2018–2019: Until Death Call My Name and AI YoungBoy 2 The second single from the project, " No Smoke", peaked at number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single, "Untouchable", peaked at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. On August 3, 2017, he released his mixtape, AI YoungBoy which charted at 24 on the Billboard 200. In July 2017, Gaulden released a video for his song, "41", that included cameos from notable artists including, Meek Mill, Young Thug, 21 Savage, Boosie Badazz, and Yo Gotti. A week after leaving prison, Gaulden released the single, " Untouchable". Gaulden was released from prison in May 2017 after taking a plea deal and posting bail. While in jail in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Gaulden re-released his two mixtapes, Before I Go and Mind of a Menace 3. In November 2016, Gaulden was arrested in Austin, Texas on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder in connection with an alleged drive-by shooting. Although no real violence ever occurred between the two Baton Rouge rappers, their feuding attracted a lot of attention. Gaulden’s quick rise to popularity could also be attributed to his "song-for-song rap beef" with fellow Baton Rouge rapper Scotty Cain in December 2015, in which songs from both rappers included death threats. A week later, Gaulden released another mixtape titled Mind of a Menace 3 on Novem. Gaulden attracted attention with his October 2016 mixtape, 38 Baby which featured fellow Baton Rouge natives, Boosie Badazz, Kevin Gates, and fellow rappers Stroke Tha Don and NBA 3Three. A string of other mixtapes followed including Mind of a Menace, Mind of a Menace 2, and Before I Go. He released his first mixtape, Life Before Fame in 2015. Gaulden first began producing music with a microphone he bought from Walmart when he was fourteen years old. Career 2015–2017: Career beginnings and AI YoungBoy The two then used acts of criminality to begin to pay for studio time. Īfter he was released, Gaulden's grandmother died of heart failure and he moved in with his friend and fellow Baton Rouge rapper, NBA 3Three (also known as OG 3Three).
While in juvenile detention for a robbery charge, he began writing lyrics for his debut project. He dropped out of high school in ninth grade. Gaulden was raised mainly by his maternal grandmother due to his father being sentenced to 55 years in prison. The brace left permanent scars on his forehead. He broke his neck while wrestling as a toddler, the injury requiring a head brace until the spine healed. Kentrell Gaulden was born on October 20, 1999, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In October 2019, Gaulden released the single " Bandit" (with Juice WRLD), which became his first top-ten single. The song became the lead single for his debut studio album Until Death Call My Name (2018) which peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard 200. In January 2018, he released the single " Outside Today", which peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In late 2017, Gaulden was signed to Atlantic Records. Between 20, he released six independent mixtapes and steadily garnered a cult following through his work. Kentrell DeSean Gaulden (born October 20, 1999), known professionally as YoungBoy Never Broke Again (also known as NBA YoungBoy or simply YoungBoy), is an American rapper.