Molly Santana, born Mya Mimi Parks on October 10, 2004, in Los Angeles, encapsulates the vibrant intersection of Japanese and Black cultures in her music. Raised in Fontana, California, her early years were steeped in the sounds of punk and alternative rock, which found their way into her raps—she taught herself to play songs by My Chemical Romance and Pierce The Veil on guitar at just eleven. The transition to music was gradual; while she gained traction online as a streetwear influencer by 2019, the real awakening came when she sensed a growing dissatisfaction with simply curating style while yearning for creative expression through sound.

Santana’s initial foray into music was unassuming—recording her first song in her car with nothing more than Apple headphones. Yet, it seems that rawness and authenticity became her most compelling assets; in 2021, her debut EP, *Molly’s World*, brought her a taste of the rap scene, and soon, big breaks followed. Not only did she support established artists like Ski Mask the Slump God, but she also carved her path with notable releases like the mixtapes *Neptune* and *Mélange*. The weeks leading up to her studio album *Molly and Her Week of Wonders* were marked by a blend of anticipation and self-reflection as she explored her roots in her lyrics.

The album, released on May 30, 2025, attempted to meld personal narrative with broader themes of industry struggles and identity—somewhere between a pop-infused hip-hop record and a personal diary. Critics recognized its tension of guarded vulnerability, while songs like “Chain Swangin” and “Not Regular” spotlighted the contradictions of her ascent, perhaps alluding to a battle with both external expectations and internal doubts. Even amidst her growing fame, she expressed that, “there’s no longer any point in me fake swag talking, because I’m where I wanted to be.”

Molly’s journey is ongoing, shaped by the cacophony of her influences from A$AP Rocky to The Smashing Pumpkins. Her story is still being written, littered with moments of uncertainty and ambition—a kid from California, now unearthing stories and sounds that reflect both her lineage and her generation’s complexities, resonating with a new wave of listeners eager to embrace the future of music.