Maria Isa

Maria Isa Pérez-Hedges is a Boricua (BO-REE-KWA) singer, songwriter, actress, rapper, activist, youth worker, and international recording artist born in Minnesota and raised on St. Paul’s West Side barrio. She was raised by the influences of many different rhythms of Afro-Latino-Indigenous culture and channeled it into performing arts and activism at a very early age. Isa has been trained by the masters of the Afro-Boricua Diaspora from the island of Puerto Rico (Paracumbe, Tito Matos, Los Ayalas) New York City (LP21), Chicago's Humboldt Park (Evaristo "Tito" Rodriguez), and Master vocalists trained in concert choral (William White), jazz (Mila Llauger), Afro-Latin and Hip-hop lyricism.

Since 2009 Isa has served as CEO for her independent label SotaRico, distributing over 13 of her projects bridging her music mix and upbringing of Minnesota and Puerto Rican culture into a fusion of sound. Isa received the National Hispana Leadership Institute’s “Rising Latina Star" award for her outstanding work with Youthrive Live! On behalf of working and educating incarcerated youth throughout the state of Minnesota while hosting several Nobel Peace Prize laureates. Maria Isa's music has been heard on several network shows on NBC, ABC, MTV, STARZ, Telemundo, VH1, E! Bravo and wrote and produced music for the Fast & the Furious Video Game. She is known as one of the top artists in the Twin Cities featured on every major publication in the state of Minnesota and has performed nationally and internationally with her original music.  

Maria Isa has performed alongside and opened for artists such as The Roots, Bad Bunny, Common, Moby, Bomba Estereo, Sheila E, Kendrick Lamar, Wu-Tang Clan, Las Cafeteras, Atmosphere, Pedrito Martinez, Ana Tijoux, La India, LP21, Redobles de Cultura and many more. She is to the founder, producer and co-host for Latina Theory: Spanglish Podcast, known as NPR's one of the Top LatinX Podcasts in the Country to listen to.  

Maria Isa's latest album, Sasa, is dedicated to her mother, women of color in politics, and the future leaders of the world. Sasa was produced entirely by Minneapolis hip-hop and r&b producer J.HARD and is known to be Maria Isa's finest work to date. 

Past Shows


Aug
1
st
2023
First Avenue
Aug
1
st
2023
First Avenue

Legalized It

A celebration of the legalization of cannabis in Minnesota
with Ilhan Omar and the Music Rockers aka Marijuana DeathsquadsNew PrimitivesMaria IsaJoJo Green + DJs: EspadaLori BarberoCristian BacaVerb XKeezy • and more
Jun
23
rd
2023
First Avenue
Jun
23
rd
2023
First Avenue

The Klituation Pride Party

with JAX (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Dizzy Fae, Maria Isa and more!
Jun
24
th
2022
First Avenue
Jun
24
th
2022
First Avenue

DJ Keezy presents
The Klituation ⏤ Pride Party

featuring Sophia ErisMaria IsaReviiRicki MoniqueDJ K.ReevesJijaChico ChiEnzy RoseNewblackcityTygraEssjay The Afrocentric RatchetRaven Nevermore Ninja • hosted by Destiny Spike
with Gully Boys
Sep
23
rd
2021
First Avenue
Sep
23
rd
2021
First Avenue

MINNESOTA MUSIC FESTIVAL

featuring JAKI, MAC IRV, NUR-D, J. PLAZA, REVII (NIMIC REVENUE), MARIA ISA, NIKO SLIM, J.MONTE & LOKI952, PRINCE WILL, NEENOSKY, OZONE CREATIONS, BAYO, KELVINO, JAKE GILLER, TREYSON GREEN, JUICE LORD, and TAE SUPREME
Mar
28
th
2020
Mainroom
Mar
28
th
2020
Mainroom
Cancelled

The Klituation Celebrating Womxn’s Month

with Gully Boys, NewBlackCity, Ricki Monique and more!
Feb
7
th
2020
Fine Line
Feb
7
th
2020
Fine Line

LATINXPOLIS

A Twin Cities Celebration of LatinX Movement through Art, Ritmo, and Dance
with Maria Isa, DJ Cristian Baca and DJ QueenDuin
Jul
23
rd
2019
Turf Club
Dec
22
nd
2018
Fine Line
Dec
22
nd
2018
Fine Line

SNOW FLEX ZONE

hip hop / r&b / funk / house / throwbacks dance party
with Mike 2600, Just Nine, DJ Espada and more!
Jul
28
th
2018
Mainroom
Jul
28
th
2018
Mainroom

The Klituation and DJ Keezy

with DJ Sophia Eris, DJ QueenDuin, Lady Midnight and more!
May
26
th
2018
Mainroom
May
26
th
2018
Mainroom

The Klituation and Junglepussy

with Sa-Roc, Nikki Jean, Lady Midnight and more!
Dec
23
rd
2017
Mainroom
Dec
23
rd
2017
Mainroom

DJ Keezy and The Klituation

with LEXII ALIJAI, Maria Isa, DJ Sophia Eris and more!
Jul
7
th
2017
Mainroom
Jul
7
th
2017
Mainroom

DJ Keezy and The Klituation

with DJ Sophia Eris, DJ Miss Brit, Maria Isa and more!
Apr
22
nd
2017
First Avenue
Mar
25
th
2017
Mainroom
Mar
25
th
2017
Mainroom

DJ Keezy and The Klituation

with COCO & BREEZY, DJ Shannon Blowtorch, BdotCroc and more!
Jan
21
st
2017
Turf Club
Jan
21
st
2017
Turf Club

CULTURA LOVE

with LESTER REY y LOS LEONES, Maria Isa, Gym Kang and more!
Dec
30
th
2016
Mainroom
Dec
30
th
2016
Mainroom

DJ Keezy, DJ Shannon Blowtorch, DJ Sophia Eris and more!

with BdotCroc, Maria Isa, Lady Midnight and more!
Nov
20
th
2016
Fine Line
Nov
20
th
2016
Fine Line

Snow Tha Product

with WOKE, Fool Boy Marley and Maria Isa
Jul
15
th
2016
Mainroom
Jul
15
th
2016
Mainroom

DJ Keezy and The Klituation

with DJ Sophia Eris, DJ Shannon Blowtorch, Sarah White and more!
Apr
14
th
2016
7th St Entry
Apr
14
th
2016
7th St Entry

Nazeem & Spencer Joles

with ALIBASTER JONES, Cram, UNKNOWN CREATURES and more!
Dec
26
th
2015
Turf Club
Dec
26
th
2015
Turf Club

Villa Rosa, Maria Isa and Muja Messiah

with Why Khaliq, Lady Xok, CURANDERO and more!

More Shows

Jun
12
th
7th St Entry

Planet Booty

with MINKA
May
11
th
The Fitzgerald Theater

Kamasi Washington

May
18
th
The Fitzgerald Theater

SCREAM it off SCREEN

Aug
7
th
Palace Theatre

The Revivalists

with flipturn