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Katorah Kasanova Marrero (Young M.A)

Biography

Born Katorah Marrero in Brooklyn, New York, Young M.A. developed an early interest in writing and hip-hop. Her mother is Jamaican and her father is Puerto Rican. After releasing music independently, she gained wider attention through the 2015 mixtape SleepWalkin and broke into the mainstream with “Ooouuu” in 2016. The single became a major commercial success and established Young M.A. as a prominent voice in hip-hop.


Young M.A. followed her breakthrough with Herstory (2016), Herstory in the Making (2019), Red Flu (2020), and Off the Yak (2021). Her official website identifies Off the Yak as an EP. Her catalog also includes numerous singles and collaborations across hip-hop and contemporary music.

In 2026, Young M.A. returned with KWEEN, a 15-track album released May 29. The project marked her return to music after several years away and reflects themes of personal growth, healing, and self-reflection.


Young M.A. has publicly identified as queer while also expressing a preference not to be confined by fixed labels. Her 2019 Out profile recognized her as an LGBTQ+ rapper and named her Rapper of the Year.


BQW Impact

Young M.A.'s success with “Ooouuu” brought significant mainstream visibility to a queer woman in hip-hop without requiring her to conform her presentation or subject matter to conventional expectations of femininity or heterosexuality.


Her approach to identity is also central to her public significance. Young M.A. has resisted pressure to define herself through fixed labels, emphasizing personal autonomy in how she understands her sexuality and relationships. Her career provides an important example of queer visibility, self-definition, and independence within contemporary Black popular culture.


Notable Works

  • SleepWalkin (2015)

    Early mixtape that helped establish Young M.A.'s independent voice and Brooklyn-rooted hip-hop style.

  • “Ooouuu” (2016)

    Breakthrough single that reached the Billboard Hot 100 and became the defining early hit of Young M.A.'s career.

  • Herstory (2016)

    Early major project that expanded on the identity, independence, and perspective established by “Ooouuu.”

  • Herstory in the Making (2019)

    Debut studio album that reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and established Young M.A. as a major independent rap artist.

  • KWEEN (2026)

    15-track album marking Young M.A.'s return to music and exploring personal growth, healing, and self-reflection.

Learn More
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