Young M.A.

American rapper Young M.A was born Katorah Kasanova Marrero in Brooklyn, New York. Interested in writing lyrics at a young age, her mother bought her a karaoke machine when she was 10 which she set up as a make-shift home studio through middle and high school. Working multiple jobs, Young M.A paid for her own recording studio working with local producers. In 2014 she released the song "BROOKLYN (Chiraq Freestyle)". While she initially received negative attention for its violent lyrics, the notoriety ultimately exploded the size of her fan base. But it was her 2016 single "Ooouuu" that launched Young M.A's career into rap stardom. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs charts and was remixed by multiple artists. After Beyonce shared the song on Instagram, Young M.A was invited to open for her at a MetLife Stadium concert. She continued to generate online buzz releasing freestyles culminating with her debut studio album "Herstory in the Making" (2019) reaching number 16 on the Billboard 200. Her sophomore album, "Off the Yak" was released in 2021. Young M.A founded the philanthropic venture the KWEENZ Foundation to support families in her local community who have lost loved ones to violence after her brother was killed in 2009.