Rapper NBA YoungBoy, born Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, has officially received his prison sentence in a long-standing federal gun case. The 24-year-old chart-topping artist was sentenced to seven months behind bars, following his conviction on federal firearms charges stemming from a 2020 arrest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The charges originated when police discovered multiple firearms during a video shoot involving YoungBoy and his associates. At the time, Gaulden was already on probation for unrelated offenses, escalating the severity of the case. Prosecutors argued that the rapper, who has a history of legal troubles, posed a threat to public safety by possessing firearms illegally.
In a courtroom packed with supporters and critics alike, the judge handed down the sentence, emphasizing the importance of accountability while also acknowledging YoungBoy’s efforts to comply with legal proceedings in recent months. Gaulden has already served the majority of his sentence under house arrest, meaning he will not face additional jail time if he continues to meet probationary requirements.
Ahead of the sentencing, NBA YoungBoy addressed the court, expressing remorse for his actions and promising to focus on his career and family. “I’m ready to put this behind me and move forward,” he said. His legal team emphasized his progress, noting that he has remained productive while under house arrest, releasing multiple albums and collaborating with artists across the industry.
The news has drawn mixed reactions from the hip-hop community. Fans have taken to social media to celebrate the relatively lenient outcome, using hashtags like #FreeYB to show support. Fellow artists have also chimed in, with many applauding YoungBoy’s resilience amid his legal battles.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about the message sent by the case, arguing that celebrities often receive more lenient treatment than everyday citizens in similar situations.
With his legal troubles nearing an end, NBA YoungBoy is expected to shift his focus back to music. His next album, rumored to be titled The Return, is anticipated to drop in the coming months. His team has hinted at a major tour once his probationary period allows for travel, signaling a strong comeback for the Louisiana native.
This case marks yet another chapter in the tumultuous life of one of rap’s most polarizing figures. As NBA YoungBoy moves forward, fans and critics alike will be watching to see how he navigates his second chance.
Based on documents obtained by the outlet, today (December 10), YoungBoy Never Broke Again (real name Kentrell DeSean Gaulden) was formally sentenced to 23 months in federal prison. In addition to the stint behind bars, following his release Gaulden is required to successfully complete 60 months of probation.
As not to be confused with his recent prescription drug fraud case sentencing, this court decisions stems from an incident in his hometown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. According to the local news station WAFB9, after receiving an anonymous tip of a group of men flashing weapons, police arrived at an abandoned lot where Gaulden and 16 others were detained.
Upon arrival to what is now known to have been a music video shoot, police confiscated 14 guns (one of which discovered to be stolen and two were equipped with illegal stocks), drugs, and $79,000 in cash. At the time of Gaulden’s arrest, his then attorney James Manasseh released a statement professing his client’s innocence. “Kentrell is not guilty of any crimes,” he said. “There’s nothing in the report that indicates that he did anything wrong. They arrested several people and there was no indication that he had any guns or drugs on him at the time of the arrest. I ultimately believe he will be found innocent in all of this.”
According to multiple sources, NBA YoungBoy now has his official prison sentence. The Louisiana rapper is going to be behind bars for 23 months, followed by 60 months of probation back in Utah where he’s been under house arrest. This all stems from his two separate gun cases. The first of which occurred back in September 2020 when he knowingly possessed two firearms during a music video filming in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Then, the other is for another possession of a firearm at his Huntsville, Utah pad. That went down after a search warrant was served back in April of this year.
You may be wondering why this report is coming out today, as YB was given a 27-month prison stay back in mid-November. This is a reduction of that ruling, which did tie in his drug fraud case. Then, he was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and plead guilty to a handful of charges. They included two counts of third-degree felony identity fraud, two counts of third-degree felony forgery, and six counts of misdemeanor unlawful pharmacy conduct. Additionally, NBA YoungBoy entered a “no contest” plea to the remaining 36 charges in that case.
While it’s not a drastic alteration in his overall sentence, this is still better than nothing for him. At the end of the day, four less months is always going to be better. With that said though, YB’s journey into hip-hop has not always been a smooth ride. The legal issues seem to be present in some capacity despite having a majorly successful career.
It’s why Logan District Judge Spencer Walsh, the man who handed down the 27 months, showed some sympathy for the MC. “I’ve seen so many times where you have young men and women who have a lot of talent and potential. They can be robbed of that potential when they start to really struggle with their addictions. I don’t want that for you. I’m sure that in your future, once you’re done with your federal prison time, you can be really successful on federal probation and have a really bright future where you can reach your full potential in every aspect of your life. Best of luck to you, Mr. Gaulden.”
