Mai’s music career started in 2014 when she competed in the 11th season of the X Factor as part of a trio called Arize. However, they didn’t make it far in the competition series and split up not long after.
A year later, Mai began her solo career by releasing a four-trap EP titled Troubled on SoundCloud. DJ Mustard discovered her through the EP and signed her to 10 Summer Records and Interscope Records.
Mustard and Mai have since grown closer because of the musical collaboration, and she described her relationship with him when talking to Variety.
I’m very thankful for him because everybody doesn’t get an opportunity like that with their label. That’s really my big brother. I can go to him for anything even if it isn’t music related.
Her career received a tremendous boost following the deals, and she went on to release another EP titled Time in 2016. It featured the song ‘She don’t’ with Ty Dolla Sign and was one of her most successful earlier works. To date, it has amassed over 47 million views on YouTube.
Throughout the years, she has released other EPs and songs, including ‘Boo’d Up.’ The song was her first work to reach the ranks of top ten songs in the US and introduced her to a much wider audience and even won her the accolade of Best R&B Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards (2018).
Mai’s song, ‘Boo’d Up’ was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. She received her third Grammy nomination at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards when her self-titled debut album was nominated for Best R&B Album.
