YoungBoy Never Broke Again facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
YoungBoy Never Broke Again
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again in 2023
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kentrell DeSean Gaulden |
| Also known as |
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| Born | October 20, 1999 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2015–present |
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| Spouse(s) |
Jazlyn Mychelle Hayes
(m. 2023) |
| Children | 12 |
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Kentrell DeSean Gaulden (born October 20, 1999), known as YoungBoy Never Broke Again or NBA YoungBoy, is an American rapper. He started releasing music independently in 2015. His songs quickly gained a lot of fans in his home region.
In 2017, he signed with Atlantic Records. He released popular songs like "Untouchable" and "No Smoke". These were his first songs to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2018, his song "Outside Today" became a top 40 hit. It also sold millions of copies, earning a quadruple platinum award. This song helped him become widely known. His first album, Until Death Call My Name (2018), reached number seven on the Billboard 200 chart.
In 2019, his song "Bandit" with Juice Wrld reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. Soon after, his mixtape AI YoungBoy 2 (2019) became number one on the Billboard 200. Every song on this mixtape earned a gold award. In 2020, he released 38 Baby 2 and his second album, Top. This made him one of the few hip hop artists to have three number-one albums in one year. His third album, Sincerely, Kentrell (2021), also reached number one. His fourth album, The Last Slimeto (2022), reached number two. After this, he signed with Motown Records. He released his fifth and sixth albums, I Rest My Case and Don't Try This at Home (both 2023), which both reached the top ten. His seventh album, I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders (2024), was his last with Motown.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again has sold over 80 million digital songs in the United States. This makes him one of the most certified artists in the country. His YouTube channel has over 15 billion views, making him one of the most-watched rappers online. He is also the youngest artist in Billboard history to have 100 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He has won an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Award and a BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Award. He also started his own record label, Never Broke Again, in 2015. This label has signed artists like NoCap and Quando Rondo.
Despite his success, YoungBoy's career has faced challenges that sometimes kept him from making music.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Kentrell DeSean Gaulden was born on October 20, 1999, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When he was a toddler, he broke his neck while wrestling. He had to wear a head brace, which left scars on his forehead. His grandmother mostly raised him because his father was in prison. He left high school in ninth grade. While he was in a juvenile center for a robbery charge, he started writing song lyrics.
After he was released, his grandmother passed away. He then moved in with his friend and fellow rapper, OG3Three Never Broke Again.
Music Career Highlights
Starting Out (2015–2017)
Gaulden began making music at age fourteen with a microphone he bought from Walmart. He released his first mixtape, Life Before Fame, in 2015. More mixtapes followed, including Mind of a Menace and Before I Go. He gained attention with his October 2016 mixtape, 38 Baby. This mixtape featured other artists like Boosie Badazz and Kevin Gates. A week later, he released Mind of a Menace 3. His quick rise in popularity was also helped by a "rap beef" (a public disagreement through songs) with another rapper, Scotty Cain, in 2015.
In November 2016, Gaulden was arrested in Austin, Texas. He was released in May 2017 after making a deal and paying bail. A week later, he released the song "Untouchable".
In July 2017, he released a music video for his song "41". It featured famous artists like Meek Mill and Young Thug. In August 2017, YoungBoy signed a big record deal worth $2 million with Artist Partner Group and Atlantic Records. His music was also released under his own label, Never Broke Again. On August 3, 2017, he released his seventh mixtape, AI YoungBoy. This mixtape reached number 24 on the Billboard 200, his first time on that chart. The song "Untouchable" reached number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100. His next song, "No Smoke", reached number 61.
His eighth mixtape, Ain't Too Long, came out on October 7, 2017. It reached number 173 on the Billboard 200. In November 2017, YoungBoy joined 21 Savage on his "Numb The Pain Tour".
Big Hits and Number Ones (2018–2019)
Gaulden released the song "Outside Today" on January 6, 2018. It became his highest-charting song, reaching number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. He announced his first studio album, Until Death Call My Name, which came out on April 27, 2018. He also released a mixtape called Master The Day Of Judgement in May 2018. That summer, he released four short music collections (EPs) called 4Respect, 4Freedom, 4Loyalty, and 4WhatImportant. These were later combined into one 16-song collection. In September, he released his mixtape Decided, featuring Trippie Redd. In December, he released another mixtape, Realer, with Lil Baby and Plies.
By January 2019, Gaulden was the most-watched musician across all music types on YouTube for over 100 weeks. This was because he released new music very often, especially on YouTube. He was also one of the top-selling artists on the 2019 Billboard Mid-Year Charts.
In September 2019, Gaulden released the song "House Arrest Tingz". On October 4, 2019, he released "Bandit" with rapper Juice Wrld. This song reached number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming his highest-charting song.
On October 10, 2019, Gaulden released his mixtape AI YoungBoy 2. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. This mixtape was a follow-up to his 2017 hit AI Youngboy. It had 18 songs and became one of the biggest streaming debuts of 2019.