Quando Rondo’s come-up has been littered with strife and controversy, much of which has continued to hover over his head in recent years. And while the public narrative hasn’t necessarily always been on his side, he’s made efforts towards changing that and having people see things from his point of view. His 2023 album, Recovery, felt like a reflection of everything that he’s seen and done while looking toward a better path. His follow-up, 2024’s Here For A Reason, embraces these hardships as learned lessons and blessings to help him navigate this next chapter of his life.
Unfortunately, the circumstances of these realizations surround real-life consequences. In December 2023, the rapper was arrested and charged on federal drug charges, which he pleaded guilty to earlier this year. He’s currently on house arrest as he awaits his sentencing. However, within the past year or so, Quando Rondo has made strides in denouncing his previous gang affiliation and vowing to be a better role model for the kids in his community. Part of that is leading by example, as he describes on “Life Goes On” rapping, “Young n***as ’round here beefin’ ’bout the color of a bandana/ That’s why I put my flag down and I picked up a Quran.” Though he doesn’t believe his spirituality has altered his creative process, he does believe that it’s brought him a sense of peace.
“[Islam] gave me some of the best energy I ever had,” Quando Rondo explained to HotNewHipHop over a Zoom call from his home. It’s here where he has been recording music and establishing a presence on the livestreaming platform Twitch where he streams gameplay of NBA 2K and GTA 5. In fact, he began rubbing shoulders with a few of the most prominent figures in that world. In the past year, he appeared on a livestream with buzzing streamers Konvy and FazeLacy. Previously, Quando Rondo live-streamed with Duke Dennis, and as we spoke, he attempted to line up a second round of NBA 2K with the AMP member.
We caught up with Quando Rondo before the release of Here For A Reason to discuss this newfound outlook on life, his appreciation for Lil RT, and his aspirations outside of music.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Via HNHH
HotNewHipHop:The title of each of your projects feels like a statement. 2023, you released Recovery and now, you’ve dropped Here For A Reason. What’s the significance of this title?
Quando Rondo: I mean, sh*t is self-explanatory. Here For A Reason. Been through a lot but still here.
How deep into the project were you before you landed on this title?
I already had the title that I wanted to go with from the very jump, to be honest with you. I had that title in my mind. Well, I had the saying “here for a reason” in my mind for a couple of months before I even started recording. After you release a project, it’s like you already own to the next, thinking about what you are about to do next. So I had that in my mind a little bit, like sometime after dropping Recovery.
There are no features on this project, either. What was the decision behind that?
Man, I never really worked with other artists, like from the beginning, if you go back and look. It’s never really been my thing. I really love to work by myself.
Your music already has a spiritual tone, and the album contains plenty of references to your grandmother’s prayers. Is there a piece of advice from her or even a prayer that stuck with you?
You know, I was raised in a praying house with a praying family. So, I was taught that prayer works. After I go through something, I talk to my grandma and she pray. I feel alright after that.
You also mention how Islam has helped shape your new outlook on life. One line in particular, you mention how you “put the flag down and picked up a Qu’ran.” How has Islam played a role in helping you find that inner peace?
Man, they had a lot to do with it, because you got to think about it: the majority of the Muslim brothers that you’re going to meet, or you see when you go to the Masjid and in public, they let go of their problems. So that’s the type of energy that it gave me. It just gave me good peace and energy. Taking my shot and being a part of Islam, it just gave me better energy. It gave me some of the best energy I ever had.
How has the Muslim community influenced your approach to music?
Ain’t no difference. I still work the same. I had the same process as I did in the beginning.
On the song “Point Of View,” you discuss the public’s perception of you and how you feel misunderstood. Do you feel like that perception around you is changing?
I most definitely feel like that is going to change. You know, tables turn and bridges burn. To explain that song, man, I feel like this: everybody has their own point of view when it comes to anything. In that song, I was just explaining my point of view. Like, you gotta see this from my point of view.
Do you feel like people are seeing your point of view these days?
I mean, with being an artist and not knowing my fans personally or seeing each and every one of my fans, I can’t really answer that. But I hope that people out there who see shit from my point of view too. In life, you have to always put yourself in the other person’s shoes. When a situation or anything comes to me, I always look at it from both angles. You have to.
You released a statement to the city of Savannah apologizing and vowing to be a better role model. How did you feel about the reception to that statement, both from the city and online?
