YoungBoy Never Broke Again discussed his friendship with Birdman during a recent interview with the Rap Radar podcast. The interview comes a month after the release of his fifth album, I Rest My Case, which marked his first with Motown. The project debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 29,000 album-equivalent units.
As for his relationship with Birdman, YoungBoy explained while laughing, “He just talks a lot of shit and I like to sit there.” From there, he discussed both of them being from different cities in Louisiana. He explained that “a lot of the shit going on in B.R. stems from New Orleans.”
Birdman and YoungBoy officially teamed up for the 2021 collaborative mixtape, From the Bayou. Birdman spoke about working with YoungBoy for a cover story with Billboard, in 2022. “Watching how fast he do music and the value of the music, I saw a lot of similarities between him and Wayne,” he told the outlet. “I seen stardom in him, but I knew it was a process.” He added that he worked to show YoungBoy he could make a living off of rapping when he discovered him: “I once was somebody like him and had to gamble my life. I wanted to show him that he could really survive off his talent. You could go to jail, or you could die, or you could try to be somebody.” Speaking with the outlet, Birdman referred to YoungBoy as a son to him. In December, YoungBoy worked with Birdman’s Rich Gang for its first single in five years, “Military,” which also featured D-ROK.
Elsewhere in the interview with Rap Radar, YoungBoy discussed his career, his family, being under house arrest, and growing as a person. YoungBoy previously admitted to considering a Mormon baptism after he’s fully a free man. The idea came after missionaries visited his house in Salt Lake City, Utah. As for why he chose to sign with Motown, YoungBoy explained, “You know, just try something new. See if I could get more out of a label situation.” Check out the full discussion below.
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.”
5th week at number one . God is good . Fuck 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.
One of hip-hop’s most prolific artists continues to rake in numbers with each new release. NBA YoungBoy’s latest album, I Rest My Case, sold 30,000 copies in its first week according to HITS Daily Double. While some fans thought it was too derivative to be considered great, there’s no denying it made a splash. In other sales news, Coke Boys 6 by French Montana and DJ Drama sold 21,000 units. Meanwhile, Real Boston Richey’s Public Housing, Pt. 2 sold 15,000 copies.
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)
These albums joined the charts amid some of last year’s most enduring hot releases. SZA’s SOS still sits comfortably at the top, with smash hits like Midnightsby Taylor Swift and Heroes & Villainsby Metro Boomin close by. I Rest My Case cracked the top 10 at No. 9, falling between Lil Baby’s It’s Only Meat 8 and Harry Styles’ Harry’s House at 10.
Moreover, these numbers are relatively consistent with YB’s project output and the sales he makes from them. His previous mixtape Ma’ I Got A Family garnered 39,000 sales in its first week. While I Rest My Case netted three quarters of that, it also dropped during the holiday season with not as much promotion or hype behind it. However, it represents YB’s lowest sales since his career got off the ground. Through songs like “Black,” however, the Louisiana rapper definitely switched things up on this album with some new experiments in rage. So, even if it isn’t YoungBoy’s peak, he’s always pushing something forward with each project.
NBA Youngboy’s latest project “I Rest My Case” is now expected to sell 31,000 units first week, making it YoungBoy’s lowest project sales since his career first started pic.twitter.com/jod3WaVi29
Also, it seems the 23-year-old took even more steps to change. Recently, he hopped on a FaceTime call with Kodak Black, seemingly squashing their beef. In addition, he reportedly got a marriage license with Jazlyn Mychelle, with whom he shares two children. As one of the most enigmatic, divisive, but undeniably influential rappers working today, seeing his career evolve is more gratifying than ten million copies.
What do you think of these first-week numbers from NBA YoungBoy, French Montana, and Real Boston Richey? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, check back in with HNHH for the latest releases, discussions, and numbers in hip-hop.
