Rap Radar Rewind: Young M.A

Sometimes I just feel like it just naturally comes out now, Like I just say, how did that happen? Like that? Is that part of it? Like this something you would always say slang? We were just yeah, we're just like a slang thing with the bros and all that. We just randomly like who you know? Man? Then I just

made it a soon like I didn't know. I'm I knew people would take to it, but I don't know it was gonna get like this after Oh my God Freestyle heard like, yeah, I put it at the end of it on my God Freestyle just to basically give him a test of what I'm about to do. You know. I mean just to see if people get you know what I I mean, if they're gonna they're gonna mess with it.

But when did it connect that this is something? Because that freestyle to when who came out as a track, it's it's a nice little gap bet Yeah yeah, man, I just I take I take risks, man, I take chance because it was a different style, right Like I wouldn't say a different style from me because I'm versatile, so it's still my style. Was just something people ain't here from me yet. I'm gonna say that, you know what I mean, because people know you hardcore. Yeah, they

put me in that box. Man, I do it all, you know what I mean. But why do you think that the record is taken off the way it is? Um? Because it's me. It's me, but not um, I don't know, just one of them feel good records. It feel natural, you know what I mean? Something you in the club, you ain't gotta I think too much. You was just like everything I'm saying is just like I havn't there. I mean, they It's like it's like almost like a conversation song. It's like I'm I'm having a conversation, which

like I'm talking to you. So when people people never really hear that too much in music, Like it's not like you know what I mean? You know that's what I'm saying. Like it's like, YOI why they testing me? So people when people do you know, like go to go to a club or they on their phones or doing a video, they're gonna be like today's friend, Yo,

such just such why they're testing me? They just want to feel like they're part of the I think yeah, I captured that people can they probably can relate to it. So you already saw it like being the type of record that dig in cloud. No not at first I thought, wow, I started to notice like this is why people catching onto it because it feels like something they can do, like they want to do, you know what I mean?

So yeah that makes sense. So do you feel like are you happy with because it's like your first time getting like I guess national exposure, major exposure. Are you happy this is your first look out? Because some people I've heard, well you know, they they're criticizing it, be like, oh, this is not necessarily a good representation of her rap skills versus you know, what we have on the table. Like, are you happy with Um, I don't know. I've been

getting so much good feedback. I never really I never really heard that yet. UM, I'm happy with it. You know what I mean is I wrote it, you know what I mean. I came up with the idea. It's authentic, you know what I mean. It's realistic. It's not no food gazing, it's not no gimmick. It's me. So I'm very proud of it. You know what the record is doing right now because that was on me, that wasn't known by that's crazy. How do you think it? Like?

Was there a DJ? Was that the moment when you first felt like okay, this is like this feels different because you you put freestyles out, you put things out. I have gotten a lot of views on online, Like what did you start feeling like this? This is different? This is connecting kind of in a different way. UM. I think it's usually when I shoot a video, like when I when I put a video out for something,

that's when people they grabbed to it quicker. You know mean, like when I put the record out, put the record out first on SoundCloud, and UM, it was just playing you know what I mean? Like that it wasn't until I did the actual visual for the video. Well, I guess when people see me like, I don't know, I don't know. I can't really say it because I'm me all the time. So but other people that's watching, it's

just something. I guess it's something about my style or how I move or you know, how to just being my videos that automatically attract them like yo, like she dope, you know what I mean. And once the visual came out, it just took off. I also did like a pay the full scene in the video, so you know what I mean, people callot onto that and um the he filone or everybody, you know what I meant day and the video overall, shout out to god man guy is

like one of the dopest video directors I know right now. Um, he actually, you know what I mean, made that video come to life. You know what I mean. I helped them out, don't get me wrong. I put a lot of yeah, a lot of them. Yeah I got over, Yeah, I got in my back. But shout out to him and he brung it. The life is. The video is like it's clean, it's different, it's it's fresh, like people have never seen a video look like that, you know what I mean. This has been very important to your

career overall. Just absolutely absolutely so that was always like I know you said your dreams are doing it since she was like nine, Like did you always have sort of a full vision because I know it took a while for you kind of like you feel comfortable coming out with your sexual and carry yourself in a certain way. So what processes that have been like to Really it's been a long journey, man, And I feel good because I'm finally at a place where I'm just like I'm okay,

Like I'm I'm I'm comfortable. I'm gonna be me. I ain't gonna stop being me. I'm not gonna look back, you know what I mean. So I just feel like what happened in my past or you know what I mean, how I came up and and and my grind from then is with me me who I am today, you know what I mean. So it just feel good to be able to say what I want and not kid

you know what I mean? How people feel about it, because there's a lot of people that that do do music and they really have to like kind of bite their tongue on certain things things, But me, I just id like to speak to my mom. Man, this is my this is my therapy, you know what I mean. I'm not I'm not. I'm not a person that talked about my problems or what I go through mentally, you know what I mean. I had a lot of emotion from from you know people, and when I do my music,

that's where I really bring it out. That's when people hear at the moment. Because the first thing was that when you did that Sharick freestyle and the viral power of that, like that something you kind of really go at somebody accused of killing killing your brother. Such a strong statement there. Um, I know you said that you had tried to therapy around that situation, so ended up that music just ended up in the music. Yeah, it's

just the music because it's something I always did. So I just felt like this was the best opportunity to take far as you know, just expressing my feelings. Um. I went to therapy a few times, but I just couldn't get in the hang of it. Like I just wasn't like, Alright, I'm gonna sit here and talk to this person every other week until him. I feel like I do music like. I need that that type of

you know what I mean. I need that that element and that that lane for me to express myself and not express myself to somebody I don't even know that don't know nothing about me, you know what I mean. My favorite it was on Sleepwalking was the one through the but through the Day. Yeah, I've been in a

lot on that record right there. Um, through the Day is very you know what I mean, passionate and very deep, and you know what I mean, it's basically through the day, you know what I mean, when I go through through the day, or what I think about through the day, or what others might go through through the day, you know what I mean. And it went from me talking about cops to you know, my brother dying and my little sister being premature, and my mother being a single mother,

you know what I mean. So it's just it's just it's basically real life, you know what I mean. We we all go through it. How how's the fan reacting to the attention now that you get now's your mom dealing with stuff? My mom? Actually, you know it's crazy.

