Young M.A.

Young M.A is a hardcore rapper from New York City’s Brooklyn borough. Her approach is summed up by “It’s a cold world, so fuck it, I’m a cold girl” — a line from her introspective track “Through the Day,” in which she also raps about the murder of her brother. Part of RedLyfe (aka RedLyfe Pain Gang), she turned heads with that crew in 2014 through “Brooklyn (Chiraq Freestyle).” The following April, during Mobb Deep’s New York performance in celebration of The Infamous’ 20th anniversary, Buckshot introduced the rapper to the crowd as “one of the dopest MCs right now.” The same year, aligned with Buckshot’s Duck Down for marketing and distribution, Young M.A. released the track “Body Bag” and the six-track EP SleepWalkin, then prepared her proper debut. Ahead of its release, the roughneck lead single “OOOUUU” reached the Billboard Hot 100 in September 2016. It ended up being one of the year’s biggest rap hits, and spawned several unofficial remixes, with verses by everyone from A$AP Ferg and French Montana to Nicki Minaj and the Game. An official remix featuring 50 Cent was also released. Resisting major-label offers, she continued to release her music independently, and Herstory arrived in 2017. Featuring “OOOUUU” as well as a guest appearance by Monica, the EP charted in the Billboard 200. Throughout 2018, Young M.A issued a steady stream of non-album singles including “PettyWap,” “Car Confessions,” and “Bleed.” She returned in early 2019 with “Stubborn Ass” and “BIG,” as well as her official full-length debut, Herstory in the Making. The hardcore set peaked in the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 and featured guests Relle Bey and Max YB.

BROOKLYN, NY – NOVEMBER 26: Young M.A performs at the The Fader Fort at Rough Trade on November 26, 2018 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

You may also like

6lack

Dazed slow jams are the primary mode of Atlanta-based contemporary R&B/rap artist Ricardo Valentine, a singer-slash-MC who goes by the name 6LACK ("black"). Prior to connecting with LVRN (Love Renaissance), the creative agency that has supported fellow Georgia native Raury, Valentine was signed to a label that he felt restricted his creativity.

Ari Lennox

A forthright lyricist and understated vocalist who has singled out the likes of Minnie Riperton and Mýa as two of her many inspirations, Ari Lennox has been the one-artist R&B contingent of J. Cole's Dreamville roster since 2015. The singer and songwriter made her commercial Dreamville debut in 2016 with the Pho EP and followed up in 2019 with her first album, Shea Butter Baby, which hit the Billboard 200 chart at number 104.

Beyonce

One of the most recognizable figures in contemporary music, Beyoncé rose to fame in the late '90s as the central member of pop-R&B group Destiny's Child, and the following decade embarked on a multi-platinum, record-breaking solo career with Dangerously in Love (2003), her first in an unbroken string of number one pop solo albums. Chart-topping singles such as "Crazy in Love" (2003), "Irreplaceable" (2006), and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (2008), combined with sold-out world tours and Grammy awards, all heightened her profile in the 2000s. Billboard named her female artist of the decade, while the RIAA acknowledged that, with 64 gold and platinum certifications, she was the decade's top-selling artist. Once Beyoncé released her self-titled fifth solo album in 2013, it was evident that the powerhouse vocalist, songwriter, and dancer wasn't merely an entertainer but a progressive artist as well. The notion was affirmed throughout the remainder of the decade with Lemonade (2016) and Everything Is Love (2018), the latter of which was a collaboration with husband Jay-Z.

[There are no radio stations in the database]