Young M.A

I used to listen to Jay Z a lot.

I don't fear nobody, and that's how I live my life. I live my life with no fears.

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

Music is my expression. Music is my release. Music is my therapy.

I've been a fan of BET since I was a kid, growing up watching the awards, thinking that one day I would be there.

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

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 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.'

I need to just be myself, express myself.

I hear from all different people, not just people like me, or lesbians. It be straight people, it be grown men, it be grown women, people that have been sick or depressed that say, 'Oh, you made me want to go do what I want to do for myself and chase my dreams.' That's my purpose.

In New York City, it's popular. I used to think to myself, 'Man, there's a lot of gay people out here.' And it had me comfortable: it was like, I can be myself! I used to still try to hide it, until it was really overwhelming - there were just too much girls attracted to me!

I don't live in a big house. I'm not real extravagant or anything. I just like to be regular.

I still feel normal. Like, I don't feel like I'm a superstar.

I think that's why I love music so much; I think if I didn't have music, I would be in a bad position.

I was always a tomboy. I always wanted to be around the boys, always wanted to play sports - basketball, football, kickball, whatever it was. I was real aggressive. I wanted to be around the bros!

There's a lot of rappers out there, a lot of gay girls expressing themselves; I'm not the first to say it; I'm not the first to rap about it. But I'm the one who broke down those doors that everybody has been trying to break down. I did that. I'm the one who went triple platinum first.

There are people who try to judge. I'm cool with that. I don't care what nobody say - the only thing that can defeat hate is love.

I always liked Drake.

For the sexuality thing, I really feel like the reason I speak so blunt about it is because I held it in for so long. I never told my mom. I never told my family. I kept it to myself. Now, I'm happy with who I am. Either you accept it, or you don't. There's a lot of rappers out there that's like that, but no one's stepping up.

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.

To me, beauty is natural beauty. If you're naturally yourself, you're beautiful.