My mom is actually a little more humble now like she was more she was crazy because she was about was nice back there, she was more hyped in like and when when when everything started to play out and now it was just like she's just like listen, that's my baby. I know she's gonna do right, and I'm proud of her. And we already knew this was gonna happen basically, so she's a little more humble. Now. That's

a crazy thing with things. You know, the things away the way they are, and there you always I set on body and you set on the body back brck and there you're tired of these grown man? Hey you don't you like? Yeah? Man, a lot of grown men be hating man, I get it, don't get me wrong. Um, a little intimidation, a lot of guys be confused on

like why is this chip talking like that? Or you know what I mean, a little sense of pride you can tell, but um, yeah, that was just basically my my my response for is just like as a as a grown man, man, just be a grown man, be a man. You know what I mean? If you if you're a man, be a man, a man that that that type of stuff don't don't affect him here. Man. He focuses on being a man, you know what I mean? And I feel like a lot of guys is intimidated by me because I'm hot, is you know what I mean.

There's there's no way around it, um people that everybody have their opinions. Even when you was trying to get on the come up, you still kind of felt always have to fight energy. The always say like it's so so hard for a female rapper, like you speak to someone with those situations that make it kind of difficult, Like why don't we see more female rappers? Like what is it really such a male dominated industry and all these different barriers that really prevent certain things from happening.

I don't know. I never look at it like that. I just do music. I just come ahead and and and do what I gotta do. I don't look at it like female male industry. And I think that's really the issue because we we we talk about it being not enough female so much that it plugs into your mind that it's it's a male or it's a male dominant dominated game and it's not enough females because we talk about it so much, if everybody just did what they had to do and just do music and not

put much labels on everything. It wouldn't it wouldn't be that way, you know what I mean. So when I do music, I don't put it like, oh I'm I'm the female rapper, I'm this gay rapper. Not I just do music, just make music and knocking all the But that's what I'm saying, Like we've never seen this before, right, A lot of people don't put me in a in a box. I mean it comes up every now and then, but it's not it's not like with it's like topic of discussion, Like they just look at me like, yo,

show he's hot and that's it. Grown man that have embraced with Jada Kiss, Like how is that relationship? Kind of? Um and Jada Kiss actually been. Um showed his appreciation for me like months ago, Like nah, I gotta say like a year and some change ago before the come up was even where is that right now? Um? I saw him at UM what's the name of that spot? I saw Jada kissed the first time Santos. We used at Santos and Um they was doing to show him in the locks or whatever, and he already knew who

I was. He was like, yo, man, I know who you are, man, keep doing what you're doing. I see you, and he showed his love, he showed recognition from then. So now when I when I got you know what I mean, involved with Jada, I don't look at it as being phony, you know what I mean. I look at it like now he's he's he's really, he's really that guy, he's really humble because he's been showed that recognition before I was even lit. So now I definitely can appreciate that. It was it was. It was crazy,

don't get me wrong. But what touched me the most, what got me the most is when he told me to stay on stage and they performed. Um uh, because you know what I mean, to be between both of them, like yo, man, that was a moment for me, Like that was crazy. I know what else made you smile? You? Actually? Yeah, ma'am. Um. I met him a couple of months ago, um before at them this is fifty office as well, But it wasn't like how this time, like this time I actually had to sit down with him in a in a

meeting and you know what I mean? So that was that was I can't I don't even have words for it, you know what I mean, because it's somebody I grew up on listening to getting G Unit through the house beef and with who he had beef with. Yeah, I was mad at all the rappers anybody had before that was like I got beef with them. Yeah you already know at the geez all. Definitely a big fifty fan man first album. But you said, even like the I post,

you said, there's something something that's more to the story. Yeah, basically, like it is deeper than I mean. I couldn't put it all into words, you know what I mean? On I G post, what I'm saying, Like my brother knew how much fifty centment to me, Like I was a G Unit fifty cent fan. Like it was no inference about to shout out to my aunt too, because she know me and he was in love with fifty back

in the days. Like my aunt she had all the sneakers and went to his concert and stuff, and we used to always argue other people that fifty was the best, you know what I mean. So it's it's real, you know what I mean, It's real deep um, And I say it's deep because I don't even have words for the feeling I have, Like if my brother was here

to day. He would just be like, wow, like, I know how you feeling right now because he's been around when I was going through the you know, the whole fifty cent phase and you know what I mean as a kid, and just you know what I mean. So that's why I said it is deeper than just this I G post. But you've been talked about like, oh my god, freestyle like something that webs the whole, Like how important that was to you? Oh yeah, sold lot,

webs the hole. That was That was last November. No sponsor, no sponsors, no co songs, don't rick you know, I mean, none of that. It was just it was just working groundwork and you know, me and my team was putting in that work, and he made it happen, even if babies alright, yeah, babies already was crazy that having that record and everybody right, and that was before oh it was already on his feet. It was already at over a million views on YouTube and on SoundCloud or whatever.

So when I did that Baby's all right, I think that's what when people saw that footage, on the reaction of all my supporters just saying the lines I've been saying around word for word, It's what cat people attention, Like, Yo, this chick is really putting open and she ain't stopping like you know what I mean. Because a lot of people probably thought I was gonna fall off after the Sharraq freestyle. A lot of people I've seen a couple of things every now and they're like, ye, she even

hasn't freestanding. But I always say, that's why I made the mixtape Sleepwalking, because a lot of people have been sleeping, you know what I mean. So I just had to wake up. Can you talk about like the ground of being in New York City, independent rapper just trying to you know, get your name making New York City is hard to capture. Why do you think? So New York City man, Like what else you gotta say? This is like this is the toughest, is the roughest of old cities,

you know what I mean? And New York City would boo you in a heartbeat, you know what I mean. They don't have no feelings at all, Like it's just real. No, if I would say, people would just be quiet, like they'll just look at me. But I don't think the only way I would I think I would ever get booed is if people just really have some type of hate for me, but my music. You can't boo my music man, Like, no, I don't care how much you don't like me. You you don't like my music. Man.

