I’ve always been into music that hits differently, raw, real, sometimes messy. That’s probably why NBA YoungBoy caught my attention years ago. But the truth is, I never went beyond the surface.
I listened to Outside Today, maybe watched a few music videos, but I didn’t understand what made this guy such a phenomenon. That changed after one random night on YouTube turned into a deep dive I didn’t expect.
What Pulled Me In: Not Just the Music, But the Story
It started with the mixtape Al YoungBoy 2. The streaming numbers were insane: 144 million on-demand audio streams in a single week. That’s not normal. So I asked myself, who is this guy?
Turns out, his real name is Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, and his backstory isn’t just gritty, it’s wild. I wasn’t expecting to find out that he broke his neck as a toddler and wore a head brace that left permanent scars. Or that he started writing lyrics while locked in a detention center after being arrested for robbery. Honestly, that hit me. Something is haunting and human about that.
The One Reason I Couldn’t Stop Digging
I think what made this whole thing so addictive was how much context his music gains when you know his story. He dropped out of high school. His father was sentenced to 55 years in prison. He was raised by his maternal grandmother in Baton Rouge. Every bar suddenly has a face behind it.
I also discovered how early he started hustling his first mixtape, Life Before Fame dropped in 2015. Then came Mind of a Menace, 38 Baby, and more. Each project sounded more raw, more intense. And yeah, I hate to say it, but some of the public beef and death threats through songs with artists like Scotty Cain only made it more real. You can feel the tension.
I Didn’t Expect the Chart Domination
Here’s what shocked me: YoungBoy isn’t just “YouTube famous.” His music charts hard. His track Bandit with Juice WRLD hit #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Al YoungBoy 2 debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. That’s industry-level success, not just underground hype.
But then there’s the twist that he was under house arrest for 14 months when Bandit blew up. Can you imagine not being allowed to perform live while your single is climbing the charts?
The Dark Side I Couldn’t Ignore
It wasn’t all music and milestones. The guy had criminal charges that read like a full-blown movie script: attempted first-degree murder, firearms violations, probation violations, and even a federal warrant. One detail that stayed with me he once jumped out of a vehicle and opened fire in Texas. I mean… damn.
He’s had multiple arrests in Austin, East Baton Rouge, and even federal court. The stuff with Trulondrick Norman and Ben Fields during his probation? That’s when I realized just how much this guy’s music is tied to real, chaotic life.
I Love the Contrast in His Music
What’s cool and honestly surprising is how introspective his music gets despite everything. Songs like Kacey Talk and My Window show a softer, more thoughtful side. Two of his sons, Kacey and Kayden, even appear in his music videos. That’s the part of NBA YoungBoy that fans don’t talk about enough.
And it’s not just the music it’s the milestones too. In 2023, he married Jazlyn Mychelle Hayes, the mother of two of his kids. And now he’s talking about being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That kind of growth hits differently when you know where he came from.
Breaking Down NBA YoungBoy’s Net Worth Is $10 Million Low or Just Right?
Here’s the million-dollar question or should I say, $10 million? That’s the reported NBA YoungBoy net worth, and honestly, it feels… light. When you consider the streaming stats, the chart-topping albums like Top, Sincerely, Kentrell, and 38 Baby 2, plus his massive YouTube presence, I expected more.
But then I remembered the legal issues, court fees, and maybe even lost revenue from tours due to house arrest. It adds up. It’s easy to forget how much real-life drama can drag down even the most successful careers.
Key Takeaways (If You’re Curious Like I Was):
- Started from Baton Rouge with a tough upbringing and no formal launchpad.
- Dropped over 20 mixtapes, many during legal chaos or house arrest.
- Highest-charting single: Bandit (#10 on Billboard Hot 100).
- Album highlights: Al YoungBoy 2, Top, Sincerely, Kentrell, The Last Slimeto.
- Net worth: Roughly $10 million, but debatable.
- Father of 11 children and now married.
- Plans to get baptized not your typical rap story arc.
Final Thought: I Came for the Music, Stayed for the Humanity
This wasn’t just a rabbit hole it was a wake-up call. I went from casually streaming No Smoke to literally understanding how life, trauma, and resilience feed into every line Kentrell Gaulden spits.
If you ever dismissed NBA YoungBoy as just another rapper on YouTube, I get it. But now? I see him as a complicated human with a voice that’s messy, powerful, and real. And maybe, just maybe, that’s what we need more of.
That’s all! You can also check out 13 Greatest Rappers From O Block Of All Time (Chicago) and Rappers with the Most Grammys of All Time.
Frank is the Senior Content writer at BandMag. With 12+ years experience in content writing and SEO, he loves talking about content creation, SEO and Football.
