAICES (Twin Cities), TRUTHMAZE(Mpls),Nellie Lebron-Robles (Puerto Rico), BLACK BLONDIE (Mpls), Mavin MC (Mpls), VELCRO Y TEK-ONE (Puerto Rico), I SELF DEVINE (Mpls), GITANA MC (Mpls) with productions by DA GOODFELLAS/SMOKESYGNAL, DJ SNUGGLES, Ivan "BANJO" Fontanes, FINO PRODUCTIONS, BENZILLA,ROHAN ARORA and Aaron "DRIZZLE" Barnell. CHECK OUT MORE AT WWW.MARIAISA.COM BIG UPS TO MY FAMILY! "RESPECT GIVEN TOWARDS FAITH AND COMMUNITY=RESPECT AMONGST EACHOTHER." Palabra!
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PEEP OUT MARIA ISA IN MINNESOTA MONTHLY MAY 2007 ARTICLE!!http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/media/Minnesota-Mon thly/May-2007/Maestra-of-Ceremonies/