Introduction to NBA YoungBoy
NBA YoungBoy, real name Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, burst onto the rap scene as a teenager from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Despite his young age, YoungBoy established himself as one of the most prolific and talented melodic rappers in the game.
Born in 1999, YoungBoy kicked off his career by releasing his first mixtape, Life Before Fame, in 2015. The project showcased his signature style of heartfelt lyrics blended with raw melodic flows. YoungBoy continued to build momentum with mixtapes like Mind of a Menace 3 (2016) and 38 Baby (2017).
But it was YoungBoy’s breakout mixtape AI YoungBoy in 2017 that cemented him as a rising star. The tape contained street anthems like "No Smoke" and "Untouchable" that highlighted YoungBoy’s ability to pair catchy hooks with hard-hitting bars. AI YoungBoy peaked at #24 on the Billboard 200, a major feat for an independent release.
Since his breakthrough, YoungBoy has maintained an incredibly consistent output. Despite legal troubles, YoungBoy has released over 15 mixtapes, EPs and studio albums in just 5 years. His catalog contains heartfelt songs about relationships and street life anthems flavored with his Louisiana roots.
With his youthful charisma and melodic flows, YoungBoy carved out a unique lane in the rap game. His discography reveals an old soul who pours his real-life struggles into vulnerable lyrics. As YoungBoy continues to release music at a prolific pace, his status as one of the most talented young rappers is undeniable.
NBA YoungBoy’s Studio Albums
NBA YoungBoy has released 4 major studio albums to date that have showcased his melodic style and introspective songwriting.
His debut studio album AI YoungBoy 2 was released in October 2019. It featured the singles "Self Control" and "Slime Mentality" and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. AI YoungBoy 2 explored themes of relationships and street life over moody trap production.
He quickly followed up with his sophomore album Top in September 2020. Top also hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and was led by the DaBaby-assisted single "My Window." The album found NBA YoungBoy rapping about loyalty and betrayal over guitar-driven beats.
NBA YoungBoy’s third studio album Sincerely, Kentrell dropped in September 2021, once again topping the Billboard 200. Standout tracks included "Toxic Punk" and the introspective "Nevada." Sincerely, Kentrell showed artistic growth with more melodic flows and vulnerable lyrical content.
Most recently, NBA YoungBoy released his 4th studio album The Last Slimeto in August 2022. Major singles included "Mr. Grim Reaper" and "I Hate YoungBoy." The Last Slimeto featured YoungBoy’s signature confessional style, vividly describing street life and relationships. It became his 5th consecutive #1 album.
NBA YoungBoy’s Mixtapes and EPs
YoungBoy Never Broke Again burst onto the rap scene in 2015 with his mixtape Mind of a Menace 3. At just 16 years old, NBA YoungBoy showcased his melodic flow and introspective lyrics on songs like "Win or Lose" and "Murda Gang".
But it was 2017’s AI YoungBoy that cemented YoungBoy as a rising star. The mixtape included street anthems like "Untouchable" and "No Smoke" that highlighted his unique vocal style. AI YoungBoy peaked at #24 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
In 2018, YoungBoy went mainstream with Decided, featuring the hit single "Outside Today". The mixtape debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, proving YoungBoy’s widespread appeal. Songs like "Solar Eclipse" and "Right or Wrong" blended melody and menace.
Later that year, YoungBoy returned with the mixtape Realer. Darker in mood, it contained emotive tracks like "Through the Storm" and "Kickin Shit". Realer also hit #2 on the Billboard 200, showcasing YoungBoy’s prolific output.
Other notable mixtapes like 4Respect, 4Loyalty, and 4Freedom continued YoungBoy’s hot streak. His consistent output and heartfelt street tales have made YoungBoy one of rap’s most promising young talents.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s Hit Singles and Music Videos
YoungBoy Never Broke Again has released numerous smash hit singles that have amassed hundreds of millions of views on YouTube and defined his career. Some of his biggest hits include:
"Outside Today"
"Outside Today" was one of YoungBoy’s breakout hits, gaining major popularity on YouTube and SoundCloud in 2018. The song showcases YoungBoy’s melodic rap flow and vivid street life storytelling. The music video has over 200 million views on YouTube, highlighting the huge cultural impact this track had for launching YoungBoy into the mainstream.
