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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 17 deceMber 2018

2018 Breakthrough Entertainer: 'Boo'd Up' singer Ella Mai

By MESFIN FEKADU R&B, I never imagined that I
NEW YORK (AP) — Sing- could be on the forefront or
er Ella Mai appreciates one of the new faces of a
how much "Boo'd Up" has genre that I love so much,"
changed her life and jump- she said. "I think back to me
started her music career, being a little girl and look-
but she wants to make one ing up to Lauryn Hill and
thing clear: "I know how looking up to Alicia Keys
to make songs. I'm not the — not saying I'm Lauryn Hill
'Boo'd Up' girl." or Alicia Keys — but there's
"Being someone who's had a new generation that will
an insane year off of one look up to us."
song, it can be a gift and "Me, Kehlani, H.E.R., Jhene
a curse," said 24-year-old Aiko, SZA — there's a lot of
Mai. "I felt like almost every- us strong females trying to
one was kind of like, 'She's bring it back," she added.
a one-hit wonder.' Every- As each day goes by, Mai
one was waiting for me to In this Nov. 19, 2018 photo, singer Ella Mai poses for a portrait in New York. Mai was named as one continues to notch one
fail, honestly. Like, 'Ah, the of eight Breakthrough Entertainers of the Year by the Associated Press. more thing off her list of
next song she releases isn't Associated Press goals. Winning a Grammy
going to be as good.'" could be next: She's nomi-
But Mai, who was born in this year — and counting. "Releasing the album was Awards and the Ameri- nated for one of the show's
London and lived in New She also landed in The As- me saying, 'I'm an album can Music Awards — all biggest awards — song of
York from ages 12 to 17, sociated Press' list of Break- artist,'" she said. while watching "Boo'd Up" the year — as well as best
proved the haters wrong. through Entertainers of Mai's breakthrough year in- bring R&B back to the pop R&B song for "Boo'd Up."
She followed her debut 2018 . cluded an opening slot on charts. The triple-platinum "I would love to win a
hit with "Trip," a platinum Her self-titled debut album, tour for Bruno Mars, collab- song spent 13 weeks on top Grammy. Not that it's the
success currently spend- released in October, has al- orations with Chris Brown, of R&B charts and peaked be-all, or end-all, but I think
ing its 10th week on top of ready reached gold status H.E.R. and Meek Mill, win- at No. 5 on the Billboard the recognition, that's the
Billboard's Hot R&B songs and debuted at No. 5 on ning two Soul Train Awards Hot 100 chart. highest form of recognition
chart. Overall, she's topped the all-genre Billboard 200 and earning nominations "Being such a huge R&B fan we can get as artists," she
the R&B charts for 23 weeks albums chart. at the MTV Video Music and growing up listening to said.q