Billboard

YoungBoy Regrets Violence In His Music, Wonders How Fans Will Accept Him

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We’re entering a new era of YoungBoy Never Broke Again as the chart-topping rapper is ready to reveal another side of himself. Undoubtedly, he has gone through a transition for some time—much of which has been brought on by fame and legal troubles. His time under house arrest in Utah has been an eye-opening experience for the Baton Rouge star. He sat down with Billboard at his residence and shared insight into his career, including his compulsion about releasing music.

He told the outlet he has over 1,000 songs in the vault, which is believable if you consider just how much music he shares. “It’s a disease,” said YoungBoy about releasing music. “Literally, I cannot help myself. I tell myself sometimes, ‘I’m not going to drop until months from now,’ but it’s addictive.”

Read More: NBA YoungBoy Says He “Terrified Of People,” Calls Them “Cruel”

YoungBoy added that he wished he had been aware of “how unhealthy this was for me” when he was younger. “Whatever type of energy I had inside me, I would’ve pushed it toward something else,” he also said. “The music is therapy, but I can’t stop it when I want. And the lifestyle is just a big distraction from your real purpose.”

Additionally, It seems that YoungBoy will be—or already has begun to—make a shift in his music. He’s straying away from violent content and revealed that he felt as if he was being used by the industry. “I’m at a point now in my life where I just know hurting people is not the way, and I feel very manipulated, even at this moment,” he shared. “I was set on being the greatest at what I did and what I spoke about. Man, I was flooded with millions of dollars from the time I was 16 all the way to this point, and I woke up one morning like, ‘Damn. They got me. They made me do their dirty work.’ Man, look at the sh*t I put in these people’s ears.”

ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 14: Gucci Mane and NBA YoungBoy attend Keyshia Kaoir’s Birthday Celebration at Gold Room on January 14, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.(photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
Read More: YoungBoy Never Broke Again Considering Mormon Baptism

“I think about how many lives I actually am responsible for when it comes to my music,” YoungBoy further said. “How many girls I got feeling like if you don’t go about a situation that your boyfriend’s bringing on you in his way, you’re wrong? How many people have put this sh*t in their ears and actually went and hurt someone? Or how many kids felt like they needed to tote a gun and walked out the house and toted it the wrong way? Now he’s fixing to sit there and do years of his life that he can’t get back.”

Further, these days, YoungBoy is facing criticism for his painted nails of goth makeup. It’s something that both he and wife Jazlyn Mychelle enjoy doing in their solitude, but the social media world has been unforgiving. “I’m very curious to see how the world goes about me now,” said the rapper. “They listened because of who I supposedly was or showed I was and what I rapped about. Now it’s nail polish and face paint, and the music is not the same.”

“What if they don’t like me now?” YoungBoy also questioned. “You can’t be on top forever, you know? Because I’m not changing. I will not be provoked, I will not be broken, and I’m not going back to who I used to be. Accept it or not — I ain’t going back. I’m only going to get more groovy from here..”

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YoungBoy Never Broke Again Recalls Growing Up In Group Home

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YoungBoy Never Broke Again reflected on growing up in a group house during his recent cover story for Billboard. Speaking with the outlet, he explained that his path changed drastically when his grandmother died in 2010. At the group home, YoungBoy had a difficult time getting along with the other kids.

“I used to get beat up inside the group home for no reason,” he said while shaking. “The other boys would put their hands on me, and I would look up like, ‘Why are you hitting me, bro? What’d I do?’ It made me discover another side of me that I never glorified or liked. I found out how to be the person that you don’t want to do that with.” He added that he “never understood all the evilness or wrong” because his grandmother had shown him so much love.

ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 29: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Rapper NBA YoungBoy performs onstage during Lil Baby & Friends concert to promote the new release of Lil Baby’s new album “Street Gossip” at Coca-Cola Roxy on November 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

When the interviewer suggested that take a break, YoungBoy admitted, “It’s not going to stop.” Billboard described his jewelry as “audibly rattling,” by this point. He confessed, “I’m very scared right now. It’s just natural. I’m not big on people.”

“I never knew why once I walked on the stage, I could get it done and leave — but I am terrified of people. People are cruel. This is a cruel place,” YoungBoy continued. He then turned his seat toward the view behind him: “You’ve got to be thankful for it. It’s very beautiful, you know? There’s so much you can experience inside of it. But it is a very cruel place. And it’s not my home.”

Check out YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s new cover story for Billboard below. Elsewhere in the piece, YoungBoy admits that he is planning on getting a Mormon baptism after he’s done with house arrest. While living in Utah, the rapper took in a group of missionaries who introduced him to the religion.

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YoungBoy Never Broke Again Considering Mormon Baptism

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YoungBoy Never Broke Again says that he’s considering a Mormon baptism after spending time with missionaries in Utah. The 23-year-old rapper explained how he meant the religious group while under house arrest in the snow-covered state during a new cover story for Billboard. Usually, YoungBoy’s security team only permits three pre-approved visitors at a time, leading him to initially turn the missionaries away. However, he eventually let them come inside his home.

