The Moment Dead Trollz Changed Everything
September 11, 2020. That was the day. While most of the world was still reeling from a global lockdown, Kentrell DeSean Gaulden—known to basically everyone as NBA YoungBoy—decided to drop Top. It was his second studio album. It was also a massive statement. But one song, the eleventh track, hit like a freight train. Dead Trollz wasn’t just another song on a tracklist. It was a 3-minute-and-29-second explosion of pure, unadulterated "demon energy."
Honestly, the track is terrifying. It starts with an aggressive intro where he’s basically daring the police to come get him. You’ve probably heard rappers talk tough before, but this felt different. It felt real. YoungBoy wasn't just rapping; he was snarling.
The song immediately became a standout. It wasn't just because of the beat—which was produced by the trio of PlayboyXO, LondnBlue, and Karltin Bankz—but because of the sheer intensity. People started comparing him to a prime Lil Wayne. High praise? Definitely. But when you listen to the way he "rattles off rhymes" about his enemies, it’s hard to argue with the comparison.
What Dead Trollz Is Really About (Beyond the Beef)
The title itself is a play on the word "trolls." At the time, 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj had a massive hit called "Trollz." YoungBoy’s version was the antithesis of that. While the other track was colorful and bright, Dead Trollz was a bleak, black-and-white dive into the mind of a man who felt surrounded by enemies.
He calls his rivals "trolls" because he views them as people who only talk online but won't "get active" in real life. In the lyrics, he’s very clear: "Log offline, get active, fuck your caption, what you sayin', nigga?" He’s basically calling out the entire internet-gangster culture.
The Production and the Vibe
The beat is claustrophobic. It’s got these heavy, distorted 808s that feel like they’re punching you in the chest. It’s "Southern heat" at its most menacing. Critics from places like HotNewHipHop and HipHopDX didn't just call it a highlight; they called it one of the "hardest" songs he’s ever made.
- Release Date: September 11, 2020
- Album: Top
- Producers: PlayboyXO, LondnBlue, Karltin Bankz
- Chart Peak: #72 on the Billboard Hot 100
That Music Video Was a Fever Dream
If the song was aggressive, the video was "bewildering." Directed by Rich Porter and FlyGuyNick, it’s a chaotic mix of red laser beams, heavy weaponry, and YoungBoy and his crew looking like they’re ready for war. There isn't a plot. There isn't a story. It’s just raw, high-energy aggression.
The visual matched the track's energy perfectly. It currently sits with nearly 100 million views on YouTube, which is insane for a song that wasn't even an "official" radio single like "Kacey Talk" or "All In." It shows the power of the NBA YoungBoy fanbase. They don't need a radio hit; they want the "murder music."
Why People Still Talk About It in 2026
It’s been over five years since Top dropped. So why does Dead Trollz still pop up in conversations? Well, for one, it's certified Gold by the RIAA, having moved over 500,000 units. But it's more than the numbers.
✨ Don't miss: Why Actors in The Twilight Zone Still Feel Like More Than Just Guest Stars
The song marked a peak in the "NBA vs. OTF" era. While it doesn't name-drop specifically, fans have spent years dissecting every line to see who he was aiming at. The line about "seven murders in my hometown" caused a massive stir. People were shocked. Was he confessing? Was it just rap bravado? That mystery is what keeps the "Dead Trollz" legend alive.
The Lil Wayne Comparison
I mentioned this earlier, but it’s worth a deeper look. Wayne was known for that raspy, breathless delivery during his Drought 3 era. YoungBoy captures that same feeling here. He’s not just hitting the beat; he’s trying to outrun it. It’s a level of technical skill that often gets overlooked because people focus so much on his legal troubles or the violence in his lyrics.
The Impact on the Album 'Top'
Top was a monster of an album. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 126,000 units in its first week. It knocked Big Sean’s Detroit 2 off the top spot.
Dead Trollz acted as the anchor for the "dark" side of the album. You had melodic tracks like "To My Lowest," but then you had this. It proved YoungBoy could do both. He wasn't just a singer; he was a rapper’s rapper when he wanted to be.
Addressing the Rumors
You might see headlines or "trolls" (ironically) claiming YoungBoy is dead or that something happened to him. It’s a recurring theme in his career. Every few months, a fake news story goes viral. As of early 2026, he’s very much alive and still one of the most-streamed artists on YouTube and Spotify. Dead Trollz is a reminder that he’s survived a lot—both in the industry and in his personal life.
✨ Don't miss: Donald Trump Soul Train: What Really Happened with those Viral Dance Videos
How to Deep Dive Into the Discography
If you're new to the Never Broke Again world or just revisiting "Dead Trollz," here is how you should actually listen to this era of his music:
- Listen to the full 'Top' album: Don't just skip to the hits. The transition from "Off Season" into "All In" is great, but "Dead Trollz" provides the necessary grit to balance the project.
- Watch the Rich Porter visuals: The chemistry between YB and his directors is half the appeal. The grainy, handheld look of the "Dead Trollz" video defined an entire aesthetic for Southern rap in the early 2020s.
- Compare it to 'I Hate YoungBoy': If you want to see how his aggression evolved, listen to this track alongside his 2022 diss "I Hate YoungBoy." You can hear the production getting cleaner but the lyrics getting even more pointed.
- Check the RIAA stats: It’s actually fun to track how many of his songs from that one album have gone Gold or Platinum. He’s one of the most decorated artists of his generation for a reason.
The reality is that Dead Trollz represents a specific time in hip-hop history. It was the peak of the "YouTube Rapper" era where a DIY video and a menacing beat could out-perform a million-dollar marketing campaign. It’s loud, it’s violent, and it’s unapologetic. That’s exactly why fans love it.