I felt good about it, bro. That’s a statement that I issued. You got to know that I feel 100% good about what I said, and I mean everything I say.
What other plans do you have to uplift your community?
Man, I have a plan to bond at least 10 people out of jail for the Thanksgiving holidays. I know that the label Atlantic Records is 100% behind me. But you know, they do stuff on a planned schedule, and, I ain’t got no patience. Neither do people that are in jail. So I really just is going to choose the day out this week, probably, and just do it myself.
You sampled 50 Cent on “Could’ve Been Me.” What was the process like getting that sample cleared and did you speak to him directly?
Not directly, but through the label, we got it cleared. I’d really like to talk to him, because I want to be in a movie. I got a story.
Are you trying to get your own movie or appear in the Power universe or something?
I’m trying to get him to write a movie about my life. Eventually, yes, I’d play a role. But you know, from the beginning, they gotta be a young lookalike.
Who would you ask to play that role if you had a choice?
Now, that’s something I can’t answer because we would have to go through 500-600 different pictures of people from all over the world who are young, who we feel like really look like me–[look like] younger pictures than me, bro. That’s something I can’t answer. Who’s liked and who’s needed are two different things, sometimes. Man, this business. So on a business note, I’d approach it like who’s needed at the moment?
Who do you think would be needed for that role? If you had a choice.
You know what’s crazy? Lil RT could probably play me.
What are your thoughts on his online presence and antics?
I ain’t gonna lie, I like lil’ bro, and it be so many fans like, “Quando Rondo looks like an older Lil’ RT,” and I’d be looking at the little n***a like, “I like this lil’ n***a.”
Have you been able to link up with him yet?
No due to house arrest and stuff like that, and me being in my own little shell.
You haven’t hit his DMs or anything either?
No, that’s a young man. I don’t know if he works his Instagram and stuff, and I’m a grown ass man. I just don’t see what type of conversations we can have if it ain’t about making something happen.
Before we bounce, I did want to just know what the significance of “Many Men” as it relates to your life.
Think about it: “Many Men” reflects my life. “Many Men wish death upon me.” That’s real. I mean, that ain’t hard to notice. That ain’t hard to see but I’m gonna come out just like the person who made that song.
The first time that I heard that song–I can’t really say that. I was young. I knew nothing about no music and job at the time. Going back later in life listening to it, I thought about the trials and tribulations I’ve been through, the song meant a lot to me. It’s a forever song, that’s a longevity record.
You’ve been diving into the gaming industry and livestreaming. What’s been the most gratifying part about growing a community this way?
Man, I just like playing the game. I like 2k and GTA 5. I’ve been streaming, been playing the game, but it’s like I had stopped doing it for a couple of years. I wish that I kept the hustle going on. I wish I had stayed consistent with streaming and playing the game, because maybe, I wouldn’t have been in a lot of situations, and maybe, I would have been on a way higher level in the streaming world, just like I am in the music world. It’s nothing like having both.
I saw you link up with Konvy and Lacy recently. They aren’t necessarily hip-hop per se but the streamers have developed some sort of footing within hip-hop. What are your thoughts about the position streamers currently play within hip-hop?
You gotta think about it. The gaming people are damn near getting bigger than the rapper or the artist. Look at Kai Cenat, Duke Dennis. I actually played the game with Duke Dennis a couple of years ago. We got a video on YouTube. We played 2k together a couple of years ago. Hold on, I’m trying to see right now. Oh, Duke Dennis still plays the game. I’m going to try and DM him.
Outside of music and streaming, what else do you have planned?
Chilling, for real. Just trying to stay out of the way.
NBA YoungBoy has pleaded guilty to participating in a large prescription drug fraud ring that was executed from his Huntsville, Utah home.
According to ABC-4 Utah, YoungBoy was charged with 46 charges in the Logan District Court. He pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree felony identity fraud, two counts of third-degree felony forgery, and six counts of misdemeanor unlawful pharmacy conduct. He pleaded no contest to all the other counts.
The charges won’t carry any additional jail time; instead, they were reduced to Class A Misdemeanors, and he will pay a $25,000 fine. YoungBoy is already expected to serve 27 months in federal prison for another case in Weber County.
“This is somewhat of a unique case where there have been multiple jurisdictions involved both in the federal and the state systems,” said state prosecutor Ronnie Keller. “This is just really a smaller cog in the bigger wheel of ultimately seeking justice.”
According to AllHipHop, YoungBoy Never Broke Again has formerly pled guilty to his outstanding fraud cases.