Period was ever like a time we thought about maybe just giving up a quick anything things weren't ready to catching. Absolutely all the time. You know what I mean, I'm human, you know what I mean. Thoughts definitely, Um, physically have I done it? No? You know what I mean? Mentally yeah, I out throught about it. Um if I'm not moving fast enough for me, you know what I mean, you know, getting my feelings and be like yeah, I don't know, man, Like, uh,

you know what I mean? Then, but then you know, get that that feeling again, like na, that's the devil working. Let me get back in my bag, you know what I mean. But that's automatic. As as as humans we feel like that, they seem like you always have the support system with the Red Life situation absolutely explained what that movements about and whose people are and how important it is to you and Red Life man, that's my team. Man, shout out to my team. When I tell you all

these is my my day one supporters. These is my this is my family right here. You know what I mean. It's not no game. We're not gang members. Um, we just a movement, you know what I mean. Red Life stands for repent, everyday life. You know what I mean. It's a spiritual movement. We believe in God. And um red comes from the blooded blood of Jesus. Sorry, and um, you know a lot of people think we blood blood members or whatever the case. And um it's not that

case at all. Um. Shout out to my team though, because they really do support me genuinely, like they just do it, you know what I mean. They don't look for nothing in turn, they're not asking for nothing in return. They just genuinely do it. I don't even have to tell them nine times. I'll attend to you know what I mean, support me or whatever the case. It's just natural. So that's why I keep them around my circle. Um

falls like my circle, my team. Um, because a lot of people who want to be Red Life paying game, you know, I just want to be affiliated with it. Yeah, but I say it's about a good um good eight of us, none of us, ten of us. So it's just they're just supported. You friends of you. Are they a fellow artist too or Um, it's it's it's like a couple of artists that's in the team too as well,

and you know the rest of them just support me. Um. A lot of them do have positions like you know, falls making a pair of Like everybody has talent in my team. Everybody's doing something, you know what I mean, Like everybody has something that they want to do. Is not just being around to be around, you know What's what I'm saying. Um, So once I get in a position to provide them with a jaw up, then we're gonna be unstoppable. It seemed like there was a lot

of people in the Summer Story video though. Man, that was an all red life. Um, not all that life. Um, it was a lot of people, UM just showing love, man, you know what you know what I mean? It's Brooklyn. That was a great track to talk about that you already got it still still bubbling this Summer Story. Yeah, Summer Story came about. UM. Shout out to UMJ DJ UM Superstar J for pitching the B to me, and shout out to g starks Um for producing the record.

Um he sent the BA to me and was like, Yo, I hear you on this and I was like when I heard it, I just was like, yeah, like give me that sen that you know what I mean? And I wrote to it and what I got from it from the song from the beat is a summertime vibe of course, and um, I just thought of it like at the time, I was kind of you know, just broke up with my girlfriend me, I just broke up, So I wanted to give that vibe. I'm like, Yo,

it's always it's always like breakups in the summertime. Like it's definitely true man like relationships never less a summertime man. So I wanted I wanted that fail. I felt like that was realistic. People can relate to it. So I decided to make that type of record, like I'm just single for this someone because you know, when I went to town, come that's when you're calling I'm sorry situation. Because it is a common theme to a lot of

your records about my relationship. Yeah, this is real listening I speak about it, you know what I mean, because it's something that that's on my mom So I talked about it, but I make fun out of it. I make a record out of it. It's it's like, why not, you know what I mean, why not make a record out of something while I sitting there, dwell on it and go through the emotions, you know, express it? Does she get mad, like making another record about me? Stum,

but not say you know what, it's crazy. She actually heard the record before I dropped it. I had listening to it in the car and she was like, I like it, you know what I mean? And um, yeah, so ain't like she never heard every record I meet about her. She heard it first, you know what I mean. So, so, who's that Karma? Chris Karma, Crosma Cross Chris come across that life? Yeah, that's what It was a voicemail that

was on my phone. Yeah, there was a voicemail that was on my phone, and um, you know, recorded it on the song and just placed it, you know what I mean within the song. You pointed off. It's realistic, you know, I don't. I don't really care because people people people act like robots, like as if nobody goes through nothing like we all go through relationships, right, People expect you to be so you know what I mean, I'm you man, if I'm going through it I'm gonna

talk about it. I know people gonna relate to it. It's gonna be like like when Us you did Confessions, that record was meant. The album was crazy. The album was crazy from from number one times and you understand what I'm saying. But it's because it's realistic. You can relate to it and it's really feeling that and you're going through it. What's the biggest on relationships that you you adjusting the fame and things that come with that.

It's basically, yeah, I'm gonna say that. Like the ladies out there and the Temptations type, I ain't gonna lie man, I'm real picky, like I don't. I don't. I don't just because it's a beautiful girl around me. I ain't gonna, you know what I mean, jump at it like I'm really like uh uh, you know, like a hard person to get to. You understand I'm saying, like I'm not. I'm not easy man, But don't get me wrong. It's a lot of women that comes my way in whatever whatever.

But I'm not like average I'm gonna say average Joe. It takes a lot to make a real connection. Yeah, Like I I go off a vibe with you, Like if you don't got no vibe, then I can't vibe with you. I don't care how beautiful you look. I don't care how you're behind look, none of that. But even on through the day you talk about like having trust issues and stuff like that, What does that stuff from?

