King Center Recital Hall

Maria Isa is a singer, songwriter, actress, rapper, activist, youth worker, and international recording artist. Born and raised in St. Paul’s West Side barrio, Minnesota, Isa grew up immersed in the diverse rhythms of Afro-Latino-Indigenous culture. This rich cultural tapestry influenced her early involvement in the performing arts and activism. Since 2009, Isa has been the CEO of her independent label, SotaRico, through which she has released over 13 projects that blend her Minnesota upbringing with Puerto Rican culture into a unique fusion of sound. Isa’s contributions to music and activism earned her the National Hispana Leadership Institute’s “Rising Latina Star” award for her exceptional work with Youthrive Live!, where she educated incarcerated youth in Minnesota and collaborated with several Nobel Peace Prize laureates. Isa made history as the first hip-hop artist elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. She released her latest album, CAPITOLIO, just 12 hours before being sworn into office. The album, which fuses Latin hip-hop and honors her journey as a Latina rapper and politician, was awarded the 2023 Best Minnesota Album of the Year by the Star Tribune.<br><br>The MSU Denver Department of Music, with support from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, presents the Visiting Artist Series on Music, Race, & Social Justice. Organized by Dr. Elizabeth McLean Macy, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology and Faculty Fellow in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, this series highlights the work of BIPOC musicians, performers, and scholars.<br><br>This event is FREE and open to the public.

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