Mariah Amani Buckles (born October 27, 1997), known professionally as Mariah the Scientist, is an American singer and songwriter. She signed with Tory Lanez's One Umbrella and RCA Records to release her debut studio album Master (2019) and its follow up, Ry Ry World (2021). She parted ways with both labels in favor of Epic Records to release her third studio album, To Be Eaten Alive (2023), which marked her first entry on the Billboard 200.[3]
Buckles discovered singing when she joined her elementary school choir. She began writing songs while attending St. John's University in New York on a biology scholarship, which she later dropped out of to concentrate on her music career.[4] Mariah's stage name derived from her genuine love of science.[5] She released her debut EP, the six-track To Die For, on SoundCloud in January 2018.[6]
She was discovered by Canadian singer Tory Lanez. She later went on to tour with him, while honing her sound in preparation for releasing her debut studio album.[7] Lanez took on a mentor role in her career.[8] In February 2019, she was signed to Lanez's label One Umbrella and RCA Records.[9] She released her debut on the labels, the ten-track album Master, on August 23, 2019, executive produced by Lanez. The debut single, "Beetlejuice,"[10] made NPR's Heat Check weekly roundup in August 2019,[11] and the video for the track "Reminders" premiered on Complex on August 21, 2019.
2020–2021: Ry Ry World
Her touring schedule in 2020 included bookings at Coachella, Primavera Sound, and Pitchfork Music Festival. On May 22, 2020, Buckles released the single "RIP". This was followed by the Lil Baby-accompanied "Always n Forever" on July 30, 2020. Teasing her sophomore studio album, Buckles released the final two singles leading up to it, "2 You" and "Aura" on June 18, 2021, and July 2, 2021, respectively. On July 16,
2021, her sophomore studio album, Ry Ry World was released, featuring guest appearances from Young Thug amidst the two's dating rumors.[12] She also released the music video for the second song on the album, "Aura".
2022–present: Buckles Laboratories Presents: The Intermission and To Be Eaten Alive
On March 11, 2022, Buckles released her second EP, Buckles Laboratories Presents: The Intermission.[13] In support of the EP, Buckles embarked on the headlining tour The Experimental Tour that took place from April to July 2022.[14] Her track "Spread Thin" from her sophomore EP was her first to crack the charts, peaking at number 19 on the BillboardBubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[15] In 2022, she released only three singles: "Stone Cold" with Dess Dior and "Bout Mine" on October 14, 2022, and "Christmas In Toronto" on December 24, 2022, a track dedicated to her boyfriend Young Thug due to his incarceration.[16][17][18][19] All of her singles were released independently under Buckles Laboratory and were distributed by DistroKid.
Alongside the release of Young Thug's "From a Man," Mariah released "From A Woman" as the lead single to her third full-length studio album, To Be Eaten Alive, which was also preceded by Mariah's 2022 song, "Bout Mine".[27][28] Alongside this, Mariah signed a new joint venture record deal with Epic Records who's behind the release of the aforementioned album.[29] In an interview with Billboard, Mariah spoke on her new record deal:[30]
"I was reluctant to signing any new deal, but I was excited to find a partner that understands me as an artist and has the infrastructure to support me in the ways I need most."
Buckles announced the To Be Eaten Alive Tour in support of the album, with dates across Europe and the United States from February to May 2024.[31]
In January 2024, Buckles received her first entry onto the Billboard Hot 100 by featuring on the single "IDGAF" with Tee Grizzley and Chris Brown.[32]
In 2021, rumors of a romantic relationship between Buckles and Young Thug began to circulate; it was confirmed after the incarceration of Thug, after which Buckles was seen attending court hearings, pleading "Free Thugger" at her shows, and referring to him as her "daddy".[34][35][36]
Legal issues
On May 2, 2024, Buckles was arrested with battery and simple battery after she allegedly attacked a woman in a nightclub in Atlanta, Georgia on March 28, 2024.[37][38] Buckles was released on a $5,000 bond.[37][39]
