Welcome to a different installment of Hoops, Rap and All the things Black, a weekly column that zeroes in on the 2 elementary elements of SLAM—hoops and rap—whereas threading in different elements of the colourful tapestry of Black tradition. Let’s get it.
Maria Isabel, 27, is on her option to turning into a famous person, there’s little question about it. The singer/songwriter has been singing since she might communicate, and started professionally making music about 4 years in the past. If she’s not within the recording studio or gracing a stage, there’s a very good likelihood you’ll see her courtside at The Backyard, cheering on her beloved New York Knicks. With a captivating voice and presence that may mesmerize any crowd, the Queens native finds a option to captivate any viewers she’s surrounded by. Don’t blink, quickly sufficient she’ll in all probability be headlining her personal present at The World’s Most Well-known Area.
I sat down with Maria who spoke with me about her love for basketball, how the sport evokes her, her appreciation for hip-hop, what we will anticipate subsequent from her and extra.
CURTIS: Leaping straight into it, you carry New York with you in every single place you go; are you able to stroll me via your upbringing and what being born and raised in Queens means to you? How has that influenced you to get up to now?
MARIA: I used to be born in Flushing. My dad and mom are each Dominican, so we went forwards and backwards lots between [New York] and the Dominican Republic. However yeah, Queens is actually my entire world. I really feel prefer it’s affected me in so some ways, simply being surrounded by so many individuals always. I imply, it’s probably the most numerous place on the planet. So I really feel like from a younger age, I used to be uncovered to lots–lots of completely different folks and lots of completely different sounds. After which inside my group itself, I really feel like I used to be actually influenced by way of the type of music I used to be listening to and the way in which I gown. So yeah, I really feel prefer it’s an enormous a part of who I’m.
CURTIS: Being uncovered to so many sounds such as you say, was there a particular second rising up for you the place you simply knew you needed to construct a profession via music and take away any plan B or different choices?
MARIA: I don’t assume there was a particular second the place I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, I really like music.’ I simply don’t keep in mind not feeling that manner. However I feel extra so I had a second of like, ‘Oh, that is gonna work.’ It was about two years in the past, occurring my first headline tour, and particularly taking part in the New York present. I had a couple of different stops on the tour they usually all went effectively and it was actually cool, however one thing about being residence in my group with folks I didn’t know, but additionally folks I grew up with, too – being on that stage and seeing how that went was the most important second I’ve had thus far that made me really feel like that is working.
CURTIS: Switching gears a bit – so clearly, we’re at SLAM and I’m accustomed to your deep curiosity in basketball. what was your introduction to the sport; the place did that stem from? Was it as a child rising up, was it an curiosity that developed extra just lately?
MARIA: I can’t actually keep in mind what age, however I wish to say late elementary faculty or early center faculty. I’ve lots of cousins, and we had been all about the identical age and grew up collectively in Queens. Our dad and mom would at all times be working, so after faculty we might simply type of choose somebody’s home and cling on the market all day. One among my cousins, who I used to be going to high school with on the time is a large basketball fan – lives and breathes the NBA. I’d go to his home after faculty and he would actually make me watch Kobe highlights. We had a hoop in his yard and after we completed homework, he would actually have me doing drills within the again. I didn’t even have basketball footwear. He was two or three sizes larger than me and I’d double sock and use his. I’d be within the yard working round with my meals sliding round in his footwear. However yeah, I don’t know. I simply had a lot enjoyable doing that after faculty. I feel that was the primary time I actually beloved one thing apart from singing, as a child, particularly.
CURTIS: So, did you play at your center faculty?
MARIA: Yeah. However it actually wasn’t severe [chuckles]. It was like a couple of groups inside the faculty and they might simply play one another. There was no formal check out or something like that. It was very a lot so if you wish to be on the staff, you’re on the staff. However it was all guys. So I confirmed up at some point and I used to be the one woman, they usually had been undoubtedly hesitant. However it was actually humorous having that have of taking part in basketball. I wouldn’t say I used to be nice, however I had a fantastic soar shot [laughing]. However I had no handles, like you may take the ball from me in two seconds. At first everybody was bizarre as a result of I used to be the one woman, so nobody needed to play protection on me, which was high quality by me as a result of I’d actually simply stand within the nook, get handed the ball and make the shot. It was phenomenal till folks realized I used to be making the shot after which there was like no mercy. After that, it undoubtedly bought tougher to take part when everybody’s like a foot taller than you. However it was a very good time!
CURTIS: What’s your favourite facet of basketball?
MARIA: There’s only a completely different vitality there. I at all times say I really like my job, however it makes me actually unhappy that I’ll by no means know what it feels prefer to win a hoop. I don’t know why however watching that occur simply feels untouchable, no matter that feeling is on the finish of a season.
CURTIS: Are there any components of basketball that you just implement into your craft of singing and acting on the day-to-day foundation?