"Bandit"
Featuring rapper Juice Wrld, "Bandit" is built around soulful guitar melodies and YoungBoy’s introspective lyrics. With over 475 million Spotify streams, it’s one of his most popular songs. The music video also has over 200 million YouTube views, further showcasing the smash success of this melancholic trap ballad.
"Bring Em Out"
As an energetic club banger, "Bring Em Out" was another breakthrough hit for YoungBoy in 2018. It’s one of his most streamed songs on Spotify with over 340 million plays. The catchy lyrics, booming bass and party vibe made this an infectious hit across all streaming platforms.
With these and numerous other hit singles under his belt, YoungBoy has consistently delivered smash hits that have defined his unique melodic style and helped propel him into superstardom. His music videos frequently rack up hundreds of millions of views, underlining the major cultural impact he’s had in shaping the sound of modern hip-hop.
NBA YoungBoy’s Billboard Chart Rankings and Certifications
NBA YoungBoy has achieved immense commercial success for such a young artist. He has charted multiple projects on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
His 2018 mixtape Realer became his first Billboard 200 entry, debuting at number 14. It has since been certified Platinum by the RIAA for selling over 1 million units. Realer gave YoungBoy his first taste of mainstream success.
Later that year, the mixtape Decided debuted even higher at number 9 on the Billboard 200. It too went on to sell over 1 million units and earn Platinum status. The single Outside Today from Decided peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
In 2019, AI YoungBoy 2 became YoungBoy’s first number 1 album on the Billboard 200. It moved 110,000 units in its opening week and was certified Gold. His 2020 album Top also debuted at number 1 with 126,000 units sold.
Most recently, YoungBoy’s September 2021 album Sincerely, Kentrell debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 with 137,000 units. It earned him his third chart-topping album in just 2 years. Across major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, YoungBoy consistently garners hundreds of millions of streams.
This commercial dominance at such a young age cements NBA YoungBoy as one of the most popular rising stars in hip-hop today. His Billboard achievements are a testament to his loyal fanbase that eagerly awaits each new release.
The Best NBA YoungBoy Albums Ranked
YoungBoy Never Broke Again has released numerous quality projects in his short career, but a few stand out as his best and most acclaimed albums. Here are his top albums ranked:
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AI YoungBoy 2 (2019) – YoungBoy’s first studio album showcased his melodic style and introspective songwriting. Singles like "Self Control" and "Slime Mentality" became big hits. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.
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Sincerely, Kentrell (2021) – This deeply personal album found YoungBoy opening up about his struggles and emotions. Critically praised tracks like "Life Support" and "Nevada" connected with fans. It also hit #1 on the Billboard 200.
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Until Death Call My Name (2018) – The mixtape contained one of YoungBoy’s breakthrough hits "Outside Today." His vulnerable lyrics and varied flows stood out. It peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200.
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Top (2020) – Featuring high-energy bangers like "Lil Top" and "My Window," this album showed YoungBoy’s range. His melodic hooks were infectious. It hit #1 on the Billboard 200.
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Decided (2018) – YoungBoy went mainstream with this mixtape and its hit "No Smoke." The project displayed his trademark authentic, honest lyrics. It reached #9 on the Billboard 200.
Other projects like Realer, 4 Respect, 38 Baby, and 4 Loyalty received critical praise and stand as quality additions to YoungBoy’s catalog. But the above albums represent the pinnacle of his artistry so far, showcasing his heartfelt lyricism and diverse musicality. Fans widely consider them to be his best work, and they’ve earned YoungBoy critical acclaim. He continues to expand on his talents with each new release.
Where to Stream NBA YoungBoy’s Music
NBA YoungBoy’s music catalog is widely available on major streaming platforms, allowing fans to easily access his entire discography.
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Spotify – YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s artist page on Spotify compiles all of his studio albums, mixtapes, EPs, and singles in one place. Spotify has over 75 million tracks available including his latest releases.
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Apple Music – Apple Music subscribers can find NBA YoungBoy’s full collection of projects under his artist profile. iOS users can also download his music for offline listening.
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YouTube Music – In addition to his popular music videos, YoungBoy’s full catalog is available for free streaming on YouTube Music. This presents a free option for fans to listen on demand.