Trust issues? Them from my brother got killed? Not not relationships. Um, that just stems from me not trusting people in general. You know what I mean. That's something I need to

really work on. Um, it's it's it's like a gift and a curse, I'm gonna say, because it's definitely a gift because nobody wants to just automatically trust anybody because in this world things happened, and it's it's a it's a curse because sometimes definitely in this business you have to learn how to conduct you know, let go open up, ease up, because you have to make relationships with people.

So I'm starting to learn that before I was a little more no no, no, never that never that I just wasn't hands on with everything, Like I have my manager to do. You know what I mean, you talk to them. I ain't with it right now, you know what I mean? So now I'm starting to learn to communicate with people and get a little more involved and you know, just yeah, yeah, yeah, because I'm a very standoff person, like I'm I'm shy in a way. I'm not gonna say shot like like the average shot person.

I'm shy in my own way, like I keep to myself. I understand what I'm saying, but I'm not afraid to say how I feel. So it's like, uh, why do you think you have about like sex so much of records? Like such a brash you think I've about sex a line? I think so sometimes, I mean it's all good though it's aggression. Yeah, I mean I see you don't you even hear a lot of male rappers wrapp about that's kind of in that like in a um like I'm the man, like you know, Bragg doses way like it's

not it stands out. I think we don't think it's crazy because I never noticed that, Like I don't know, I just I don't know. That's all God like it different. I'm a very I'm gonna say passionate person. I'm gonna saying that. I don't want to say freak talking about that passion I mean I want to know what was that passion like that beating with Lee Daniels because you turned down that role and Empire. Oh yeah, don't give me wronging. The opportunity was great, you know what I mean.

I definitely appreciate them looking to um use me as you know, a character on Empire and have that first position because the original name for for the character was Batty Bars before it was um free free to free the guys. Yeah, um, and the original idea was all for me, you know what I mean. It was pitched off for me, like the original script was was for

me and whatever the case. And um, I just ain't want the position because it wasn't a position that was gonna build me for what I was trying to do for young and May when they say, I'm saying it was it was gonna build me on on Empire as Betty Bars or whatever the case. So I just looked at it like it's a great opportunity, but it's not my opportunity. It's not it's not for me, and um plus no, not at all. He know, you'll tell you my manager tell you. I said it like right away,

like no, I don't want to do it. I actually told him the day of the um the audition. Yeah, I just I don't know something. I just woke up to that day and just was like, no, this ain't this ain't for me. Don't get me wrong. When I first got the news, I was like, oh, this is dope. But then I had to be like, okay, hold on, bring it down a little bit. I think, now, what is this gonna do for you? Is this is this? Is this good? Or is this bad? Or is this good bad? You know what I mean. So I thought

about it and I hit my manager up immediately. It was like I'm not going to the audition, like I don't want to do it, and I wind up having a meeting with Lee days he wounded up setting it up. He was in Swiss Beat office. My manager set it up. He didn't tell me we come working. I'm thinking, yeah, I'm just thinking I'm meeting Swiss Beats and here comes you know, Lee Daniels. And at the time I didn't know who Lee Daniel was. So when he came in the room, I just was like, oh, I'm guessing this

is that guy. Yeah, you know what I mean. So when he came, he sat down and he handed me the script and was like, all right, let's go. And I was like, I looked at my manager, I said, you I need mother, but okay, And I read the script and it's a little more to it, but a long story short, I just wasn't you know what I mean, it just didn't work out, you know what I mean? It just it just wasn't my my, my, I'm gonna say, it just wasn't for me. Is that the biggest chunds now?

Because now you you are successful, you making this noise, not all these the labels, Your labels are calling even more, all these opportunities, Like is it harder than the side of what what is the right thing to do? Like it is hard to decide because I've been grinding independently for so long, and we've been establishing everything on our own for so long that jumping into uh, you know, a label or it's kind of scary because it's like, all right, now we're giving somebody else to will almost.

So I'm real picky, like I said, man, I'm skeptical on things, like I really think outside the box, I really think ahead of time. I'm not a right in a moment type person like oh, This's is hot for the moment. Now, I'm trying to make sure we financially stable in the future, you know what I mean, and established my branding and everything like. This is deeper than

just this moment right now. This is I'm trying to be known from years from now, you understanding and putting other people on and making sure my family and gotta worry about going backwards, you know, to say what I'm saying. So that's where my mind at right now. So I'm just listening to everybody, hearing everybody out, and um, if I do make a decision, I'll make a wise decision, you see what I'm saying. That's the approach has changed

in terms of the energy of how people contacted. You just let the manager kind of Yeah, it's definitely changed. I mean, you know you know when I mean, we just actually got a bottle of Hennessy given to us, given to me today. But I ain't been drinking Hendy. I left the handy alone before for a little while, you know what I mean. We don't need that Hendy sponsorship though. That yeah, that's why I left it alone. I'm like, wait, oh, I'm doing a lot of Indy

and man. Before before it was I thought it was just cool to do, you know what I mean, because I drink hendy and this is what we do this with the team, does the squad do? We just hang out? But now I'm starting to get into the business, you know what I mean, situations Now Yeah, now I'm moving. So now I'm becoming a brand. So it's like, okay, now we got a chill on showing off these these bottles and wine, you know what I mean. So yeah,

I'm thinking smart. Now I don't take pictures with any bottles, no more none. I switched it all up. I woke keep that. I gotta keep the I g I'm sorry, I gotta keep having Yeah. On the record of acting up, you said like, these new niggas is overrated, right, without naming any other rappers or something, that what makes you think that a lot of these other rappers out here to overrated? When I said that, it's just competition. Man, I'm talking my issue, you know what I mean, I'm

being cocky. I feel like they overrated and I'm underrated. Listen, I'm here, wake up. So that's what it wasn't nobody specific I was talking about. It was just was competition talk men. Yeah, people seeming oast side like with you all these different records, like it seems like it's a new energy, you know, murder you know, set it off to Um what is it? What is it like to feel like part of that? Do you feel part of the overall thing that's doing that or you're just more

focused just solely on what you're doing. Both both, you know what I mean. It feels good to be a part of it because it's something New York need right now. So if people feel like that's what I'm doing, then um, I like that, you understand. And then I'm in another position where I'm just moving solely, you know what I mean, solo and just just moving like working and and just being me at old times and giving the people me

and and you know, whatever they want. So was that Hetty dropped o Master Bobby in a sense with his record or No, that's what's crazy, you know, and you like the second person to say this to me? Um No, when I when I did that any line? Like I said, when I did this record, my intentions on this record wasn't too too much focused on bars and and and then punch lines and stuff like that I wanted this record to just be whatever came to my mind when

