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.

Her 2025 singles, "Burning Blue" and "Is It a Crime" (with Kali Uchis), marked her first entries on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist; they both peaked within its top 30. Both songs preceded her fourth studio album, Hearts Sold Separately (2025).

Early life Buckles graduated from Southwest DeKalb High School a year early and attended college at St. John's University in New York City in hopes of becoming a pediatric anesthesiologist. However, during her junior year, Buckles dropped out to pursue a music career. She confided only in her mother and chose not to return for her belongings at her dorm, dedicating herself solely to music.

Career

2018–2019: Career beginnings and Master

Less than a year after leaving school, Mariah 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. She released her debut EP, the six-track To Die For, on SoundCloud in January 2018. Lanez took on a mentor role in her career. In February 2019, she was signed to Lanez's label One Umbrella and RCA Records. She released her debut on the labels, the ten-track album Master, on August 23, 2019, executive produced by Lanez. The debut single, "Beetlejuice," made NPR's Heat Check weekly roundup in August 2019, 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. 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. In support of the EP, Buckles embarked on the headlining tour The Experimental Tour that took place from April to July 2022. Her track "Spread Thin" from her sophomore EP was her first to crack the charts, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. 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. All of her singles were released independently under Buckles Laboratory and were distributed by DistroKid.

On February 24, 2023, Buckles appeared on the remix of A Boogie wit da Hoodie's viral hit, "Secrets". Weeks later, on April 14, 2023, she released her first single of 2023, "Rear View" with YoungBoy Never Broke Again as the second single leading up to his sixth full-length studio album, Don't Try This at Home. Her latest single "Ain't Even Friends" with R&B singer Ryan Trey was released on June 30, 2023.

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". Alongside this, Mariah signed a new joint venture record deal with Epic Records who's behind the release of the aforementioned album. In an interview with Billboard, Mariah spoke on her new record deal:

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. 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.

Artistry Buckles has cited OutKast and Frank Ocean as major songwriting influences. Her lyricism is also heavily impacted by her experience growing up with her father, who was a realist. Her songs are very practical as she views her love experiences from a candid point of view. Her artistry is influenced by Michael Jackson, Prince, and Whitney Houston, as these artists had a clear vision that they executed meticulously.

Personal life 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. Buckles and Thug briefly ended their relationship in October 2025, then got engaged two months later during a concert in Atlanta.

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. Buckles was released on a $5,000 bond.

Discography

Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications US USR&B/HH USR&B AUS Master Released: August 23, 2019 Label: One Umbrella, RCA Format: Digital download, streaming — — — — Released: July 16, 2021 Label: One Umbrella, RCA Formats: Digital download, streaming — — — — Released: October 27, 2023 Label: Buckles Laboratories, Epic Formats: LP, digital download, streaming 93 41 14 — Released: August 22, 2025 Label: Buckles Laboratories, Epic Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming 11 3 1 73 RIAA: Gold "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays Title EP details Peak chart positions USHeat. To Die For Released: January 20, 2018 Label: Self-released Formats: Digital download, streaming — Released: March 11, 2022 Label: One Umbrella, RCA Formats: Digital download, streaming 16

Singles As lead artist + List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US USR&B/HH USR&B NZHotPeaks on NZ Hot Singles Chart: "Burning Blue": "IDGAF": "Is It a Crime": WW "Beetlejuice" 2019 — — — — — Master "Reminders" — — — — — "RIP" 2020 — — — — — Ry Ry World "Always n Forever" — — — — — RIAA: Platinum "2 You" 2021 — — — — — RIAA: Platinum RMNZ: Gold "Aura" — — — — — "Spread Thin" 2022 — — 15 — — RIAA: 3× Platinum BPI: Silver RMNZ: Platinum Buckles Laboratories Presents: The Intermission "Stone Cold" — — — — — "Bout Mine" — — — — — To Be Eaten Alive "Rear View" 2023 — 50 — — — Don't Try This at Home "From a Woman" — — 18 — — RIAA: Gold To Be Eaten Alive "Out of Luck" — — — — — "Burning Blue" 2025 25 3 2 4 83 RIAA: 2× Platinum RMNZ: Gold Hearts Sold Separately "Is It a Crime" 27 6 5 10 — RIAA: Platinum "Death Do Us Part" — 37 9 — — Everybody Got Somebody "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist + List of singles as a featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US USR&B/HH USRap NZHot "Wish 4 You"(TheGoodPerry featuring Mariah the Scientist) 2019 — — — — See You There "Secrets (Remix)"(A Boogie wit da Hoodie featuring Mariah the Scientist) 2023 — — — — "Ain't Even Friends"(Ryan Trey featuring Mariah the Scientist) — — — — Streets Say You Miss Me "IDGAF"(Tee Grizzley featuring Mariah the Scientist and Chris Brown) 98 30 22 9 RIAA: Gold RMNZ: Gold Tee's Coney Island "Slow Down" 2024 — — — — "Bottles & Lights" 2026 — — — — U, Me & My Ego "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Promotional singles + List of promotional singles, showing year released and album name Title Year Album "Christmas in Toronto" 2022 "Different Pages" 2023 To Be Eaten Alive

Other charted and certified songs + List of other charted and certified songs, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US USR&B/HH USR&B CAN NZHot "Sacrifice": "Robbed You": WW "All for Me" 2021 — — — — — — RIAA: Platinum Ry Ry World "Dark Days"(with 21 Savage) 2024 70 31 — 60 — 138 American Dream "Sacrifice" 2025 88 20 8 — 40 — Hearts Sold Separately "United Nations + 1000 Ways to Die" — 31 11 — — — "Eternal Flame" — 36 14 — — — "All I Want + In Pursuit" — 37 15 — — — "More" — — 20 — — — "Rainy Days" — 29 10 — — — "Like You Never" — 34 13 — — — "No More Entertainers" — 38 16 — — — "Robbed You"(with Summer Walker) 58 10 7 — 16 — Finally Over It "Santa Baby" — 36 9 — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

+ List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name Title Year Other artist(s) Album "Abandoned" 2019 Trippie Redd A Love Letter to You 4 "P&E" 2024 A Boogie wit da Hoodie Better Off Alone "Look What You Did" Latto Sugar Honey Iced Tea"Out Of Luck"KaytranadaTimel"Situationship"Tee Grizzley Post Traumatic "Dark Days"21 SavageAmerican Dream"Robbed You"2025Summer Walker Finally Over It "Make Me" 2026 Latto Big Mama "Bottles & Lights"2026 Chxrry U, Me & My Ego

Awards and nominations +Award ceremonyYearCategoryNominee(s) / work(s)ResultsRef.American Music Awards2026Breakthrough R&B ArtistHerself Best R&B Song"Burning Blue" Best R&B AlbumHearts Sold Separately BET Awards 2026 HerselfAlbum of the Year "Burning Blue" Video of the YearViewer's Choice Award "Is It a Crime" Best Collaboration Hearts Sold Separately Album of the YearBillboard Women in Music 2026 Herself Rising Star Award

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