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SoundCloud – Early in his career, YoungBoy frequently uploaded music to SoundCloud where fans can still find some of his first mixtapes. SoundCloud offers another free streaming source.
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TIDAL – For lossless audio quality, YoungBoy’s complete discography is available on TIDAL in high fidelity formats. TIDAL often highlights his new releases.
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Amazon Music – Amazon Music subscribers have access to thousands of YoungBoy’s songs and albums as part of their streaming catalog. His music can also be purchased as MP3s.
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DatPiff – As a prominent mixtape platform, DatPiff hosts several of YoungBoy’s early mixtapes for free streaming and downloads.
Fans have their pick of streaming services to listen to NBA YoungBoy’s expansive music library. The availability across both paid subscription platforms and free sources makes his songs accessible to all types of listeners.
NBA YoungBoy’s Upcoming Releases
YoungBoy Never Broke Again has hinted at several upcoming projects that have fans eagerly anticipating new music. In September 2022, he announced the mixtape Realer 2 would be coming soon. Realer 2 is expected to be a sequel to his 2018 mixtape Realer, which cemented his place in the rap game. Though no official release date has been set, Realer 2 could drop before the end of 2022 based on his recent studio output.
The prolific rapper also has a joint mixtape in the works with fellow Louisiana native Lil Durk titled Better Than You. YoungBoy confirmed the mixtape was coming in a 2022 interview, though didn’t reveal a release timeline. It will mark his first full-length collaborative project. Given Durk’s busy schedule, Better Than You may see a 2023 release.
YoungBoy is also rumored to have a joint album with rising female rapper Glorilla in the works for 2023. The two artists hinted at a collaboration after Glorilla name-dropped YoungBoy on her 2022 hit "Tomorrow 2" with Cardi B. Beyond these projects, fans continue to speculate on solo studio albums, EPs, and singles YoungBoy may drop at any time given his consistent output. His devoted fanbase eagerly awaits any news of upcoming releases.
NBA YoungBoy’s Musical Style
YoungBoy Never Broke Again has developed a distinctive melodic style that combines sung vocals with rapped verses. His vocal delivery often alternates between emotional crooning and effortless, conversational flows.
Production-wise, NBA YoungBoy favors moody, atmospheric beats that complement his vulnerable lyrical content. His tracks tend to feature melancholy piano melodies, heart-wrenching guitar riffs, and hard-hitting 808s. Ethereal synths and echoing vocals are also common in YoungBoy’s production style, creating a haunting, melancholic vibe.
Lyrically, NBA YoungBoy is known for his introspective, autobiographical storytelling. He frequently touches on relationships, street life, and his personal struggles. His lyrics provide a raw, unfiltered look into his psyche and past trauma. While his content can be dark, YoungBoy also expresses determination and resilience through his vulnerable songwriting.
Some of YoungBoy’s biggest musical influences include fellow Louisana natives Lil Wayne, Boosie Badazz, and Kevin Gates. Their emotional, confessional styles have clearly impacted YoungBoy’s artistic direction. The rhythmic vocal flows of Atlanta trap artists like Future and Young Thug can also be heard in NBA YoungBoy’s signature sound. Ultimately, he has synthesized his influences into a unique melodic rap style all his own.
NBA YoungBoy’s Impact on Hip-Hop and Popular Culture
NBA YoungBoy has had a significant impact on hip-hop culture and popular music despite his young age. He has amassed a loyal fanbase that passionately supports his music, especially among teenagers and young adults. His music videos routinely receive tens of millions of views on YouTube within days of release, demonstrating his popularity.
However, YoungBoy has also been a controversial figure, facing numerous legal issues and public scrutiny. He has been arrested multiple times on charges including assault, kidnapping, and drug possession. This has led to frequent media coverage and debates around YoungBoy’s behavior and lyrical content. Some have accused his music of promoting violence and other negative themes. Supporters argue he is just documenting his real life in Baton Rouge.
Overall, NBA YoungBoy has received intense media attention for his legal troubles, beefs with other artists, and outspoken nature. This coverage has amplified his fame but also subjects him to increased criticism. Regardless, it’s clear YoungBoy has cultivated a devoted fanbase that connects deeply with his personal, emotional style of melodic rap. His ability to turn life’s struggles into compelling music has impacted hip-hop’s landscape.