I heard this beat, I was gonna say it. So when I was listening to the beat, I just was going off, you know, whatever came to mind. I was flowing with it. The hey but they broke though, So once I got that first line, I knew what I was gonna say. Now it was just like it was just flow like from then. So the half any line it was not, I wouldn't have no intentions on on the whole Bobby's murder concept or whatever I want to call it. It just was like you call it, Stephanie.

And I was like, I call laugh andy, you know what I mean, Like I said, you know what I mean, that's just me all the time. People that knew me didn't know how I am. Man. So see that's that sex talk regular man. We make jokes, man. We like that fun word. What was it like even though you were at Brooklyn, you know, to the death. I know you lived in Virginia for a while. Yeah, absolutely, m v A v A man shout out to v A um.

It was crazy because I was always back in fourth you know what I mean, from from New York to v A back to New York. You know, understand what I'm saying, Um, I love viato v A. Was v A actually conduct made me who I am today as well. Understand what I'm saying, because it's a different environment than New York City and you know Virginia, you know what I mean, it's a little more calm. So I'm gonna say v A gave me a sense of humbleness. New York. I mean, you know, VA made me humble, like it

kept me a humble person. Um so, my my mom basically moved us out there because she didn't want us go in to schools in New York City, even though I finished school in New York City. But you know, I mean at the time, my mom made you know what I mean, she wasn't feeling that, but she made show he was always back in New York because she didn't want us losing that. Yeah, you know what I mean. So we was always home. Yeah, yeah, she was lose that. So we just basically, you know, went to school and

in v A and and that was that. But yeah, shot out to v A. Man, I need to do I'm waiting to do a show out there, Like every time every time. Every time I get a show book the VA, something happens. I don't get it. I don't understand why, but I need to touch down in VA. That's my second home. I miss it. And why do you think it made you humble? Because I don't know. It's it's calm, It's New York City is like aggression, you know what I mean. It's rough, is overwhelming because

there's so many people, so much going on. V A kind of gives you a sense of piece when you go to Via. You know what I mean. You actually hear crickets, you smell of grass, you know what I mean. It's different. My manager and he lived in VA as well, so me him relate a lot on you know, being in being from Brooklyn and living in Virginia as well. And it humbles you. Ye push your tea about that, Like he never never made the move to New Yorker l A. Like he's still always been in Virginia. I

love v A. Man, shout out to me. I got a lot of family and people's out there. Um Colonial Heights just of Field near Petersburg, Richmond area. Yeah. I don't like to claim specific areas. I don't like because like I said, I lived in Virginia, I lived in New York. I. I even lived in Georgia for ten months. You know what I mean. I lived in Georgia for ten months. It's just like it's hard to put a stamp on a specific place I'm from because I have

people all over Brooklyn, first and foremost Brooklyn. I have family all over, people in Crown Heights on Carrol and and and people in East New York Star right City, best Style, you know what I mean. It's everywhere, so and I'm everywhere Brownsville, I'm everywhere, you know. That's what I'm saying. I don't I can't claim one block. I'm sorry because I haven't grew up on just one block my whole life. I've been everywhere, Like I never stayed still, and you know what I mean, Like even from being

in v A and moving around. You know many schools I went to. Man Like, you play a lot of sports on sports, yeah, sports on football, basketball, everything, kickball, you know what I mean, Baseball. I was I was active as a kid, you know what I mean. I made sure I was outside. I wasn't one of those kids that was house bound. You know what I'm saying I was a tomboy. I was climbing up trees, falling, getting scraped, splinters and getting ticks, you know what I mean.

Just will you know what I mean? You wor a quiet storm? Yeah? Yeah, I mean it was. It was a point in my life where I was kind of confused, like I didn't I didn't know how to express this this feeling I had far as you know, liking women from from from a little girl, and um, I just was like, you know, maybe this is just a phase for me, you know what I mean. And when I say girly, I can't say girly because I still was

rocking sneakers, jeans, you know what I mean. And I never was doing my my nails or you know what I mean, bundles and stuff like that. I still kept it gee, but I was just you know, you know what I mean. I was just like that feminine g like I didn't play no games, Like nobody couldn't f with me. You understand what I'm say. I was always tough.

But I say that because on one point when I was doing music, Um, I was in a position where they was just basically like, um, you know, you can't you know, basically gotta be feminine, you gotta you gotta look at a certain way. You gotta gotta dress. You know, you might have the way addresses and you know, to award shows every now and then and stuff like that. So so then I wasn't. Uh, I wasn't. I wasn't

ready for it, you know what I mean. I did music, but I didn't love it right then and then like I didn't love it no more than because I just felt like I was being told what to do and not really doing it for me. I understand what I'm saying.