Over the years, “YB Better” has become both a valid argument supporting NBA YoungBoy’s unwavering dominance and a go-to insult for internet trolls hoping to irritate his contemporaries. Rappers like Kodak Black and Polo G have even vocalized their frustrations with fans spamming “YB Better” under their posts. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped YoungBoy from getting in on the fun, too. In the lead-up to his Sincerely, Kentrell album in 2021, he commissioned several “YB Better” billboards across the United States.
Despite the annoying nature of his infamous tagline, YoungBoy Never Broke Again has repeatedly proven he’s better than his competition. With four Billboard 200 chart-toppers on his rapidly growing resume, he is easily one of his generation’s top commercial performers. On the contrary, YoungBoy also doesn’t even seem too concerned with the charts. Last year, the Baton Rouge native sporadically released eight projects, and his fans ate them up with ravenous excitement. Without a doubt, the 23-year-old rapper stayed on top of his game by rewarding his cult following with endless material. Still, dropping projects nonstop can be a death sentence, and the threat of listener fatigue undoubtedly loomed over the horizon.
Nevertheless, NBA YoungBoy stormed into 2023 by announcing his first new album of the year. Then, on Friday, January 6, he delivered I Rest My Case.
DALLAS, TX – MAY 03: YoungBoy Never Broke Again performs during JMBLYA at Fair Park on May 3, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
For his fifth album, YoungBoy made the brilliant creative decision to distinguish his new music from his prolific 2022 output. However, he did so by adopting a sound that’s alien to his discography yet all too familiar to rap fans. Shockingly, I Rest My Case heavily borrows from the alternative, hyper-digital, and punk-rap soundscape of Playboi Carti’s Whole Lotta Red. In fact, one could go as far as to argue that YoungBoy may even be trolling Carti’s once-polarizing style. The cover art features graphics that are practically synonymous with Carti’s fanbase, from bats and coffins to crosses and skulls. In addition to its nearly monochromatic artwork, some of the album’s track titles seem to address the connection to WLR. Obviously, “Red” is the most eye-catching song title, but “Bitch Yeah” also feels obnoxiously reminiscent of Mario Judah’s “Bih Yah.”
It’s almost like YoungBoy is trying to one-up Carti, who’s easily one of his biggest competitors, on his own turf. As a result, I Rest My Case begs an interesting question: Is YBtruly better than any artist he’s put against?
Although it’s a brave and ambitious effort from the Never Broke Again head honcho, I Rest My Case doesn’t yield the definitive answer its title alludes to.
On one hand, YoungBoy’s new album makes for an easy and entertaining listen. The excitement of hearing one of Hip-Hop’s most prominent young acts dive head-first into a new sonic direction pairs well with the comfort of returning to one of rap’s most thrilling new subgenres. In fact, there are several times throughout I Rest My Case where YoungBoy proves that he could excel in the space if he so chose to.
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)
On tracks “Louie V,” “Just Like Me,” and “Not My Friend,” he sounds like he’s been doing this forever. In addition to those standout tracks, the skits (“Top Girls,” “Top Haters,” and “I Love YB”) bring IRMC all together.
Still, it would be a lofty statement to say he makes the best version of this style of music. While there are moments when one could entertain the thought of YoungBoy doing Carti better than Carti, they are fleeting. Furthermore, IRMC would largely benefit from a beefed-up presence of songs that feel more authentic to YB’s artistry. Few tracks — including “Double Cup” and “Same Thang” — feel like YoungBoy songs, which diminishes the album’s sense of identity.
Thus, the album’s strengths directly lead to its most glaring flaws. Love him or hate him, YoungBoy Never Broke Again has consistently been one of the most unique new acts. Without a doubt, many up-and-coming rappers have morphed into mini NBA YoungBoys due to the young rapper’s success and influence. Balanced against the originality of his past work, I Rest My Case feels like a step backward. Hip-Hop has progressed so far that albums like Whole Lotta Red and IRMC can thrive, but some things haven’t changed. For instance, biting still remains a cardinal sin in rap to this day. So while the idea of YoungBoy cosplaying as Carti sounds entertaining, the album feels antithetical to everything that YB has built for himself.