During the hearing, YoungBoy Never Broke Again reportedly plead guilty to two counts of third-degree felony identity fraud, two counts of third-degree felony forgery and six misdemeanor charges related to unlawful pharmacy conduct.
Initially, YoungBoy Never Broke Again faced 46 felony charges. Eventually they were pled down to multiple misdemeanors. After a result of his plea, YoungBoy Never Broke Again will serve a “substantial” 27-month sentence in federal prison in connected to the federal charges. That means YoungBoy will not serve any time in a Utah state prison.
Once YoungBoy completes his sentence, he is expected to complete five years (or 60 months) of federal probation. The conditions of his probation has not yet been publicly disclosed.
Outside of his forthcoming prison sentence and federal probation, YoungBoy will be required to pay a monetary fine. According to AllHipHop, the fine was imposed at $25,000.
YoungBoy has not released a statement regarding the hearing or alleged plea.
“No friends in the industry” is a common phrase tossed around in hip-hop music. Drake is particularly champions that sentiment quite often. Overall, it does actually play out quite a bit, with new beefs seemingly popping up every month or so. However, there are some tight knit bonds out there, and one of them is between Quando Rondo and NBA YoungBoy. If you have paid close attention to them, you know that these two always have each other’s backs. YB has been involved with many verbal confrontations with other MCs such as Lil Durk and Bobby Shmurda. The Louisiana product also was there for the Georgia native when he was going through a breakup a couple of years ago.
To help Rondo move on, YB gifted him $1 million and that seemed to really strengthen their connection. “LIL TOP JUST GAVE ME A MILLION DOLLARS LAST WEEK PLUS I ALLREADY HAD A COUPLE HUNNIT CAN CARELESS BOUT A ***** GOT A BAG.” On top of supporting one another, the two have shared the stage before and also have a collaborative project out. Most of this happened a couple of years ago, though, so it begs the question, “Are they still close?”
Well, DJ Akademiks sat down with Quando to discuss this very topic, and the results should make fans happy. The hip-hop pundit opened the segment up by saying how he and the fans respect how the loyalty is so strong between them. In addition, he feels the general consensus is that him and YB don’t require some form of compensation to keep their friendship alive. The Here For A Reason MC agreed with those thoughts and that there really isn’t much else to say.
However, he would eventually expand a little bit more saying that it helps how “alike” they are. “I’m talking as far as having the same background. Growing up really f***ed up, poverty, and not having s***, and not being a b**** a** n****, really being on go for real,” he says. “Really standing on our ten” and essentially sticking up for themselves were things that they connected over, and it shows. Rondo speaks with a lot of passion in the clip, and you can just feel the sincerity in how he answered each question.
NBA YoungBoy is now heading to prison according to a new report from AllHipHop. This sentence stems from the ongoing federal gun case that was originally handed down to the prolific rapper back in Louisiana in 2020. If you remember, he was “indicted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record in 2021”. This case has been going on for quite some time and it was eventually transferred over to his most recent state of residence, Utah. That happened because NBA YoungBoy took a guilty plea deal back in mid to late August.
“I, defendant, have been informed that a Felony Indictment is pending against me in the above designated case. I wish to plead guilty to the offense charged, to consent to the disposition of the case in the District of Utah in which I am present, and to waive trial in the above captioned District”. Prior to the reveal of what his prison sentence would be, there were reports saying that he could’ve faced up to 10 years. Today, is an entirely different story, though.
YB’s lawyer, Bradford Cohen, says that he’s receiving just 27 months behind bars in addition to five years of probation. That’s quite the far cry from the original predicition and there’s even a chance that stay could be shorter. “Global plea 27 months… will be out with credit time served in prob 12 months”, Cohen said. He also feels this because “the case in Utah is weak and the Federal case had all kinds of trouble”. Obviously, while going to prison is never ideal, this is as big of a win that the rapper could’ve gotten.
What are your thoughts on NBA YoungBoy getting 27 months behind bars for his federal gun case? How do you feel about him possibly being in prison for just 12 months? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding NBA YoungBoy. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Country and hip-hop are crossing paths more than ever nowadays. There are some that we could see working out like mgk and Jelly Roll, for example. However, there is a track that’s been gaining some traction online lately that we didn’t think would ever happen. Today, we are referring to NBA YoungBoy and Kevin Smiley teaming up for “Matador”. The latter is a pretty fresh face, as the 20-year-old has just three songs on his professional resume.
