VIDEO: A Baltimore Rose Blooms in Brooklyn

Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and emcee Maimouna Youssef paid a rare and special visit to Brooklyn last night at "" in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

A veteran stage performer, Maimouna knows how to work a room. And last night, at a listening party for the debut of her latest album, "The Blooming," was no exception.

Baltimore native Maimouna, aka "Mumu Fresh" aka "Luna E," began performing traditional African and Native-American songs on stage with her family at the tender age of five.

She attended the Duke Ellington High School of the Arts in Washington, DC, and by age of 16, Maimouna formed, along with her cousin Omari “AzIz” Forman-Bey, the jazz/hip-hop/funk band known as Cirius B.

In 2003, Maimouna Youssef won the title of “Baltimore’s Idol” and began appearing frequently on Baltimore’s media circuit until catching the ear of Grammy Award winning producer James Poyser (of Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, The Roots, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton fame).

The Roots soon recognized Maimouna’s raw talent and asked her to sing lead vocals on their new hit single at the time, “Don’t Feel Right.” Shortly thereafter, Maimouna was packing her bags to join the Roots as a vocalist on their world tour.

Maimouna has toured and performed alongside of bevy of respected artists, such as Angelique Kidjo, Brian Wilson’s band, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, Dead Prez, Wilco, Zap Mama, Cody Chestnut, Martin Luther, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Mos Def and Talib Kweli.

She has rocked the stages of many renowned venues such as Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheater, New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, Switzerland’s Moniteau Jazz Festival, and the Carter Baron Amphitheater and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

To purchase a copy of The Blooming or to check Maimouna's performance schedule, visit her website or visit her on Facebook.

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