In conclusion, I Rest My Case is a solid and refreshing new offering from NBA YoungBoy, but it’s simply too derivative to stand on its own as a great album.
Now that you’ve read HNHH‘s review of I Rest My Case, we want to hear from you as well. Are you feeling the Baton Rouge native’s new sound? Does the originality, or lack thereof, affect your ability to enjoy his latest body of work? In the comment section below, let us know your thoughts and opinions on I Rest My Case.
Furthermore, you can also give NBA YoungBoy’s new album a rating of your own here.
Youngboy is still on his grind, and he quickly reminded us of that as we entered the new year. NBA YoungBoy just dropped his latest album, I Rest My Case, on which the opening track “Black” is a standout. Moreover, accompanied by an energetic music video, it’s Youngboy’s foray into rage music à la Playboi Carti or Yeat.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 16: Judge Greg Mathis and NBA Youngboy arrive at The Benjamin Crump Awards at The Venue of Hollywood on January 16, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images)
Still, it’s not his first attempt at buzzy synths, distorted bass, and a high-pitched drawl delivery. In fact, the Louisiana rapper experiments with the rage genre on a couple of tracks from I Rest My Case. Moreover, the next couple of songs in the tracklist also go in that sonic direction. Namely, these are tracks like “Louie V,” “Swag On Point,” and “B***h Yeah.” If you’ve been looking for a different direction from YB, now’s the time to check I Rest My Case out.
However, if you’re still a die-hard for the 23-year-old’s sound, “Black” carries over a lot of similarities to his most popular work. Moreover, the energy and aggression are still palpable, and his higher pitch doesn’t distract from his rapid-fire flows. Still, it’s not surprising to see YB in this rage lane. His Gangsta Grillz tape Ma’ I Got A Family featured Yeat on the track “I Don’t Text Back.”
Meanwhile, some fans caught YB while he was filming the music video for “Black.” It was a crazy moment for fans, as the Top rapper engaged them with a snowball fight. Also, if you peep the video, you can see these crowds around the rapper in a few shots.
Still, what did you think of NBA YoungBoy’s rage-tinged album cut “Black” from I Rest My Case? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, you can peep some standout bars and the music video down there as well. As always, stay logged in to HNHH for the latest greatness from the rap game.
Quotable Lyrics
How you get to this party? Don’t bring Backwoods, I like Swishers I gotta Draco in the sack n***a, shoot the car, tryna knock out the engine (Boom, baow, baow) I keep this s**t kickin’ on top of my pimpin’ (Yeah) Dirty rod in my pouch, gotta know I ain’t slippin’ (Yeah, go)
YoungBoy Never Broke Again is back with more heat. Fresh off a strong 2022, which landed the Louisiana legend on The SOURCE’s Top Five Hip-Hop Artists of 2022 list, YoungBoy is back again, dropping off his first official album under his own Never Broke Again imprint and Motown. The album is titled I Rest My Case.
The new album is YoungBoy at his best, dropping off 19 bangers for his dedicated fan base and those who are learning to come around or miss out on a generational talent. The album includes the single “BLACK,” in which YoungBoy delivers a new video capturing his and the song’s energy.
Need more NBA YoungBoy? The rapper has launched his own podcast, the YOUNGBOY NEVER BROKE AGAIN RADIO SHOW, featured on Amazon’s AMP platform. The show has already had Rick the Kid, Blueface, and more featured. Be sure to tap into that and also hear the new album below.
After debuting a consistent list of projects in the past year, NBA YoungBoy is bringing more heat with I Rest My Case.Coming mere weeks after his Lost Filesmixtape, the rapper’s first album of 2023 contains just under 20 songs with zero features.
After originally signing to Atlantic Records, NBA YoungBoy is now with Motown Records, making I Rest My Case his first project released under the label, Billboard reported.
