"Herstory in the Making" proves Young M.A should be on every Hip-Hop fan's radar
Brooklyn rapper, Young M.A finally comes through with her debut album “Herstory in the Making.” Like a few other debuts in 2019, “Herstory in the Making” is not the first project fans have received from Young M.A, who first popped up on the Hip-Hop scene 5 years ago with her cover of the Nicki Minaj song, Chiraq which has since racked up more than 15 million views on YouTube. She burst onto the scene with her smash hit “Ouuuuuu” in 2016 which peaked at #19 on the Billboard charts, ultimately leading up to the release of the project “Herstory” which although it would be her first project was only a precursor to what would come. She’s had been relatively quiet for the past few years, dropping singles here and there, but she’s finally returned to give us her debut album “Herstory in the Making”. The album spans over 21 tracks with only Relle Bey and Max YB serving as features.
Categories
The songs on this album divided into four lanes that are prevalent throughout the project and scored on a 1.5 scale. (0 = trash, .5 = not for me, 1 = good, 1.5 = a standout)
Boss life
Young M.A has become an absolute boss since popping on to the scene, and she proves it whenever she steps outside. The boss life isn’t just about money, or drip, is about how you lead, and the actions you do consistently that keep that boss status intact.
“No Mercy ("Intro)” (1.5)
“Kold World” (1)
“The Lyfestyle” (1.5)
“RNID” (1)
“Bleed” (.5)
“Foreign” (1.5)
“Crime Poetry (Outro)” (1)
Bangers/Hits
Young M.A has proven that you don’t have to sing your raps to make hits, a hard beat and cutting bars will go just fine. On these tracks, Young M.A shows that she knows the formula for a major hit.
“Da Come Up” (1.5)
“BIG” (1.5)
“PettyWap’”(1.5)
“Smoove Kriminal” (1)
“PettyWap 2 - Bonus” (1)
Love Songs
Young M.A is one of the very few openly gay recording artists in Hip-Hop. Young M.A holds that torch with more pride than she’s given credit for. On these tracks, Young M.A shows her more sensitive side, and her vulnerability is a breath of fresh air
“Stubborn Ass” (1.5)
“She Like I’m Like” (1.5)
"Bipolar” (1)
“NNAN” ft. Relle Bey & Max YB (1)
“My Hitta” (1)
Dealing with the pressure
Young M.A hasn’t had the easiest life, and through it all, she’s stayed strong. She’s seen poverty, death, and drug abuse, plus the abuse she’s received herself, as well as the mental toll fame, can take on an artist. Young M.A uses vulnerability to her advantage and makes some hard-hitting songs.
“Numb” (1)
“No Love” (1)
“Car Confessions” (1)
“Sober Thoughts” ft. Max YB (1)
Must Listen Songs
“BIG”
The main single for this album, “BIG” is a track that shows the best side of Young M.A. Unmatchable swagger and a level of confidence mixed with tunnel vision. One of the most focused women rappers on the scene right now, “BIG” sets the bar very high. Her calm and controlled flow perfectly glides over the beat which mixes a constant bounce, with a hard-hitting 808. it’s a song that will get you bopping your head for sure.
“The Lyfestyle”
Young M.A starts this song highlighting that she feels she’s been “too humble” up to the release of her debut. On this song, Young M.A depicts a lavish life that most could only dream of, but even more so, she talks about where she’s come from, and all the work she’s done to get to this lavish life. Telling her competition to put their money where their mouth is. Young M.A raps behind this lowkey beat that is held up by a hard baseline, her flow is just slow enough to give the song a euphoric feel.
“Stubborn Ass”
“Stubborn Ass” is kind of like an ode to Young M.A’s lover, but more a plea for her lover to communicate with her. The song consists of several witty lines referencing some of the lows people deal with when in a relationship. Her flow makes the song feel less like a song and more like a conversation. The beat follows in the footsteps of the more intimate cuts by Rick Ross and Drake, hard base over a nice piano riff and a sample. This song is a great example that Young M.A is more than just a hitmaker, but also that she adds a larger level of depth to every story she depicts in her music.
Review
Young M.A’s “Herstory in the Making” is the perfect representation for a debut, it shows her hit-making ability, her depth, range and classic swag that’s been missing in Hip-Hop. Queen M.A has proven she has the talent to be one of the best rappers in the game going forward. The way she rides each beat with finesse and conviction is second to none, and each song seems like a product of pure confidence. Although, she can be overlooked by many Hip-Hop fans, “Herstory in the Making” may be just what her career needed. A full project of songs that range in subject, and sound, proving that Young M.A has complete control over her on pocket, and she doesn’t have to resort to any gimmicks to sell her music. Young M.A is a prime example that not all women rappers are the same. But this album shows that she is in a class above many of the rappers out right now. Her ability to make music that all types of fans can resonate with is one of her key talents, and Hip-Hop fans should get to know her name as I expect her to continue dominating for years to come.
Scoring
Raw Score: The number of good songs on a project versus the overall amount. Songs must have a 1 or above to be counted.
Quality Score: The total amount of points accumulated over the total amount of songs.
Playback value: The resonance an album is perceived to have if played again in full. Scale out of 5.
Raw Score: 20/21
Quality Score: 24.5/21
Playback Value: 3/5
Go out and listen to Young M.A’s “Herstory in the Making” wherever you listen to your music. Also, don’t forget to check out OldMilk’s Instagram page and Twitter (@Oldmilk_co) for more Hip-Hop Album Reviews, The DJ 500K Playlist, The OldMilk Radar and more! Don’t Know it? OldMilk Does!