It was like I always had like this this throw in the back of my mind, like I can't I can't be free with what I want to say, and this stand the third until just I just got to one point where I just was like, yo, I don't even care no more, like I don't care what people think, I don't care what people gotta say. I'm gonna do things how I want to do things. And that's when

I started the hustle on my own. Was that right before like what period of time that was way before the shot that was like um, I would say like a like two years before sharrat um like shore came out and then, um, what was the first visual you shot with kind of your look now that she felt like, UM, remember, I would basically say the levels video that I had did, that's something I actually put together on my own and um, but but before I did, I had I had a

video out on with shout Out easy to God had a video with him mom It's called pretty Flacco. And that's when I actually first met um, just a cameraman. UM, and he did a lot of my visuals after that, after we linked up or whatever, and in the video my hair is out or whatever, and um, I would say that was when I started to transition. I'm gonna

say that. I wouldn't say that was in That wasn't the breakout, but that was like, well, I just was like, okay, I'm about to because I didn't I never knew how to. I never had a video man like I made music, but I didn't have visuals and see what I'm saying. And then once I met him, it just became like okay. He said he was gonna charge me, um such a such amount and I said, I boom, I'm gonna put my I'm gonna put this in my in my notepadd

and I'm gonna remember this. I'm paying such a such amount and now I'm gonna start doing mad videos, start doing mad songs, and people don't know who I am real soon and I'm about to be me for real and and see what I'm saying. So it became from like the ground, like it was just like everything happened for a reasons, and he was getting like people, look back now, those video's got million views, but she was getting a lot of views back there, any right, exactly exactly.

You mentioned your mom earlier when you talked about, you know, going to Virginia things like that. I know you mentioned in the rhymes that went your brother passed when she stopped working that Um yeah, my mom. My mom really stopped working. Um um as soon as we we we we found out about the news and on nine and ever since then, she's just you know what I mean, she hasn't worked. Um, but she's not she's not in that place no more where she was when when it

first happened. She's a little more. And I take kid, I make sure she good, you know what I mean, And so I just make sure she goes. She ain't gotta work no more, and your brothers and nieces and nephews. That it's three kids, right yeah wow. He said one is in like middle school now, and nah, they're not a middle school. I was talking about my cousins, I know, was regularly talking yeall, was talking about my cousins on that um, on that record, and then I talked about

my nieces and my nephew. He got there and they're still young. They still they're still in the elementary school. I'm gonna say that, like Kenny gon first grade. Yeah, babies, but it's crazy to know that he has kids here that never got a chance to, you know, meet him. You got a big family though for the most part. Oh yeah, yeah, I have a big family man my mother's side. Um yeah, I know. You say when your dad are estranged or do you have any college it's like, yeah,

we we were cool. We're acquainted now, you know what I mean. Um, but my my pops wasn't concrated for ten years out of my life, so um, that was like, you know, that was like something I was just used to, you know what I mean, for ten years growing up, I knew my dad was locked up. So that's all I knew, and I know my mom was just always there. Um, when my my pops did come home, we never really had a relationship even then, you know what I mean.

It just was I was just so used to him not being there that I didn't really care too much that relationship with my father, you know what I mean. And it wasn't like he was making an effort as well. So, um, I was just using to my mom. Man, I called my mom's my my my pops. I mean, I just I'm just used to But you always seem like he was raised to feel you you could be successful. Right. The mentality was always since a kid. Man, I knew it.

I knew it. Even my resting peace to my my grandfather. Um, he always even threw it in the air that I was gonna be something one day. I was gonna be rich one day, he said it. This was from when I was a little girl. But so now that your dad is out of jail, like is he I mean you said the relationship is a strange. What does he think about the success and things that are happening. Um, you know he proud of me, you know what I mean,

proud of me. He don't get away too much. I mean, he hit me up every now and then and you know, be like, I'm gonna come see you at such a such a I'll be in town, check you out. So it's it's it's cool now I'm twenty four years old now, man is I'm put that to the past now, you know what I mean. That's my pops at the end of the day, and I respect it. So we got the album coming up? Was her story, her story. Now how I'm not coming this year. I'm waiting on the album.

I'm I'm gonna kinda put that to the side. I need, I need to get more involved in this music industry, you know what I mean to yeah, because the album that's your baby. Man, you don't you don't you know what I mean. You don't give that up too too fast, too so I know people expecting that. I probably on a couple of EPs or mixtape before I thought of official album or the remix to we soon, man, like

what's going on. Definitely coming, but we're trying to let move on on young and may you know what I mean? And then we come with the remix, you know what I mean. But we do got a remix. We do got Jim jumped Jim Jones jumped on it though unauthorized. Yeah, yeah he did, he did, no, he They sent it to us, Yeah, they send it to us first before you dropped in and was like yeah, we approved it or whatever. But it's not the remix. It's not the

remix it was. It's just his revamped version. And I know there's a lot of people out there doing their own versions, and you know what I mean, shout out to them, and I still ain't hear nobody murder it. Yeah, wait till it, but wait till this, but wait till this remix come. Is there a wish list that you want? It's already established. We already got that. Because I always tell artists, especially from New York, that when it's your time, you feel it? Have you like it's just the moment now?

Like did you think in the past, maybe a year ago, a year priorly, that that was the moment? Do you feel like things happened for a reason? Like this, Everything happens for a reason. Man, semi type of person. I just keep going, you know what I mean. I don't set no goals because I feel like when you set a goal, you're gonna stop at one point, feel like you you're going to stop, so you're setting a goal

to stop, you know what I mean? Me, I just keep going whatever comes comes, Like I mean, my manager were just saying another day. We never really looked back on what we accomplished because we so we're moving so much and we were just grinding and we just keep going that we didn't even stop to think, like yo,

but we was. We was at you know what I mean, Fate of four at south By Southwest, so we had shows into Coma Washington and and you know what I mean, sold out Webster Hole and and doing all these um radios already Hot nineties seven, like all that stuff was already done, you know what I mean in my past and when people like be like now, like y'all heard you on Hot nineties seven, Like but I've been on Hot ninety says it's what I'm saying, like that that

happened already. But you know that's how the game going. I just move, man, I just keep moving. I feel good, don't get me wrong. Like I'm very proud of myself and proud of my team. But we don't want to get comfortable because there's a lot of competition out there, and we ain't no where yet. Man, I ain't no

where yet. Is there the pressure too? Because the people say, oh, they try to make somebody a one hit wonder, and they'd be like this record the fines them, Like does that Does that put any pressure on you in terms of your creating music going forward? Yeah? You always get some type of pressure on you, you know what I mean, Like you always feel like I gotta make sure I got that follow up record or whatever the case. But um, I just don't let it make me. You know, I

