Young M.A Isn't Pressured By "OOOUUU" Success: "[It's] A Classic"

BY Erika Marie 2.4K Views
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Young M.A
She said no other song she releases will have the same impact as "OOOUUU."

It wasn't like Young M.A wasn't working hard at her rap career prior to her 2016 hit "OOOUUU," but that song definitely made the world pay attention. Artists whose introductions are as monumental as "OOOUUU" was for the New York rapper often have difficulty keeping on track with the upward momentum. Some rappers continuously chase the success of their first hit, but for Young M.A, she's not trying to compare her present with her past.

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The Herstory in the Making artist recently stopped by the Trick & Trina Morning Show and was asked if she feels pressured trying to live up to the success of "OOOUUU." To begin, Young M.A said that she's "tired of this damn question." She admitted that there was a time when she did, but it's so long ago that it's not something that bothers her today.

"'OOOUUU' is a classic, you can't take away a classic," she said of her single. "This was my first introduction to the game. People ain't know if I was a girl or a boy, like, this record came with so much more than it being a record. It came as an introduction of who I am," even though she already generated a buzz in the underground scene.

"You can't compare that because now people know who I am from that record," she added. "At one point, yeah, of course [I felt pressure], because you come into the game unaware of things, unaware of how things work. You learn as you go. So, now, I'm at a space in my life where I know for a fact that record is always gon' stand out on its own. Even if I had another record that overpowered that, like streams, anything, that record is always gonna be known." Watch Young M.A talk about her first big hit below and jam to "OOOUUU" one more time.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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