Beginning her arts education at El Arco Iris Center for the Arts in 1992, Maria Isa quickly progressed from the role of student to the role of singer, songwriter, emcee and performer Her 2009 release, Street Politics, has received much critical acclaim. She has been featured on the cover of Twin Cities Metro and City Pages. She is currently shooting indie film Strike One in LA with Danny Treo; then she is headed to Puerto Rico to shoot the documentary We Rock Long Distance with filmmaker Justin Schnell.

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She has been nominated for a Minnesota Music “Best Hip-Hop Artist” Award, and was recognized as a 2010 Rising Star by the National Hispaña Leadership Institute for her outstanding work with Youthrive on behalf of incarcerated youth throughout the Twin Cities. She has also been honored for her involvement with Peace Jam on behalf of Nobel Peace Prize laureates. She recently received the Best Urban Artist award from Univision 13, a Certificate of Appreciation from the Governor of Minnesota for her outstanding songwriting and contributions to the Latino Community, and a David Laffyette Award for her dedication towards the peace movement through the arts. She has appeared on the International Bazaar stage at the Minnesota State Fair, as Mimi in the musical Rent at the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre and at New York’s BMI Latin Alternative Music Conference showcase. Her music has reached audiences around the world, including Asia and the United Kingdom, Latin America, the United States and Puerto Rico. She has performed alongside Slick Rick, Tego Calderon, Plena Libre, Los Pleneros de La 21, The Roots, Digable Planets, Julio Voltio, Lil Rob, Chingo Bling, La Bruja, Miguel Alegrin, Alice Russel, Bomba Esterio, Brother Ali, The Alkoholiks, Semisonic and Paracumbe, to name a few.