Ever since her poetic grandmother brought her to see Ella Fitzgerald live in concert at age 7, Sontiago has never stopped being influenced by music.

Many a summer night her mother would catch her dancing with her own reflection in the sliding glass doors, lip-syncing the entire Like A Virgin album. But it wasn't until her older sister stumbled upon a Philadelphia radio station that reached their boondocks Pennsylvania home that rap fell on Sontiago's ears. The static-infused Doug E. Fresh recording wasn't enough to satisfy her.

High school brought about her first composed rhyme and a place behind the microphone as an apprenticing dj at a local college radio station. College brought about talent shows and forming a group that only played one show.

In 1999 she parted ways with her college town in the dirty south with her BFA and Outkast albums in tow, and landed in Portland, Maine. She and her dj, Moshe, have won Best Hip-Hop Act from 2001-2006 in the "The Portland Phoenix's Best Music Poll, where she was also nominated for Best Female Vocalist in '02,'03, and '05. Playing to a sold-out crowd during her CD release party at SPACE it was evident that Sontiago had outgrown Portland when her numerous fans that could not get into the show were simply satisfied just listening from the sidewalk.

Combining emcee skills with a room-captivating singing voice, Sontiago commands the stage with seasoned presence. Her eloquent and clever delivery, coupled with insightful lyrics flow over homegrown beats and comment on just about everything life can throw your way. Socially conscious, positive and political messages serve as a refreshing alternative to commercialized hip-hop. Appearances throughout the North East, North Carolina, and Canada have sparked the buzz surrounding this fiery female emcee.

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