According to HipHopNMore, he hails from a really small town in Florida called Okeechobee and broke onto the scene with “Paralyzed” on May 10. Smiley began to pick up his love for music at a fairly young age due to his mom being artistically inclined. He learned to sing and play guitar at church thanks to his father being a pastor and his mother having wicked piano skills. Perhaps due to their faith, Smiley was not allowed to listen to hip-hop, but instead developed a love for country. Now, all of that homecooked experience and knowledge is being translated into songs like “Matador”. This is one of three singles that will be on his debut EP later this fall. Smiley and YB sing and rap with pain and a sense of tiredness for trying to love someone who doesn’t love them back. It’s a nice blend of emo, country, and trap, and we can foresee Smiley achieving some similar success that Shaboozey has been seeing as of late.
Like a bull chasing a matador I’m chasing the memories of us Kissing while the rain poured on your Honda Friends say I need start getting out And I should try to forget about The last six months of my life like I don’t wanna
NBA Youngboy’s become a definitive artist of this generation. However, he hasn’t been able to fulfill his potential due to the array of legal challenges he faces. During his time on house arrest, he cranked out numerous bodies of work and flooded the streets with new music as a means to make up for lost time. After spending more than two years under house arrest, the rapper reportedly entered a guilty plea to a federal gun charge, according to Billboard. This plea marks a significant development in a case that has kept him confined to his Salt Lake City mansion since 2021. Here’s what we know about the situation.
On Wednesday, August 14th, NBA YoungBoy informed a federal judge of his intention to plead guilty to a single count of possession of firearms by a convicted felon. This plea comes after federal prosecutors indicted the rapper in 2021. This came after a September 2020 incident in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where authorities alleged he possessed two firearms. Given his 2017 conviction for aggravated assault with a firearm, the law prohibits him from owning any guns
— Youngboy Snippets (@YoungboySnippet) June 3, 2024
Since his indictment, YoungBoy has been confined under house arrest, with his trial repeatedly delayed. His legal team had been awaiting the outcome of a major gun-control case before the Supreme Court, hoping it might influence the outcome of his own case. Although the Supreme Court’s ruling was issued in June, YoungBoy’s case had not resumed before he decided to plead guilty.
Throughout his house arrest, YoungBoy’s attorneys argued that the prolonged isolation was taking a toll on his mental health. They sought to relax the restrictions, requesting that he be allowed to travel to a recording studio to continue his music career. However, in November, the judge denied most of these requests, keeping the rapper confined to his home.
The specifics of NBA YoungBoy’s guilty plea remain unclear, particularly whether it is part of a deal with prosecutors that might lead to a more lenient sentence. His legal team has not commented on whether this plea is part of a larger strategy to reduce potential penalties. However, there have been reports claiming that NBA Youngboy could face up to 10 years behind bars.
Even as this federal case approaches resolution, YoungBoy faces a fresh set of challenges in Utah. In April, while still under house arrest, authorities arrested him on charges related to an alleged “large-scale prescription fraud ring.” These new charges include identity fraud, obtaining a prescription under false pretenses, forgery, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person. After being granted release on bond in May, it remains uncertain when he will face trial on these state charges.
Musical Output During House Arrest
Despite the constraints of house arrest, NBA YoungBoy has maintained a prolific output, releasing several albums and singles that have resonated with his fans. Confined to his Salt Lake City mansion, the rapper used his home studio to create music that reflects his turbulent life and legal battles. Notable projects include Sincerely, Kentrell and Colors, both of which topped charts and solidified his status as one of the most streamed artists in the world. His ability to produce raw, emotional tracks while under legal restrictions demonstrates his resilience and dedication to his craft. The limitations of house arrest may have kept him physically isolated, but they did not stifle his creativity. Instead, YoungBoy’s music during this period has become a voice for those facing similar struggles, further deepening his connection with his audience.
Legal Issues & Career Impact
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NBA YoungBoy’s legal troubles have cast a long shadow over his career, but they have also contributed to his mystique and appeal. His music reflects His ongoing battles with the law, adding a layer of authenticity and raw emotion that resonates with his fans. However, these issues have also posed significant challenges, including restricted travel, limited public appearances, and the potential for long-term incarceration. While his house arrest limited his ability to perform live, it did not diminish his influence in the music industry. Yet, the constant legal scrutiny has placed a strain on his career, with the possibility of future charges threatening to derail his upward trajectory. Despite these challenges, NBA YoungBoy remains a dominant force in hip-hop, using his struggles as fuel for his art, even as the legal system continues to loom over his future.
(@SaycheeseDGTL) 
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