Young M.A

Young M.A
Also known as
  • Young M.A
  • Young MA
Born 1992
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2012–present
Website www.youngmamusic.com

Young M.A (born 1992)[1][2] is an American hip hop recording artist known for her 2016 hit single "Ooouuu".[3]

Early life

Young M.A was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. She began rapping at age nine.[4] She lived in Virginia for nine years, although never staying in one place for long, moving to several cities while in the south. At age 16 she moved back to Brooklyn.

Young M.A's brother died in 2009.[5]

Career

Music

Young M.A began her career as an independent artist, self-funding recording time with local producers by working at Shake Shack and T.J. Maxx.[6]

She gained notice in 2014 when a Facebook post criticizing her song "Brooklyn Chiraq" went viral.[7] The post's author, pundit Boyce Watkins, said the song promoted "violent, negative, genocidal energy", but the controversy expanded Young M.A's name recognition and brought new listeners to her work.[4]

In 2015, Young M.A released "Body Bag", a "YouTube hit" said Rolling Stone,[7] and the mixtape Sleepwalkin', which MTV describes as a "thoughtful debut project".[8]

In 2016, Young M.A released a single, "Ooouuu",[6] which peaked at number 19 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.[9] By September 2016 the song had nearly 7 million plays on Spotify[10] and was widely remixed, with French Montana, Remy Ma, Jadakiss with Uncle Murda, A$AP Ferg and Tink all putting out versions.[4] At Stereogum, Tom Breihan said "Ooouuu" was "a brash, intense, hard-as-fuck piece of rider music...the song feels like it marks the arrival of a major rap talent."[11] The Fader said Young M.A has "establishe[d] herself as a quintessential New York MC,"[12] and at MTV, Doreen St. Félix said, "This summer, the atmosphere belongs to Young M.A and her single 'OOOUUU.'"[8] The song's popularity drew attention from labels,[5] though M.A remains an independent artist.

She performed at the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards, giving what XXL Magazine described as "show-stopping freestyle...one of the best freestyles of the night"; despite the enthusiasm for her performance, Young M.A expressed disappointment, saying BET cut out a portion of her performance.[13]

Young M.A is a lesbian, a topic she includes in her music. She told Vogue that coming out had been an important point in her artistic development, saying "I held in being sexually attracted to women for so long that once I got that out of me, the music became easy."[4]

Other projects

In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Young M.A said she'd been offered the role of Freda Gatz on Empire, but turned it down, preferring to pursue her own career as a rapper instead of being known first as a fictional character.[7]

Discography

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Details
M.A THE MIXTAPE
  • Released: March 15, 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Sleep Walkin[14]
  • Released: November 4, 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
God Girl
  • Released: August 22, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Dope Gurl (with Don Mega)
  • Released: October 14, 2016
  • Label: Mega Muzik Entertainment
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as a lead artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[15]		 US R&B/HH
[16]		 US Rap
[17]		 CAN
[18]
"Body Bag"[19] 2015 — — — — M.A THE MIXTAPE
"Ooouuu" 2016 19 5 3 50 TBA

As featured artist

Year Title Album
2016 "Hella Bars"
(C.A.S.H Montana featuring Young Neez & Young M.A)[20]		 TBA
"Thot"
(Uncle Murda featuring Young M.A & Dios Moreno)[21]
"30"
(Project Pat featuring Young M.A, Coca Vango & Big Trill)[22]

References

  1. ↑ Young M.A Was Once Lost But Has Now Found Her Way in Hip-Hop – XXL. Xxlmag.com (October 18, 2016). Retrieved on November 22, 2016.
  2. ↑ OOOUUU. YouTube (May 19, 2016). Retrieved on 2016-11-22.
  3. ↑ Young M.A. Talks Success of 'OOOUUU' & Opening Up for Beyonce. Billboard (October 17, 2016). Retrieved on November 7, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Leight, Elias (October 30, 2016). "How Young M.A Became the Hottest Rapper in Town". Vogue. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Watch Young M.A. Discuss Relationships and Fake Lesbians on Her Old YouTube Channel".
  6. 1 2 Caramanica, Jon Pareles, Jon; Chinen, Nate (August 26, 2016). "The Playlist: Thundercat Unplugs, Young M.A. Gets Remixed". The New York Times. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 Reeves, Mosi (September 27, 2016). "Young M.A: "OOOUUU" Star on Why She Turned Down 'Empire' Role". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  8. 1 2 St. Félix, Doreen (August 17, 2016). "Young M.A: A Vibe Grows In Brooklyn". MTV News. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  9. ↑ Krishnamurthy, Sowmya (October 17, 2016). "Young M.A. on 'OOOUUU,' Destroying Female Stereotypes & Opening Up for Beyonce: 'I Always Knew I Would be a Star Someday'". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  10. ↑ Iandoli, Kathy (September 11, 2016). "5 Rising Rappers Who Are Busting Up Hip-Hop's Boys' Club". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  11. ↑ Breihan, Tom (September 21, 2016). "Young M.A Is A Bully And A Boss". Stereogum. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  12. ↑ Mayard, Judick (August 25, 2016). "Meet Young M.A, The Brooklyn Rapper Who Owned The Summer". The Fader. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  13. ↑ Berry, Peter A. (October 7, 2016). "Young M.A Cops Crazy New Audi – XXL". XXL Magazine. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Sleep Walkin by Young M.A". November 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Young M.A. – Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Young M.A. – Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Young M.A. – Chart History: Hot Rap Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Young M.A. – Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Body Bag – Single by Young M.A. on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Hella Barz (feat. Young Neez & Young M.A.) – Single by C.a.$.H. Montana on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Thot (feat. Young MA & Dios Moreno) – Single by Uncle Murda on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  22. ↑ "30 (feat. Young M.A, Coca Vango & Big Trill) – Single by Project Pat on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
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