“I wanted help very badly. I needed a friend. And it hit me,” he explained, before adding, “It was just cool to see someone with a different mindset that had nothing to do with business or money — just these wonderful souls.” He added that their visits help him “make sure my heart is in the right space.”

NEW ORLEANS, LA – AUGUST 25: NBA YoungBoy performs during Lil WeezyAna at Champions Square on August 25, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

“Even when my negative thoughts come back, when I do want to tell them, ‘Not today,’ I just don’t let nothing stop it,” he further said. He then revealed that he intends to officially join the Church of Jesus Christ the Latter-day Saints after he’s off house arrest.

YoungBoy admits that the change in lifestyle may affect the direction of his music. His latest record, Rest My Case, intentionally featured fewer mentions of guns than his previous works. “What if they don’t like me now?” he considered while referring to his fans. “I’m not changing. I will not be provoked, I will not be broken. And I’m not going back to who I used to be. Accept it or not — I ain’t going back.”

Even the music video for YoungBoy’s latest single, “Hi Haters,” opens with a quote from the Latter Day Saints tome. It reads, “Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death”

Check out YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s cover story for Billboard below.

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Ice Spice & Lil Tjay’s “Gangsta Boo” Marks Her Billboard Hot 100 Debut

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On her viral “In Ha Mood” single, Ice Spice lyricized about being proud of her constant growth as an artist. Today (January 31), her rise to superstardom continues as the 23-year-old makes her debut on the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 chart.

As the outlet notes, her collaboration with Lil Tjay on “Gangsta Boo” appears on the list dated February 4th in the 82nd position. It was officially released on January 20th as one of the six titles on her Like..? EP via Dolo/TenThosand Projects/Capitol Records.

Ice Spice visits SiriusXM Studios on October 06, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)

The popular song has amassed upwards of five million U.S. streams and over 725K radio airplay audience impressions. Additionally, there were 3,000 downloads in the first week (ending January 26), Luminate states.

The Hot 100 debut is huge news for Spice, though that’s not the only chart where it’s doing numbers. Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs have “Gangsta Boo” sitting at No. 16 and 32, respectively.

The New Yorker’s Like..? project is doing well overall. Presently, it’s No. 13 on Top Rap Albums and No. 19 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. On the all-genre chart, the “Bikini Bottom” rhymer’s work landed at No. 37 after moving 15K equivalent album units.

Spice has had plenty to say while doing press for her recent arrival. While chatting with Ebro Darden, she revealed that her type is “good boys & girls,” not hoodrat types. She also dished about her backstage experience at Drake’s legendary Apollo Theatre shows earlier this month.

Besides celebrating this major career milestone, Spice recently found herself clearing up any drama with Chance The Rapper. Over the weekend, the 29-year-old asked the redhead if she was throwing shade on her new EP.

Read what the rap diva had to say about the situation here, and check back later for more hip-hop news updates.

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Latto, Doechii & More Receive 2023 Billboard Women In Music Awards

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Latto, Doechii, and more received this year’s 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards, hosted by actress and writer Quinta Brunson. Other nominees include Becky G, TWICE, Lana Del Rey, Kim Petras, Lainey Wilson, and Ivy Queen. Overall, Billboard wants to celebrate “influential female powerhouses” during its ceremony in a variety of categories.

PARK CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 22: Doechii visits The IMDb Portrait Studio at Acura Festival Village on Location at Sundance 2023 on January 22, 2023 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Corey Nickols/Getty Images for IMDb)

The event itself will take place at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles on March 1st. While Billboard sent these awards out, they’ll reveal performers at the ceremony and the Women of the Year recipient later on. Still, Billboard Editorial Director Hannah Karp shared what these performances and accolades represent for so many.

“We’re thrilled to recognize these groundbreaking artists across genres and generations who are defining today’s sound – and paving the way for tomorrow’s women in music,” the statement read. “With the inspiring Quinta Brunson as our host, this year’s Billboard Women in Music Awards is going to be an incredible night.”

Furthermore, the organization will honor these female leaders in the industry with unique awards and acknowledgments. For example, Latto will receive the Powerhouse Award, and they honored Doechii with the Rising Star Award. Moreover, the Visionary Award is for Lana Del Rey, whereas TWICE received the Breakthrough Award. Also, they awarded Kim Petras as a Chartbreaker, Becky G for her Impact, and Ivy Queen for being an Icon.

Meanwhile, Latto recently tore through her freestyle over SZA’s “Smoking on my Ex Pack.” While she already had a wonderful 2022 with the release of 777, she started 2023 off hot as well. “Sundress with no panties on but I wear the pants / I been showing my ass without a Onlyfans. You know, the rumors come with privacy / Hmm, more money, more anxiety,” she raps on the song. Along with other singles like “FTCU,” maybe she’s back in album mode.

Still, what do you think of Latto, Doechii, and others receiving the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest accomplishments and amazing female artists in hip-hop and beyond.

