He was barely eighteen. Think about that for a second. When Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, better known as YoungBoy Never Broke Again, dropped "Untouchable" in 2017, he wasn't just making a song. He was breathing. He was venting. He was fresh out of a jail cell in East Baton Rouge, and you can hear that specific, desperate brand of relief in every single bar. It's raw.
The NBA YoungBoy Untouchable lyrics serve as a time capsule for a version of the industry that feels like a lifetime ago. Back then, he wasn't the billionaire-tier mogul-adjacent figure he is now. He was a kid with a camera, a massive chip on his shoulder, and a melody that sounded like it was bleeding. If you look at the lyrics today, they read like a manifesto for anyone who has ever been counted out. It’s not just rap; it’s survivalist poetry.
The Context Behind the Bars
Context matters. It's everything. You can't understand the NBA YoungBoy Untouchable lyrics without knowing that he wrote a significant portion of this while sitting in a cell facing two counts of attempted first-degree murder. That’s not a marketing gimmick. That’s reality.
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When he sings about his mother being the only one who can judge him, he isn't using a cliché. He’s acknowledging a world where the legal system and the streets have already passed their verdict. The opening lines are iconic for a reason. He talks about waking up and seeing his "brother in the sky." This is a direct reference to his friend NBA Boomer, whose death left a massive void in YoungBoy's early life. It sets a somber tone that contrasts sharply with the upbeat, triumphant production by D. Brookz.
The song is a paradox. The beat feels like a celebration, but the words are heavy with the scent of a funeral parlor and the cold metal of a prison gate.
Analyzing the Hook: A Declaration of Independence
The chorus is where the magic happens. Honestly, it's one of the most infectious hooks in modern Southern rap. "I remember I ain't had no money," he admits. It’s a simple admission, but it grounds the entire track. He’s talking to the people who knew him when he was "broke and down bad."
There's this specific line—"I'm untouchable, I'm unreachable"—that people often misinterpret. Is he saying he’s a god? No. He’s saying he’s finally out of the reach of the walls that tried to hold him. He’s unreachable to the people who want to pull him back into the cycle of violence that defined his youth in Louisiana. It’s a shield. He’s building a wall around his success to protect his family.
Breaking Down the Verses
The verses are chaotic. They jump from bragging about a "new Mercedes" to the visceral pain of losing his grandmother. This isn't polished songwriting. It’s a stream of consciousness.
- The Survival Instinct: He mentions having "a 30 on me" while he's in the club. It sounds like standard rap posturing, but for YB, it's a reflection of the hyper-vigilance that comes with his background. You don't just "turn off" the streets because you have a hit song.
- The Family Connection: Mentioning his son, Kayden, is a recurring theme. The lyrics emphasize that his hustle isn't for fame; it’s for legacy. He wants to make sure his children never have to see the inside of a cell like he did.
- The Paranoia: There’s a persistent sense of "who can I trust?" woven throughout. He looks at his friends and wonders if they'll be there when the money runs out. It's a lonely kind of fame.
Why "Untouchable" Ranks So High in the YB Discography
If you ask a hardcore fan—someone who has been there since 38 Baby—they’ll tell you this is a top-five track. Easily. But why?
It's the vulnerability. In 2026, we see a lot of "pain rap," but "Untouchable" was a foundational stone for that subgenre. YoungBoy wasn't afraid to sound like he was crying on the track. He wasn't trying to be the toughest guy in the room every second; he was trying to be the most honest.
The NBA YoungBoy Untouchable lyrics resonated because they didn't feel manufactured by a label. The music video, directed by David G, shows him at home, surrounded by his crew, literally jumping for joy. It’s the visual representation of the song’s soul. He’s free. And for a moment, the listener feels free too.
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Technical Nuance in the Delivery
The way he plays with his voice is underrated. He slides into a high-pitched croon and then snaps back into a gritty, rhythmic flow. It’s disjointed in a way that reflects a fractured psyche.
The rhyme schemes aren't overly complex. You won't find the multi-syllabic wizardry of an Eminem or a Kendrick here. Instead, you find emotional resonance. He uses simple words to convey massive feelings. When he talks about his "mama saying son you gotta pray," he's tapping into a universal Southern experience. It’s relatable. Even if you’ve never been to Baton Rouge, you know that feeling of a mother’s worry.
Misconceptions About the Song's Meaning
A lot of people think this is a "diss track." It’s really not. While there might be subtle jabs at those who doubted him, the primary target of the song is his own past. He’s battling his history.
Another misconception is that the song is purely about wealth. "I'm untouchable" refers more to his spirit than his bank account. He’s saying his soul can’t be touched by the trauma he’s endured. That’s a powerful message for a teenager to put out into the world. It’s probably why the song has hundreds of millions of views and continues to be a staple in his live sets (when he’s able to perform).
How to Truly Digest the Lyrics
To get the most out of the NBA YoungBoy Untouchable lyrics, you have to listen to them while considering the timeline of 2017. The rap world was transitioning. The SoundCloud era was peaking. YoungBoy was the bridge between that digital-first world and the gritty reality of Southern street rap.
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Look at the line where he mentions his lawyer. It’s a reminder that his freedom was expensive. It wasn't just handed to him. He had to fight for it legally and creatively.
- Read the lyrics while watching the video to see the genuine emotion.
- Compare this track to his later work like "Lonely Child" to see how his "pain" style evolved.
- Pay attention to the ad-libs; they often contain more "truth" than the written bars.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you're a fan, the move is to dive into the deep cuts of the AI YoungBoy mixtape. "Untouchable" is the gateway, but the rest of the project provides the room for those lyrics to breathe.
For aspiring artists, "Untouchable" is a masterclass in authenticity. You don't need a million-dollar studio. You need a story that hurts to tell and a melody that refuses to leave the listener's head. YoungBoy proved that vulnerability is a superpower, not a weakness.
Stop looking for "perfect" rhymes. Start looking for "real" ones. That is the legacy of this song. It remains a blueprint for how to turn a legal nightmare into a career-defining moment.
To truly understand the impact, go back and listen to the song without distractions. Put on a pair of good headphones. Listen to the way his voice cracks when he mentions his grandmother. That's not a mistake. That's the art. The NBA YoungBoy Untouchable lyrics aren't just words on a screen; they are a young man's struggle for air in a world that tried to suffocate him.
Next steps for those interested in the Baton Rouge scene: study the production of D. Brookz and how it influenced the "Louisiana Sound" that dominated the late 2010s. Also, research the legal battles YoungBoy was facing in May 2017 to understand the literal stakes of his release. Knowing the specific charges he beat provides a much sharper edge to the word "Untouchable."
Quick Reference: Key Themes in Untouchable
- Release and Relief: The immediate aftermath of his 2017 jail stint.
- Grief: References to his grandmother and fallen friends.
- Legacy: A focus on his children and providing a better life.
- Defiance: A refusal to be broken by the legal system or the streets.
The song stands as a reminder that no matter how deep the hole, there is always a way out—as long as you have the words to find it.