He is currently the most controversial and, arguably, the most prolific person in hip-hop. If you’ve spent more than five minutes on the internet over the last decade, you’ve seen the "YB Better" memes or the endless clips of a young man with three distinctive scars on his forehead. But if you’re asking "what is NBA YoungBoy," you're likely looking for the man behind the chaos.
His real name is Kentrell DeSean Gaulden. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1999, he didn't just stumble into fame; he clawed his way out of a life that most people only see in movies. It’s gritty. It’s loud. And for millions of fans, it’s the most authentic thing they’ve ever heard.
Honestly, calling him just a "rapper" feels a bit short-sighted. He is a cultural phenomenon who has broken records previously held by icons like Jay-Z and Taylor Swift. By 2026, he has managed to chart over 100 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, a feat that usually takes artists decades. He did it before he even hit his late twenties.
The Sound of the Trenches
What you is NBA YoungBoy? To his fans, he’s a lifeline. To his critics, he’s a public menace. The music itself is a wild mix of aggressive, "thugged-out" street anthems and surprisingly vulnerable melodic tracks where he cries about his kids, his grandmother, and the friends he's lost to the streets.
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He doesn't follow the "industry" rules. Most big stars drop an album, tour for two years, and then disappear. YoungBoy does the opposite. He floods the market. Since 2015, he’s released over 30 projects, including studio albums, mixtapes, and collaborative tapes. In 2025 alone, his album MASA (Make America Slime Again) pushed his total of Top 10 entries to a point where only Drake and Future are ahead of him in the rap world.
The speed at which he records is legendary. He basically lives in the studio. Whether he’s on house arrest in Utah or in a high-end studio in Los Angeles, he’s recording. He has described the process as something he "cannot help" doing. It’s a compulsion. It’s catharsis.
Why the Internet Loves Him (and the Memes)
You can't talk about YoungBoy without talking about his fan base. They are intense. They are everywhere. The "YB Better" trend started as a joke but turned into a digital army that floods the comment sections of every other artist.
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Why? Because he feels real. In an era of polished PR and fake Instagram lifestyles, Kentrell is messy. He gets arrested. He fights with his family on Instagram Live. He shows his scars—literally and figuratively. The three scars on his forehead? Those came from a halo brace he had to wear after breaking his neck while wrestling as a toddler. He doesn't hide them. He doesn't edit them out.
The Legal Shadow
You can’t ignore the legal side. It’s a massive part of the story. Since 2016, his career has been a cycle of massive hits and massive court dates. He’s faced charges ranging from attempted murder (later reduced) to federal weapons charges.
In late 2024 and throughout 2025, his legal battles took a turn with a high-profile case involving prescription drug fraud in Utah. After a long standoff with the feds, he reached a plea deal. As of January 2026, many sources point to a scheduled release date in July 2025 for his most recent federal stint, though his legal status remains a complex web of probation and supervised release.
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- The 2016 Shooting: This was the start. He was charged with attempted murder in Baton Rouge but eventually pleaded down to aggravated assault with a firearm.
- The FBI Standoff: In 2021, he was involved in a dramatic foot chase with the FBI in Los Angeles. This led to his long-term house arrest in Utah.
- The Prescription Ring: Recent 2024 charges alleged he was the leader of a ring using fake names to get painkillers.
It’s a lot to keep track of. But for his fans, the "legal turmoil" is just more proof of the struggle he raps about.
How to Understand His Impact
If you want to understand the scale of his success, look at YouTube. He is consistently one of the most-watched artists on the platform, often out-earning artists who have way more radio play. He doesn't need the Grammys. He doesn't need a Super Bowl halftime show. He has a direct line to his audience.
His music, like "Untouchable," "Outside Today," or "Bandit" (with the late Juice WRLD), isn't just background noise. It’s a diary. He talks about his father being sentenced to 55 years in prison. He talks about being raised by his grandmother, Alice, and the heartbreak of losing her.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re just getting into his discography, don't try to listen to everything at once. You'll get overwhelmed. Start with the "essentials" to see if the style clicks with you.
- Listen to "AI YoungBoy 2": This is widely considered his masterpiece. Every single song on the project eventually went Gold or Platinum.
- Watch a Music Video: His videos are often simple—him and his crew in a house or a backyard—but they capture his energy better than a Spotify stream.
- Check the Lyrics: Pay attention to the songs where he slows down. The pain in his voice on tracks like "Drawing Symbols" is where you find the "real" Kentrell.
The "what you is NBA YoungBoy" question isn't easily answered because he is constantly changing. He is a father of many, a record-breaker, a federal defendant, and the voice of a generation that feels unheard. Whether he’s "better" is up for debate, but his influence is undeniable.