More Chart-Toppers (2020–2021)
In February 2020, Gaulden released his mixtape, Still Flexin, Still Steppin. It reached number two on the US Billboard 200. On April 24, 2020, he released 38 Baby 2, which debuted at number one. On August 20, 2020, Gaulden announced his second studio album, Top, released on September 11. This album included popular songs like "All In" and "Kacey Talk". It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making it his third number-one album in less than a year.
On November 11, 2020, Gaulden released his fourth solo project of 2020, the mixtape Until I Return. It was first released only on YouTube, then later on other streaming services. On November 20, 2020, Gaulden released a project with Rich the Kid, called Nobody Safe.
On September 24, 2021, Gaulden released his third studio album, Sincerely, Kentrell. This album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. This made him one of only three artists, along with 2Pac and Lil Wayne, to have a number-one album while facing legal challenges.
After his release in late October 2021, he released several new songs. These included "Heart and Soul" and "Blackball". These songs led up to his mixtape with Birdman, From the Bayou, released on December 10, 2021.
New Labels and Many Projects (2022)
Gaulden released another mixtape, Colors, on January 21, 2022. On March 4, 2022, he released Better than You, a mixtape with DaBaby.
On April 1, 2022, YoungBoy Never Broke Again released Last Slimeto Sampler. This led to his fourth studio album, The Last Slimeto, released on August 5, 2022. This was his last album with Atlantic Records. In May, it was reported that Gaulden turned down a $25 million offer to stay with Atlantic. He then joined Global Music Rights.
It was announced that YoungBoy had finished his contract with Atlantic Records. On September 5, 2022, it was announced that YoungBoy would release a surprise mixtape called Realer 2. It was released on his YouTube channel and then on all streaming platforms.
On October 7, 2022, YoungBoy released his twentieth mixtape, 3800 Degrees. This project honored albums by Juvenile and Lil Wayne. It featured artists like E-40. On October 16, he announced another project, Ma' I Got a Family, which was released on October 21, 2022. It featured Nicki Minaj and Yeat.
On October 24, 2022, it was announced that YoungBoy would sign a deal with Motown Records and his own label, Never Broke Again. On November 25, 2022, YoungBoy worked with Quando Rondo on their mixtape, 3860. On December 23, 2022, YoungBoy released the album Lost Files, which had leaked songs.
Recent Releases (2023–Present)
On January 3, 2023, Gaulden's label showed the cover for his fifth studio album, I Rest My Case. On January 4, 2023, he released songs like "Black". The album came out on January 6, 2023. It was his first project with Motown Records. The album reached number nine on the Billboard 200. In February 2023, Gaulden was featured on the cover of Billboard magazine. In the interview, he mentioned his sixth album, Don't Try This at Home, was being made.
On February 24, 2023, Gaulden was featured on Yeat's album Afterlyfe. On March 17, 2023, he was featured on Lil Pump's album Lil Pump 2.
On February 27, 2023, Gaulden released "Next", a song for his sixth album. On March 2, 2023, he released "Demon Party". The album Don't Try This at Home was released on April 21, 2023, with 33 songs. It featured artists like Mariah the Scientist, Nicki Minaj, and Post Malone. The album debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200. Gaulden became the youngest artist in Billboard history to have 100 songs on the Hot 100.
On May 8, 2023, Gaulden announced a mixtape called Richest Opp, released on May 12. This mixtape debuted at number four on the Billboard 200.
On October 26, 2023, Gaulden released the music video for "Deep Down". The next day, he released "Now Who" and "My Body". These songs appeared on his twenty-first mixtape, Decided 2, released on November 10. At the end of 2023, YoungBoy was the most streamed rap artist on YouTube in the United States for the fifth year in a row.
Gaulden stated that his next album would be his last with Motown. On January 27, 2024, he teased a new album for April 19. On March 17, he shared the title, I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders. This album was released on December 6, 2024, while he was facing legal challenges. It was his final release under his Motown contract.
Artistic Style
Inspirations
Gaulden has been compared to artists like Boosie Badazz, Kevin Gates, Lil Wayne, and Tupac Shakur. He has said that Lil Phat was his main influence. In December 2022, Gaulden named Yeat, Young Thug, French Montana, Shy Glizzy, and Soulja Slim as his top five favorite rappers.
Music Style
Gaulden is known for releasing a lot of music very quickly. He has released over twenty-six projects (albums, EPs, and mixtapes) since 2015. He has described his constant music release as a "disease." He feels that "The music is therapy, but I can't stop it when I want, and the lifestyle is just a big distraction from your real purpose."
His music comes from his own life experiences. He is very honest in his songs about what he has seen and lived through. His music is described as "raw" and "spiritual" because it shows a lot of emotion. Gaulden is known for his melodic voice and strong, high-energy style. Critics often praise him for being open about his feelings, from losing loved ones to difficult relationships.
