Back then, you were only 16, so you had to sneak out of the house, in order to go to the club. Did you ever get caught?
Oh, yeah. My mother called the cops. I remember she called the cops. "You didn't come home. Where the hell were you?" She looked in the room and I wasn't there. I almost got my ass beat from my brother. My older brother was my personal bodyguard when I started touring. He's an army vet. He did Vietnam War and all that.
When I look back over your career, I am amazed by the diversity of your radio and club hits. You had a number one in R&B, a number one in dance, a number one on pop. So I came up with a list of my favorite songs, and I want you to give some insight on the memories you have attached to each song. Let's start with "I Wonder If I Take You Home."
As a kid, you know, trying to get out there and the dreamer that I am, I'm so busy trying to focus on me and what to do with myself out there. Can I let somebody in? You know what I mean? If I do, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to hurt me or what? Should I? Should I not? That's what that was.
The first real crossover: "Head to Toe." It was number one on the R&B, dance and pop charts. What memories shine bright?
I remember I was on tour for the very first album and we had just gotten to the hotel. We just got into town very early in the morning. I got out of the tour bus and two of the guys on Full Force called me in my room and said, "Get over here. We have an idea." I love Martha and The Vandellas. I so love them. I used to say, "I want something like that," but they always came up with the idea. "We can do this. We can do this." We kind of have that sound, you know? I guess I kind of have that happy voice. They're like, "Sing it. Sing it." At the very beginning I'll be honest, I didn't like it. But after doing it, I was like, "Woohoo!"
What about "All Cried Out"? It wasn't a number one hit, but it's one of my favorites.
That was a song that one of the guys on Full Force wrote. Of course, the conversation started. It was fabulous. It was about a conversation and a little girl growing up. It was all about me.
Article comments
1 - Vida Starr
I love Lisa Lisa... but how is she the queen of Latin hip hop? She's not hip hop. And other than Lisa Left eye Lopez... Latinas in Hip hop aren't even at the forefront. Jennifer Lopez is nowhere near hip hop. So who is Lisa Lisa Reigning over?
2 - ArrayanoChamp
Lisa Lisa Is the Latin Hip Hop Queen ASK NEW YORK CITY!!! I just hate she had the breast reductions, she was my cousin in laws godmother, she's still beautiful tho, she was my first crush at like 4. LOL. BELLISIMA!!!
3 - Boots09
Lisa Lisa was the first Latina to make a mark in R&B n Hip Hop By putin a latin twist to it. She along with Cult Jam and Full Force truly were the first to do it. She is the Latin Queen of Hip Hop n R&B!!!
4 - Lynn Angela Pisco
I just wanted to say that I think Lisa Lisa is one of a kind when it comes down to music, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to meet her after yesterday's concert here in San Jose has really changed my life ever since. She is truly " A Diva Of Freestyle " no matter what . She has inspired so many artists through the years and still manage to create her own image as well no matter how old she is still can sing 80's come on now . Thank u Lisa Lisa for everything that you've accomplished through the years with your music . Your style, grace and love have touched so many fans around the world including myself and family . Showing that if you can believe in yourself music will definitely can change you no matter what . I think she is considered to be not only an artist with so much dignity and grace but certainly she is a true diva with heart and soul . I love you Lisa Lisa so very much and I wish that you can appeared on " The Ellen Degeneres Show " and see how " Freestyle " is now making a national come back and the energy will never dies !
5 - Star Hodelin
Lisa and I worked out at the Mid City Gym in Manhattan and she was wonderful. I wish her many years of success and happiness and hope to one day meet up with her again. Love you Lisa!
6 - i love lisa
i love lisa lisa.....and is so beautiful. i always wanted to marry her when i was young. and like full force i love whats under her chin. she was on a directv 101 game show a few years ago and still looked lovely.
7 - i love lisa
the fact she mentions her boobs is the reason she got her name is so real and so new york. so puerto rock. shes the best.
8 - What?
You're all outta your tree!
9 - Lisa Lover
I wish this were longer and that you had talked about Full Force. Without them she really was nothing, and that is not a mean statement. They wrote her biggest hits and really, the 6 guys in FF and the 3 people in Cult Jam at times seemed like one big band that broke apart and came back together again. Full Force are hugely under-appreciated by the music world in general with hits for themselves and other artists all through the 80s and 90s, and even in the 2000s had hits with Rihanna, Black Eyed Peas, Nina Sky, NSYNC and Backstreet Boys, and wrote for many more famous acts. I hope Lisa is still working with them.