Mary Lisa (Marlisa) Marrero Vázquez (born January 17, 1974) better known by her stage name Lisa M, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, composer, dancer, record producer, and global DJ. She is known as the first female rapper artist to debut in Latin America. In 2019, Billboard identified her as one of the leading women performers in the Latin urban genre, along with Glory, Ivy Queen, Natti Natasha, and Karol G.
Early life
Mary Lisa Marrero Vázquez was born on January 17, 1974, from a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father in Puerta de Tierra, a neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. She started hip-hop dancing at the age of 11 years old, going on to work later as a dancer for the rap artist Vico C.
Career
Trampa and No Lo Derrumbes
Lisa M recorded her first album Trampa in 1989 at the age of 15 with the record label Prime Records. The first song she recorded for this album was "La Segunda Cita" (with Puerto Rican rap pioneer Vico C), which was the starting point to her successful career making her the first female Spanish-language rapper in Puerto Rico and Latin America. She grew more and more popular becoming successful for her interpretative strength, diversity, skills, and the sensuality of her performance. In a short time, she captivated her audiences in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the United States. The success of this album led to her first gold record.
Lisa M recorded her second album in 1990 titled No Lo Derrumbes which obtained platinum status, with over 100,000 copies sold in Puerto Rico and the United States. This album included the hits "No Lo Derrumbes," "Tu Pum-Pum," "Menéalo," "Ja-Rican Jive feat. Pesos," "Cuerpo y Alma," and "Rico en Amor." The album was produced by Miguel Correa, Jorge Oquendo (Prime Records), DJ Playero, Baron Lopez, and Eduardo Reyes. All of the songs were written by Vico C and Lisa M.
Sony Music
In 1991, Lisa M signed to the multinational record label Sony Music, and launched her third album titled Flavor of the Latin which had overwhelming success in Puerto Rico and throughout Latin America acquiring a platinum record. She sold out tours in Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, Panama, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, and the United States, in which she performed concerts sharing and collaborating with celebrities like Celia Cruz, Juan Gabriel, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Selena, and Tito Puente. The greatest hits of this album, "Tiempo De Amar," "Everybody Dancing Now," "Ingrato," and "Flavor of the Latin," won her an award for Best International Artist in TVyNovelas and at the Premios Lo Nuestro.
Her fourth album, Ahora Vengo Alborotá, came out in 1992 adding to Lisa M's platinum status career.
In 1996, Lisa M released her fifth album titled Soy Atrevida, which was equally successful. She went on to release her sixth album Y Sobreviví in 1998, working with artists such as Ricky Martin and La India. Given her success, she has been awarded gold and platinum for sales in the United States.
In 2001 she launched her calendar Lisa M 2001. She also hosted the internationally known Jamz mun2 TV show program on Telemundo, which achieved international ratings, opening the doors for reggaeton and urban music artists in the United States and Latin America.
Respect
In 2005, White Lion Records, recognized as one of the best labels of the urban genre at that time, signed Lisa M to her album titled Respect. The album includes the songs "Fuego," "Hey, Ladies," "Quítate," and "Encendío." It was a collaboration with Moncho Rivera. "Quítate" was produced by Taino, while "Hey, Ladies" was part of the soundtrack of the 2007 movie Feel the Noise produced by Jennifer Lopez, starring Omarion Grandberry, Giancarlo Esposito, and Melonie Diaz. In 2008, Sony BMG launched Respect Delux which is a compilation of premixed hits, and a duet with La India, a well-known international salsa star known by her fans as "La Princesa De La Salsa."
Lisa M DJ
In 2005, Lisa M expanded her presence in the music industry as rap artist, record producer, and dancer, by working as a professional DJ, known as "DJ Miss M," focusing on electronic music. Lisa M launched her career as a DJ in Miami playing after hours marathon sessions.