NBA YoungBoy has been enjoying an impressive stride in his music career. Following the release of 3800 Degreez, The Last Slimeto, his Quando Rondo collab 3860, and more, quickly climbed the charts last year while dropping several hit albums and singles.
He also became one of the most streamed U.S. artists in 2022, a testament to the “Make No Sense” rapper’s dedicated fanbase.
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)
Recently revealing his top rap artists on Amazon’s Never Broke Again Radio, he shouted out Shy Glizzy, Young Thug, French Montana, and Soulja Slim as some of his favorite emcees in the game. In another episode, he hyped up Quando Rondo, who is currently signed to YoungBoy’s Never Broke Again label.
Claiming that the “War Baby” rapper is the better of the two, he shared, “The world be hating so bad, and I be keeping it so gangsta. Man, Quando rap way better than me, and them b***hes be hating on my five. I don’t like that twisted ass sh**.
Stream I Rest My Case down below and let us know your favorite track in the comments below.
NBA YoungBoy was undeniably one of the most active rappers of the year in 2022. Successfully dropping eight tapes over the past 12 months, the 23-year-old was all over everyone’s playlists.
It seems as though he has his eyes on continuing this trend in 2023 as well.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again performs during JMBLYA at Fair Park on May 3, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
According to reports from Billboard, the Baton Rouge native will celebrate the first week of the new year by releasing his first offering of 2023. The album is titled I Rest My Case.
The official album cover is circulating on social media in anticipation of its arrival on streaming services on Friday (January 6).
Furthermore, the project will serve as YoungBoy’s first under his new label, Motown Records. He signed the deal in October last year and reports indicated that it would go into effect in 2023.
Following this news, the “Make No Sense” rapper claimed to be turning down large sums of money for potential tours. “I done found time for myself. Every $15 million tour come my way getting turned down. I don’t wanna do no show. I don’t want nothing but a bigger house. It gave me time for myself. My daughter know who I am, b*tch, I know who I am,” he flexes in the Instagram video.
The final of the aforementioned eight albums he released in 2022, was the 21-track Lost Files. Among the other seven are two joint projects with other rappers. The first of which is BETTER THAN YOU with Da Baby. The latter, released in November, is 3860 with Quando Rondo.
It will certainly be interesting to see how many more projects he drops off this year.
What was your favorite release from YoungBoy last year? Comment your thoughts down below. Finally, be sure to stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest updates and releases.
If there’s one rapper who undoubtedly had a grip on 2022, it was NBA Youngboy. Despite laying low for a large portion of the year, he came back stronger than ever with The Last Slimeto. The project contained upwards of 30 tracks but even still, he had even more heat in the stash to unleash in the months that followed.
NBA Youngboy closed out an incredibly productive year with Lost Files on December 23rd. The album arrived with little warning or promotion but still managed to move 18K in its first week.
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)
However, it seems like NBA Youngboy’s 2022 run was solely a set-up for big things ahead in the new year. This weekend, the rapper revealed that he has another body of work on the way this week. On Friday (Jan. 6th), he’ll unveil his next album titled, I Rest My Case with the cover art coming via Akademiks.
There’s no information on what to expect but it appears that NBA Youngboy will be relentlessly dishing out new music throughout the year. In October, the rapper announced that he fulfilled his deal with Atlantic Records, to who he has been signed with since 2017. Apparently, the release of The Last Slimeto concluded his contractual obligations to Atlantic.
Since then, NBA Youngboy inked a deal with Motown Records — a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. It will be exciting to what this next chapter of his career will look like, though he’s no stranger to the label, either. He previously inked a deal with Motown for the Never Broke Again imprint including artists like NoCap and Quando Rondo.
It appears that I Rest My Case will be the first project to drop through his deal with Motown Records.
Are you excited to hear more music from NBA Youngboy this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
GRATEFUL 
(@YbUpdate) 