Young M.A Becomes The First Queer Rapper To Receive An 'Out' Magazine Cover
Rapper Young M.A has spoken her accomplishments into existence with the release of her debut project, Herstory in the Making.
The Brooklyn-bred artist is the first LGBTQ+ rapper to grace the cover of the coveted Out magazine. While also being crowned as their 2019 Rapper of the Year, the artist had some reluctance at the initial offer to be on the latest issue, according to Out. The “BIG” wordsmith follows the legendary Queen Bee, Lil' Kim, who sat on the December 1999 cover, and Queens native Nicki Minaj, who appeared on the cover in 2010.
She posted on her Instagram account to announce the news.
Founded in the early ‘90s, Out highlights the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ musicians across all genres. While rap and hip-hop artists are honored throughout the pages of the magazine and the digital publication’s website, they are rarely placed as the face of the monthly issues.
And in an intimate interview with Out, Young M.A speaks about trying not to limit conversations to her sexuality. She admitted to removing identity labels “a few years ago.”
“I just got to a point where I was like, at the end of the day, nobody can make no rules on what I decide to do. ‘Yo listen, don't call me this. Don't call me that. I do what I want. I love who I love. I want who I want.’ And I'm not the only one. There's a lot of people in this world who just choose not to identify,” says the rap darling.
Throughout the November 2019 cover issue, M.A opens up about her childhood and growing up in East New York, her rise to fame amid a viral Facebook post in 2014, and life beyond music, including her nonprofit organization, Kweens Foundation, which supports single mothers, low income families and families who have lost their children to violence.
