Young M.A

I appreciate every moment.

If I change people's lives, that's all that matters to me.

I do want to get more involved with clothing, TV shows, movies.

I would go to sleep and dream about being onstage with thousands and thousands of people.

All I do is work, work, work.

My mom used to always play hip-hop around the crib, but moreso than that, she played reggae, and I grew up on reggae music more than I grew up on hip-hop.

I wouldn't say I had a hard childhood because my mom always made sure we was Gucci, you know what I mean. Growing up, she made sure we ain't have to want for nothing. She did what she had to do; she made her money, and we was always good.

I tell people I'm from all over Brooklyn because I never stayed in one part of Brooklyn.

I did retail. I worked at TJ Maxx before. I did fast food at Shake Shack.

I used to listen to Jay Z a lot.

When I was a kid, my favorite rapper was 50 Cent. He was definitely a big influence on why I wanted to do music.

I didn't want to wave the flag and be like, 'Look! I'm gay! Da da da.' I just wanted to say, 'This is my lifestyle.'

Growing up, I never expressed myself to nobody. I never told nobody when something was wrong.

My brother and I always had conversations about me being a rapper. I always used to tell him, 'I'm gonna be the hottest rapper.'

If I was to try putting makeup all over my face, it would look weird. People would be like, 'That's not Young M.A. That's not her style; that's not her soul.' I'd just rather be natural.

I love changing up my hair.

I try to make music for people to relate to, and I like to keep it realistic.

I'ma always stick to my roots, but whatever life brings, that's what is meant.

If I'm not driving a Ferrari or a Lambo, I'm not gonna talk about it in my raps.

I don't care what people think. Not a care in the world.