don't overwhelm me, you know what I mean. I know I got it. I know you know what I mean. I'm going to be successful. I always keep that mind state. I've been doing this for so long. I've been wanting this for so long that is gonna happen, you know what I mean. And people look at me as something fresh. I hear that all the time, Like people say this is fresh, like I never this is new, this is something we never heard before. This is something that the

industry needs, actually what I mean. Yeah, And a lot of people be like, um, they'd be like, you're bringing hip hop back, like you're bringing that new York sound back, this is what we need. So they hed at knowing that it was my intentions, but it wasn't my intentions. I was just being me. It feels good for people to put me in that category like it's it's it's it's things I see when people be like, you're the

female biggie, you know what I mean? Like you you up there were Biggie in the head, that is like, wow, you know what I mean? Because I don't. I don't. I don't set my mind to be like I want to be the next Biggie or the female biggie or the you know what I mean. I just do what I do. I could just be who I exactly, you know what I mean. So that feels good, um for that type of comparison, and I can definitely appreciate that.

So what does it feel like when you first heard your record on the radio, Like not even on a mix shore, but it's kind of coming becoming like a New York staple at least. Um. But when I first heard my my actual song radio was was last year when Flex was playing Heney and Holes and he had in his rotation shout the flex Man because he definitely definitely showed a lot of genuine love from even before you know, I'm saying he was playing the Heney and

Holes record he had in his night rotation. So that moment right there was the first moment where I was like, yo, like, nah, I'm about to work harder because this is this is crazy, Like my my song was on Red like that. That was one moment where actually, because I'm always a calm person, like I don't get excited too much with certain things, you understand. So but that moment right there was like, oh, like when I got in the car, I actually put the radio and heard my song come on. It was

like crazy. And then now with the old record to hear it and go from hot nineties seven to one oh five and hit playing on both states like two different songs, Summer Story and then Old playing on this station. That was crazy. It was actually we was driving to Albany, right, he was driving um Olbany. I believe in What's open. We had to We were driving somewhere, were going somewhere. It was not. It was crazy. It kept happening like every time we switched the radio, this one was playing, Oh,

this one was playing Summer Story. We wait a couple of minutes, this one playing oh now, now this one playing Summer Story, and it was like every hour, and I'm like, yo, this is this is crazy like rotation, you know what I mean, like not you know, running up, like yo, you could play my record. None of that. This is just this is booming right now. And flex really he really put the the push on it, like Yo, this is the hottest record. And and he did it genuinely,

you know what I mean. He did it. He just I guess he just genuinely felt like yo, sure he got it. What do you think your strongest strongest markets outside of New York all right now? Um Connecticut? Connecticut? Connecticut was actually Connecticut was actually on on on board first. They've been showing love and was actually playing the old record before New York City was playing record the old record, you know what I mean. So I'm not even sure and I feel bad because I don't know who was

playing the record first. I just would see like one of my supporters to be like you was on the radio, or um, my home girl from CT hit me up and was like, Yo, you're on the radio out here, like show love. I I actually I did a lot of shows and c T man, So every time I go out there, I gotta bless them. I love them genuinely because they loved me genuinely before the whole hype came about. You know what I'm saying. CT Washington. Yes, Tacoma Washington reached out. Um last year November, I did

a show out there and I couldn't believe it. Man, I never even heard of to Komo was like I'm like WHOA, Like I was ain't on front. I was type nervous because I'm like how they know me? Like like how is this happening? Like I don't understand it, Like I know that crowd ain't gonna be big, Like this is all I'm back about to now. When I got to the club, I was like, oh, people were running up on me like yo, I love your music. I'm like, you know some people from New York out there,

like you're from York. I'm like, yo, Tacoma, like I don't even know excuse me. And I performed and they knew the words and all I'm like, wow, Coma Washington. Now you know what I mean? I feel bad because they really lit Tacoma's list. We got to go out there ta Manu Takoma. That's why I put it in in the freestyle because I didn't expect that this is all the way on the West coast. Man, I'm in

East coast, Audis, you know what I mean? And to know that this was this was the first first show I ever did on the West coast, you know what I mean? Actually the only I didn't even touch nothing at the Tacoma on the West coast south by Southwest as you know, that's Texas or whatever. What's your approach to performing? And like when did you feel like you're confident as a performer that you could deliver? You said, when did I feel like that when you first? Like

what's your process like when you're performing? Like when did you first feel like I'm confident on the stage? And oh um, yeah, I ain't gonna front because I used to when I was younger. I used to be scared to performing front the people like that was like my my my downfall too. Like I used to be nervous in the studio, like even when I like, I didn't want nobody to see me in the studio while I'm rapping, like I was. I don't know, I just I wasn't ready,

then I'm gonna say that I wasn't ready. I wasn't prepared um until I woke up and just was like if this is something I'm gonna do, Like I'm just I'm gonna take a swing at it, and I'm gonna go full full force with it, you know what I mean? No, you know what I mean? No, nothing else, Just do what I gotta do, and and and basically just suck it up, like don't be you know what I mean, don't be shy or scared. Just get the people with what you want them to, you know, have like show

them you. And once I got to that point in my mom mentally, all that going on stage and all that that that being nervous, so that went right out the window, you know what I mean. Like, don't get me wrong, Like I still get nervous if I if I had to perform in front of people that don't know who I am. And that's when I got to take a shot or something, you know what I mean, just to kind of calm my nerves and all that. But once I get on that stage, it's like all

that is out there. One though, It's like all right, let's go let's introduce something young and me. You know what I'm saying. Like when I had a show in on Ohio just last Saturday. Um, I had a show I was opening up for UM, m G K and UM. It was m G K, y G and I think a couple of other people that performed as well. But Ohio,

it was a few people in the crowd. I actually knew what I was, so I was kind of surprised, but a lot of people didn't know so this, and I was like, oh, yeah, this is my moment to take take that, take advantage of that. And you know a lot of people was like, oh they showed love that had them oh in on, but you ump, you took the solo on challenge to you you got the jump in a different way. What's going on with that? Yeah?

