Singer-songwriter Mariah the Scientist recently appeared on the Caresha Please podcast to discuss one unlikely chapter in her life: college romance with rapper Lil Yachty. According to her, the two met while still in high school but actually began dating after she relocated to New York to attend St. John’s University. At the time, she was a biology major on scholarship, albeit her life wasn’t as glamorous as it sounded.
“I was just a broke college student,”
she admitted nonchalantly, giving listeners a glimpse into her struggle-filled college years.
One of the most remarkable moments Mariah shared was an unusual, heartfelt gesture: she had written and recorded two songs specifically for Lil Yachty, packaging them neatly on an iPod.
It didn’t exactly go as planned. Yachty, in an awkwardly considerate manner, refused to listen to the songs.
“He said, ‘I don’t wanna Joan you, so I’m not listening to this sh*t,'”
Mariah the Scientist recalled using the slang to make fun of someone. That memory captured both the awkward charm of young love and fragility often entangled with artistic vulnerability. As candid as Mariah has been with her memories, Lil Yachty has continued to deny he and the songstress ever had any romantic relationship, even going so far as to call the rumors “false narratives.”
Earlier in 2023, he used Twitter to try and shut down the growing, especially after one fan blamed him for being the reason Mariah was able to get out of college.
“Why do y’all keep trying me over this woman? ”
he fumed in since-deleted tweets.
“Me and Mariah weren’t dating at the time… again! Only time I’ma say this.”
Not one to let things slide, Mariah shot back with a warning: all threatening yet all cryptic-
“I will air you out on this b***h.”
It got heated as it went, though ultimately light of heart between the two personal friends; still, an underlying tension was running through their exchange that signified how deeply both individuals felt, whether from a misunderstood friendship or something a bit more intimate.
Lil Yachty seems no stranger to romance speculation. In 2023 alone, he was linked to another R&B star, Justine Skye, following a shared sighting in New York. But both soon offered denial, branding the “fake news” rumors with a TikTok video to quash the chatter. It is a familiar pattern for Yachty: he tries to keep his dating life private, but it often becomes tabloid fodder.
Whatever the uncertainty regarding her relationship with Yachty, Mariah has since moved on and quickly. In 2021, she set romance rumors ablaze with rapper Young Thug after the two were spotted together at an Atlanta Falcons game. By 2022, their relationship was confirmed when Mariah held up a “Free Young Thug” sign during a concert. Even after Young Thug’s arrest on RICO charges, she has remained steadfast in her support. In December 2023, she hinted at a marriage, thus sealing her commitment to the embattled rapper.
In recent headlines, Mariah’s loyalty to Young Thug has been making news, especially when her application to schedule a virtual jail visit for their anniversary was denied. Still, Thug could find a way to return the sentiment. During his appearance in court, he was spotted wearing an “I ❤️ Mariah” hoodie—a small but powerful act of love under difficult circumstances.
While Mariah’s relationship with Young Thug is seemingly strong, her unresolved past with Lil Yachty still raises eyebrows among her fans. From a casual romance in college to just being close friends, the dissimilar accounts from the two artists have kept the story alive. With Mariah hinting she could share even more personal details if pushed, it’s clear there’s still more to uncover. Until then, the internet will keep guessing, and both artists will keep making headlines, whether they like it or not.