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SZA Ties Whitney Houston’s Billboard Record

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SZA’s newest album SOS tied Whitney Houston’s record for the longest-running R&B album at Billboard‘s No. 1 spot. Moreover, SOS just accomplished seven weeks atop their 200 album chart, which Houston did with her 1987 sophomore album, Whitney. While that album was the first R&B by a woman to reach the top spot, the new generation also pushed boundaries.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 07: SZA performs during weekend one of 2022 ACL Music Festival at Zilker Park on October 07, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage)

Furthermore, SOS is the longest-running No. 1 album by a woman since Adele’s 25 in 2016. Additionally, it’s the first album to spend at least seven weeks straight on the charts since Disney’s Encanto soundtrack in March of 2022. Moreover, the last R&B or hip-hop album to do so was Drake’s 2018 album Views, which spent 13 non-nonsecutive weeks at No. 1.

Overall, the TDE artist’s success is nothing short of astounding. For example, the new album garnered over 400 million streams for the biggest first-week album streams ever in R&B. Also, it’s the second-biggest streaming week of all time for a female artist. With dominant singles like “Kill Bill,” we’re sure that the numbers will keep stacking.

However, it’s not all the 33-year-old has to look forward to. Moreover, her first arena tour starts soon, kicking off in Columbus, Ohio in late February. Later, SZA’s scheduled for 17 shows in total, ending in March in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, SZA also recently teased a collaboration with Miley Cyrus, who just dropped the much-anticipated single “Flowers.” Cyrus also shouted her out for her success, and said she’s looking forward to linking up. Given similar praise from the likes of Taylor Swift and many more, the “Gone Girl” star is dominating the industry. What’s more is that her song even got actress Vivica Fox to want to star in another Kill Bill.

Still, what did you think of SZA and Whitney Houston having some of the longest-running No. 1 albums in R&B? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news on SZA, chart numbers, and amazing voices in R&B.

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Latto, Doechii, And More Will Be Honored At The 2023 Billboard Women In Music Awards Hosted By Quinta Brunson

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latto billboard
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The honorees for the annual Billboard Women In Music Awards have been announced, as a new class of women celebrate a year of making their mark on the music industry. Set for March 1, 2023, at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, and hosted by Quinta Brunson — who’s making quite the mark of her own in television — the Women In Music Awards acknowledge the artists who have had an outstanding year.

This year’s honorees include Latin music star Becky G, who will receive the Impact Award; genre-breaking rapper Doechii, who will receive the Rising Star Award; reggaeton pioneer Ivy Queen, who will receive the Icon Award; pop singer Kim Petras, who will receive the Chartbreaker Award; Atlanta rap hitmaker Latto, who will receive the Powerhouse Award; country music rising star Lainey Wilson, who will receive the Rulebreaker Award; Lana Del Rey, who will receive the Visionary Award; and K-pop girl group TWICE, who will receive the Breakthrough Award. The night’s performers will be announced at a later date.

Previous recipients of Women In Music honors include Doja Cat, HER, and Saweetie, all of whom performed at least year’s show. Tickets will be open to the public, with an American Express member-exclusive presale on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 31 and February 1, and the general sale Friday, February 3 at 10 am PT. You can learn more at billboardwomeninmusic.com.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

NBA YoungBoy Scores 13th Top 10 Album With “I Rest My Case”

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NBA YoungBoy scored his 13th top 10 album on the charts with I Rest My Case. Moreover, the Motown Records debut landed at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart. According to chart numbers, the latest from the Louisiana MC moved 29,000 album equivalents in its first week. Also, it garnered around 40 million streams in the U.S. in that time span.

ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 29: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Rapper NBA YoungBoy performs onstage during Lil Baby & Friends concert to promote the new release of Lil Baby’s new album “Street Gossip” at Coca-Cola Roxy on November 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

While this a huge win for the Top star, many saw it as a drop in momentum. After all, it represented YB’s lowest album sales since his career first took off. Considering chart numbers, though, the 23-year-old still found massive success. When you’re as successful as him, even your relative misses are worth celebrating.

However, a few other factors could’ve contributed to this album’s success and relative lack of fanfare. I Rest My Case dropped at the very start of the year amid a busy holiday season. Also, it represents a different sound for YoungBoy, at least when it comes to the first half of the tracklist. Moreover, cuts like “Black” saw YoungBoy in the rage space, spitting over distorted synths and compressed-to-death percussion. Despite some calling it derivative, this writer still finds it to be a compelling and exciting fit for the MC.

Meanwhile, other artists continue to celebrate their Billboard dominance. SZA’s long-awaited SOS celebrated its fifth week atop the charts, and she tweeted a special message. In fact, it seems she’s writing a new one practically every week, with all the success she’s found. Moreover, the last album to achieve such a feat was Adele’s 30.

“5th week at number one,” the “Kill Bill” singer wrote. “God is good . F**k who disagree! Focus on yourself believe in yourself TRUST YOURSELF. GRATEFUL.”

Back to YB, though, he capped the year off by squashing his beef with Fredo Bang, as they hosted a toy drive in their home city of Baton Rouge. Also, he seems to have resolved things with Kodak Black. The two rappers recently hopped on FaceTime to air out their issues, put them aside, and come together.

What do you think of NBA YoungBoy’s I Rest My Case marking his 13th top 10 album on the charts? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest on YB.

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