It's crazy because I was seeing people, um comment under my post just randomly like do the so gold challenge, do the so go Chi. I'm like, what is that? I looked it up and I've seen, you know a lot of people doing it on Instagram or whatever. I'm like, oh, here come another one of these challenges things. So um, I wasn't gonna do it at first, like I just I was like, no, I'm not doing that. But um when I when I when I heard the beat, I'm like, yo, nah, this is that feel like I'm I'm not even gonna

make it a challenge. I'm about to make it a song and put this out and have people like I want to I want to bump this in the call, put this on the radio, like this is gonna be on the radio. You know what I'm saying, Like yeah, so and and and it's it's realistic. That's why I say it's not a challenge. This is the real ship. And it's what I'm saying, like, this is really what I'm going through and what I'm dealing with. And I know people can relate to it. Like I said, you know,

I keep I keep it a buck man. That's the only way I feel like my music is gonna be. It's gonna be it's gonna be hot for me. Like I feel like I can't make up nothing because I don't feel like it's gonna come out hot to me. You know. I mean like I can't talk about certain

things like forellings. I used to do it before when I was you know what I mean, first coming to come up and not knowing, just saying whatever, you know what I mean at the moment, and then eventually I really broke into like no, it's just be you be realistic. They you know what I mean. People are gonna accept it because there's a lot of people that can relate to you. Not everybody is rich now, everybody drive foreigns. Not everybody is in a higher position, you know what

I mean. It's a lot of people in your position right now. Talk about that. That's how you get them first. You get the streets first, You get them first, and then eventually you built to the higher you know what I mean. How are you just into being recognized? Like you said, you don't really mess with a lot of people like aftual you get approached a lot. Now, Like how do you deal with people's energy of interaction of trying to like always holler at you? Oh um, I

don't know. I just had that. I don't know. I had that that spirit about me, Like people just want to come to me, come come to me. Not I ain't gonna lie. Some people be a little intimidated about me, Like they say, I look intimidating. I don't think so.

I'm just the tats I don't think they just say it's a look about me that just even before my test, like when I used to be in school and stuff, like certain girls would be like you just look intimidating, like you look like like you like you don't you don't you're not in the mood like don't with me? Yeah, you know what I mean. Had I always heard that? Yeah, but um, but you're tough. Yeah, I mean, yeah's just

right exactly, you know what I mean. I'm but see with me, like I'm the type of person like I'm real, I'm real, I'm a funny person, like I make so many jokes, I say the craziest ship like I'm very blunt, I'm very cool, Like I'm a cool person and you're around me, I'm cool. But then I have my ways where I could be, you know what I mean, a jerk where I could really wile out, you know what I mean, and get in my my my zone. I'm gonna say that, but I don't. I don't like to.

I'm gonna say I don't like to make that as if as me, you know what I mean, Like that's just another side of me, Like I've never been scared of nobody. I never you know what I mean, was pussy I'm gonna say that, but you know what I mean, But I don't. I don't like to try to be tough all the time. I like to have fun. I'd like to have a you know what I mean, sinse

to humor and just have fun. Like I don't want to be this tough person that people trying to put me in a box and like, yo, she gangster rapper shack, you know what I mean, gangster. No. I got songs where I'm actually singing one girlfriend, you know what i mean, Like, and I'm like, why do people I don't know? Like people people would say how how she? How she do

this song? And didn't do this song? Like even though this song was done before this song, you know what I mean, Like the girl for a song was done before the shot wreck song. You knownderstand I'm saying like I've been was making songs the freestyles came about to get the streets. I needed the streets to understand who I was because me trying to go mainstream right away and jump into doing songs, it wasn't gonna happen. It was it was it was like skipping over you know

what I mean, just trying to know. I had to get the streets first. I had to get them in tune to let them know like, oh yeah, I can spit, you know what I mean, Like I can do this because at first I wasn't never doing freestyles. I never was doing freestyles like way way back, I was always writing songs. And then eventually I got into like I'm gonna hop on these industry beats because this isn't catch their attention, like who is this chick rapping like this?

It was it was six freestyles, six originals, So I wanted to let them know like this is was always this was always what I wanted to bring to the table, like original songs and freestyles. So but I noticed that you don't like necessarily flood the market with mix tapes and things like that. Is that about design? What you mean? Like I just don't like because a lot of people do.

But you have like two yeah you need and you're pulling back and before we go, you're pulling back on the You're not rushing the debut out me the Differential album. You might give us another mixtape by the end of the year. Maybe you can't. Men, Let the people get like you. You you gotta feed the streets, don't get me wrong, but you gotta let them starve too. You can't over feed him, you know what I mean, because eventually you get tired the food and you don't want

no more. Are the stories and are concepts you're hanging on to for that official album? A couple of joints that nobody heard yet that I've gotten, you know, in the book bag all Red Life production? Are you going outsourcing to other people? Um? Everything is Red Life right now? But um, I just actually gotta surprise today. I ain't gonna tell y'all though, thank you. I ain't gonna tell y'all beating a nice beating their mail. Okay, there you go.

You're gonna get to work that. How you figure it out. How you gonna get to work on that as soon as possible, as soon as possible. Absolutely, But you're gonna sit. You're gonna sit on you. But if there's like a wish that you want to work with people like listen, you got them all on this remix. Of course, No I'm not saying but Whistless. Yeah, he's definitely on the Whishless. Um,

that would be crazy. I think it fifty get on that break, and I wouldn't need nobody else on it, Like it would be one of those like like fifty oh, like come on, man, and may they already seeing the co sign all over the internet. It's just one big But that would be crazy, you know what I mean. That's what's I'm happy to be a part of the journey man, just to see you. Yes, congrats on everything. Man, we know it's just the beginning. Appreciate you coming through.

Shout to Young by Rapp Right Out Podcast Out of Here,