MARIA: Completely. Going to the fitness center and being in that house assembly completely different athletes, and clearly watching basketball, I get impressed by them simply by way of how they maintain their our bodies and prep for seasons and video games. Singing is admittedly comparable. Being on tour and stuff isn’t any simple feat. My first tour was a 60-minute present and I feel folks underestimate how a lot prep there may be for that – even by way of lung capability. Should you aren’t prepared, you’re working out of breath up there for positive. Even when you’re prepared, it’s nonetheless arduous. So, yeah, I feel the extra I study from hoopers, the extra I attempt to take that into my very own expertise of simply staying prepared so I don’t need to prepare.
CURTIS: Are there any particular basketball gamers who come to thoughts while you consider people who have impressed you?
MARIA: Yeah, I feel by way of love for the craft and dedication to it, I feel Kobe’s the most important one. He was actually my introduction to basketball, but additionally I feel everybody, no matter being a basketball fan, you’ve heard of the Kobe mentality. So I feel the identical dedication of the place it’s like, that is my life and doing no matter it takes to be the very best. After which once I assume generally, similar to icon clever, it’s AI. I imply, he’s only a legend.
CURTIS: Switching gears as soon as extra to hip-hop. From what I’ve noticed of you, you may have a reasonably expansive palette of music you take heed to. As an R&B singer, are you able to communicate to the place hip-hop falls into that?
MARIA: Rising up in Queens, I actually couldn’t open my window with out listening to Jay-Z or Nas coming via the window. Sonically, hip-hop is admittedly impactful. Even making R&B, lots of the sonic components nonetheless get pulled from hip-hop. And clearly, my methodology of singing over it’s softer, however even within the sense of somebody like Lauryn Hill, type of attempting to go down that street is tremendous influenced by hip-hop. But in addition, I feel a giant a part of why I really like hip-hop a lot is as a result of I really feel prefer it was folks like Jay-Z and Nas who had been talking to the expertise of rising up in New York. So, I used to be listening to different artists and at all times being influenced, however one thing about that simply at all times felt like residence.
CURTIS: A few of your manufacturing is unquestionably hip-hop influenced. Is that intentional going into it while you’re creating, or is it extra so a pure development of constructing music for you with hip-hop being so embedded within the tradition?
MARIA: Yeah, I feel it’s a extra pure factor the place I don’t even notice I’m doing it. We’ll begin a music off softer and I’ll simply really feel like one thing is lacking. There’s like a push lacking. And that’s often the place hip-hop is available in. Even writing my final single – I used to be within the studio with the producer, Illangelo, and we had been listening to A Tribe Referred to as Quest and lots of Q-Tip earlier than even starting to consider the music. I really feel just like the music flowed naturally from the affect earlier than I began making it. Rap and hip-hop are really like poetry.
CURTIS: You referenced your single “I Drove You Loopy,” so I’ve to ask. Does that imply we will anticipate a venture quickly? No stress [laughing]. I do know you in all probability get this query on a regular basis.
MARIA: Yeah, I’m ending an album proper now, which I’m actually enthusiastic about. I’ve undoubtedly been writing for the final yr and a half or so. And truthfully, lots of that was similar to experimenting with new stuff and attempting to develop from the place I used to be and assembly new folks and attempting new issues. However yeah, it’s coming collectively.
CURTIS: As we’re approaching the vacation season and new yr, what are some issues that you just really feel are subsequent for you by way of your progress as a human, as an artist and simply the place you wish to take your profession?
MARIA: New music is clearly the most important factor. I feel R&B was my old flame when it got here to singing. However I’m Dominican, I’m from Queens, like we mentioned. So lots of Latin and hip-hop influences, and I actually wish to simply hold increasing on all of these issues. My music is my most trustworthy illustration of myself. So, I actually wish to be sure that I type of hit all these contact factors as I develop. So, new sounds for positive. After which I actually wish to return on tour within the new yr, hopefully within the spring, and see extra locations, see extra folks.
Curtis’ Nook
Hoops: Hoop followers in every single place can rejoice! Bronny James was cleared to return this week, 4 months after he suffered cardiac arrest at a summer season exercise. He’s one step nearer to returning to recreation motion, which suggests we’re possibly one step nearer to seeing the primary father-son duo grace the identical court docket in an NBA recreation. It’s really easy to root for Bronny; most significantly, I’m simply glad he’s wholesome.
Rap: Latto is one in all my favourite rappers, male or feminine. She bodied her verse within the all-women cypher that was launched this week on XXL. Should you haven’t listened but, you’re doing your self a disservice.
All the things Black: Former five-star recruit Mikey Williams discovered himself in a world of bother with the legislation earlier this yr. He was given a second likelihood this week after his 9 felony prices primarily became one misdemeanor (given he satisfies an inventory of necessities). I’m simply grateful he’ll have the chance to proper the ship. Hopefully, we’re capable of see him swimsuit up for Memphis earlier than the season is out. Greater than something, I hope he’s capable of put this behind him, study from his experiences and transfer ahead to stay out his goals and fulfill his potential.
As at all times, right here’s the official Hoops, Rap and All the things Black playlist. It’ll be up to date weekly with every column. Add the playlist to your library to remain within the know, and make sure you observe SLAM on Spotify.