Gaulden often shows respect for his Louisiana roots in his songs. His 2018 song "Diamond Teeth Samurai" uses a sample from Lil Wayne's "Tha Block Is Hot". Songs like "Carter Son" and "On My Side" also use Southern melodies. Gaulden has tried different sounds, including pop rock and rap rock, in songs like "Toxic Punk" and "Guitar Hero".
Giving Back to the Community
In 2017, after releasing his mixtape AI YoungBoy, YoungBoy gave away $20,000 in cash in his old neighborhood. A year later, in October 2018, he gave a fan what seemed to be $10,000 for graduating high school. He wanted to encourage his younger fans to stay in school.
In April 2019, YoungBoy went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his hometown, to feed people who were homeless. He also set up a shelter and gave out food. In August of the same year, while facing legal challenges, YoungBoy and his team funded a "Back to School Drive." They gave children school supplies, backpacks, and clothes. YoungBoy said, "I hope everybody has fun. Thank you for coming." In 2020, after his album Top was released, his team donated school supplies to Capitol Elementary in Sacramento, California, on his behalf.
In November 2022, YoungBoy worked with NAACP to donate 500 turkeys to families in Baton Rouge for Thanksgiving. He also funded a Thanksgiving meal at Boil & Roux in Baton Rouge as part of his "Stop The Violence" movement. He said, "Aye! Stop the violence. Look at me! I could promise you it's a bigger side of life. Stop the violence."
In December 2022, YoungBoy worked with Fredo Bang, TG Kommas, NAACP, and Metro Health Education. They gave thousands of toys to children in Baton Rouge for Christmas. They also donated toys to the children's hospital and hosted a dinner for people who had lost their homes in fires.
Business Ventures
Never Broke Again Label
After YoungBoy signed with Atlantic Records in 2017, his music started to be released under Atlantic and Never Broke Again. This record label was started by YoungBoy, Rodrick "OG 3Three" Jeanpierre, and Kyle "Montana" Claiborne. YoungBoy wanted to help his friends get into the music industry and give new artists a chance to share their music. In September 2021, Never Broke Again signed a deal with Motown Records. Motown now helps distribute their music and release albums. Kyle "Montana" Clairborne runs the label. YoungBoy said, "I felt like I had a responsibility to my artists to make sure to find the right partner for my label."
The label has worked with artists like YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Quando Rondo, and NoCap. It also works with music producers like Jason "Cheese" Goldberg.
Amp Talk Show
On December 8, 2022, it was announced that YoungBoy would work with Amazon's Amp. YoungBoy was supposed to host a radio show every Friday. It would feature popular guests like Blueface and Rich the Kid. However, the show was canceled and stopped airing. In October 2023, Amp was shut down, and all its content, including YoungBoy's show, was removed.
Fashion
In 2020, YoungBoy worked with ASAP Bari's streetwear brand, VLONE. They created special bundles with his album Top.
In July 2023, YoungBoy released his own sneaker chain under his Never Broke Again Clothing line. This was followed by a collaboration with Supreme for their Fall/Winter 2023 Series. Before his mixtape Decided 2 was released in November 2023, YoungBoy announced a collaboration with the streetwear brand, Guapi. One of the songs on the mixtape, "Guapi", is about the brand.
Personal Life
Family
Kentrell Gaulden is the father of twelve children. Two of his sons, Kayden and Kacey, appeared in the music video for his song "Kacey Talk".
In October 2021, Gaulden moved to Millcreek, Utah with his girlfriend, Jazlyn Mychelle Hayes. On January 7, 2023, Gaulden married Hayes. In late 2023, Gaulden bought another home in Utah with a lot of land, which he calls "Grave Digger Mountain." In March 2024, it was shared that Gaulden listed his Millcreek property for sale. Gaulden currently lives in Huntsville, Utah.
Music Albums
Studio albums
- Until Death Call My Name (2018)
- Top (2020)
- Sincerely, Kentrell (2021)
- The Last Slimeto (2022)
- I Rest My Case (2023)
- Don't Try This at Home (2023)
- I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders (2024)
Awards and Nominations
| Award | Year | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Category | Result | Ref. |
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| ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards | 2021 | "Bandit" (with Juice WRLD) | Winning Rap Songs | Won | |
| BET Hip Hop Awards | 2019 | "I Am Who They Say I Am" (with Kevin Gates and Quando Rondo) | Best Impact Track | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Birdman & YoungBoy Never Broke Again | Best Duo/Group | Nominated | ||
| DaBaby & YoungBoy Never Broke Again | |||||
| BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards | 2021 | "Bandit" (with Juice WRLD) | Most Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | Won | |
| Grammy Awards | 2022 | "WusYaName" (with Tyler, the Creator and Ty Dolla Sign) | Best Melodic Rap Performance | Nominated | |
| XXL Awards | 2023 | Himself | The People's Champ | Won |
Images for kids
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again logo
See also
In Spanish: YoungBoy Never Broke Again para niños
- List of highest-certified music artists in the United States
