If you were alive in 1999, you couldn't escape it. That Spanish guitar lick, the smooth hip-hop beat, and the lyrics about Spanish Harlem. It was everywhere. But even now, decades later, people still argue over one specific thing. Who sings the song Maria Maria? Most folks just say "Santana." And sure, Carlos Santana is the face of the track. His guitar is the soul of it. But if you listen closely, Carlos doesn't actually sing a single lead note on the track. He's busy making that guitar weep.
The Voices You’re Actually Hearing
The lead vocals on "Maria Maria" belong to an R&B duo called The Product G&B.
The duo consists of Marvin Moore-Hough (known as Money Harm) and David McRae (known as Sincere). Honestly, before this song blew up, they weren't exactly household names. They were a couple of guys from New York who happened to be in the right place at the right time.
The story goes that they were hanging out at a studio in New York, trying to track down a friend. They called the studio, and Pras Michel from the Fugees answered the phone. One thing led to another, they showed up, and Wyclef Jean—who was producing the Supernatural album for Santana—decided they were the perfect fit for this specific track.
Wyclef Jean himself is also all over the song. You’ve probably noticed the ad-libs and the "Refugee Camp" shout-outs. That’s Wyclef. He co-wrote it, co-produced it, and basically acted as the creative architect.
Why Does Everyone Think It's Just Santana?
It’s the branding. The song appeared on Santana’s massive comeback album, Supernatural.
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Carlos Santana was a legend, but by the late 90s, he was kinda seen as a legacy act. His label head, the legendary Clive Davis, wanted to pair him with contemporary artists to make him relevant to a younger crowd. It worked. Supernatural went 15-times platinum in the US.
Because Santana was the headliner, the "featuring" credits sometimes got lost in the shuffle on radio announcements or casual conversations. But the magic of who sings the song Maria Maria is really that blend of Santana’s Latin rock roots and the Product G&B’s smooth R&B vocals.
The Secret Recipe: Wu-Tang and Jazz
There is a weird bit of music trivia that most people miss about this song.
Wyclef Jean admitted later that the melody riff was actually inspired by a Wu-Tang Clan track. Specifically, "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit." If you listen to both back-to-back, you can hear how he reworked that aggressive hip-hop energy into something sultry and melodic.
The drums? Those are sampled too. The beat comes from a 1975 jazz-fusion track called "God Make Me Funky" by The Headhunters. This song is basically a Frankenstein’s monster of genres. You've got:
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- 70s Jazz drums.
- 90s Wu-Tang melody inspiration.
- Late 90s R&B vocals.
- Classic 60s/70s Latin rock guitar.
It shouldn't work. On paper, it's a mess. In reality, it spent ten weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
The "Wild Thoughts" Connection
If you’re a younger listener, you might have first heard this melody through DJ Khaled, Rihanna, and Bryson Tiller.
Their 2017 hit "Wild Thoughts" is built entirely on the "Maria Maria" sample. Rihanna’s version brought the melody back into the cultural zeitgeist, but it also sparked a whole new round of questions about the original. Santana himself was actually super supportive of the sample, saying that the song has a "timeless" vibe that fits every generation.
Interestingly, while Rihanna took the melody, she didn't try to replicate the vocal style of The Product G&B. She made it her own, which just proves how strong the underlying composition is.
Social Commentary in a Love Song
People often treat "Maria Maria" like a simple love song, but the lyrics are actually pretty heavy.
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It references West Side Story and the struggle of living in Spanish Harlem. It mentions the "rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer." It’s a song about the "clandestine nature" of love in a tough environment. When The Product G&B are singing, they aren't just singing about a pretty girl; they’re singing about a specific cultural experience.
Getting the Facts Straight
To be absolutely clear, here is the breakdown of the credits for when you're settling a bet at a bar:
- Lead Vocals: The Product G&B (Marvin Moore & David McRae).
- Guitar & Bandleader: Carlos Santana.
- Background Vocals & Production: Wyclef Jean & Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis.
- Songwriters: Wyclef, Jerry Duplessis, Carlos Santana, Karl Perazzo, and Raul Rekow.
It’s a collaborative effort. Without Wyclef’s vision, the song wouldn't have that hip-hop edge. Without The Product G&B, it wouldn't have that soulful R&B smoothness. And without Carlos? Well, it just wouldn't be "Maria Maria."
How to Experience "Maria Maria" Today
If you want to truly appreciate the song, stop listening to the radio edits. Find the full album version from Supernatural.
Listen for the subtle percussion work by Karl Perazzo and Raul Rekow. Pay attention to the way the Spanish guitar interacts with the bass line played by Jerry Wonda. It’s a masterclass in production that still holds up today.
Next time someone asks you who sings the song Maria Maria, you can give them the full story. It’s not just one guy; it’s a moment in music history where different worlds collided perfectly.
Go back and listen to the original Supernatural album version, then compare it to the Wyclef remix. You'll hear how the different vocal takes and arrangements completely change the mood of the track while keeping that iconic guitar hook at the center of everything.