Who knew the feud between NBA Youngboy and Lil Durk would somehow involve Drake? In the midst of speculation of an album showdown, YB released “F**k The Industry Pt. 2” where he addressed a number of individuals, including Lil Wayne’s protegé. “Talked to Drake ‘cross FaceTime, he wasn’t feelin’ me/ Told me that he fuck with Durk, damn, that shit gettin’ to me/ Told me that he like the shit I’m doin’, but can’t do shit with me/ So when we cross our ways, fuck what you say, bitch, you my enemy,” YB raps on the song.
Apparently, this required J. Prince’s intervention. Birdman seemingly set up a meeting in Utah between the Rap-A-Lot boss and the Richest Opp rapper where they could hash out their differences. “On behalf of the lil Homie YB, me and my brother Birdman were able to have a real conversation face to face,” J. Prince wrote in the caption. “We talked about the past, the present, and the future. But most importantly, we left each other with a mutual respect moving forward.”
Prince explained that he wasn’t there to meet with Birdman but felt compelled to publicly speak on “F*ck The Industry Pt. 2.” “To the lil homie, as I said to you privately, I say to you publicly that Drake is my son, he roll with me,” he added. “Therefore, I think it’s a good idea to take him off your enemy list because the truth of the matter is that we got nothing but love for Durk and your accomplishments. When I put Drake on that facetime call with you, my intent was for y’all to move forward, not backwards.”
Both NBA Youngboy and J. Prince have exchanged words in the past, largely due to the latter’s public declaration of retrieving YB’s stolen car keys. In response, NBA Youngboy scolded Prince for sharing an Instagram post about the matter. “It’s plenty ways to get in touch with me,” YB said on Instagram at the time. “I’m good on them keys, gangsta. When you buy that shit cash, two keys come with the car anyways. Mind your fuckin’ business, mane.” Hopefully, the recent meeting maintains the peace between NBA Youngboy and J. Prince.
NBA YoungBoy continues to solidify himself as the most consistent MC in hip-hop with his third project of 2023, Richest Opp. It’s his second project within the past month. He’s now up to an astounding 69 songs this calendar year. The Louisiana native has been on a tear, partly attributed to YoungBoy being under house arrest. Existing in his own peaceful and lavish world in the mountains of Utah, he’s taken the extended time to hone his craft as a rapper.
He’s becoming just as well-known for his insane consistency as his skill on the mic. At 23 years old, he’s put out far more music than seasoned veteran MCs have throughout an entire hip-hop career. However, YNBA’s output directly reflects the internet culture that runs the rap world. New tracks are constantly being teased over Instagram live streams. As hip-hop grows, fans’ attention spans are becoming shorter and shorter by the year. The stark reality for many artists is that constant output is the way to relevancy.
“Richest Opp” Is NBA YoungBoy’s Third Project This Year
If anyone can get away with this constant output without over-saturating their brand, it’s NBA YoungBoy. His aggressive and flamboyant punchlines combined with the high-pitched melodies give him one of the most distinguishable voices in hip-hop. He can dart from rapid flows to melodic vocal harmonies on a dime. As a result, lackluster beats can be compromised with his commanding presence over a track.
In fact, he isn’t completely sacrificing quality for quantity on Richest Opp. The overarching tone coming from YoungBoy is anger. Cast out by the industry, he’s faced plenty of criticism surrounding his numerous children, criminal background, and controversial headlines. Feeling as if all knives are pointed at him, Richest Opp sees him laser-focused on his pen game. It’s to a point where the record’s lyrical content becomes disturbing. YoungBoy’s imagery surrounding violence sometimes comes off as realistic rather than symbolic. However, this is coming from someone who’s genuinely lived that life. NBA YoungBoy grew up in the impoverished streets of New Orleans, getting a first-row seat to violence and drug use.
NBA YoungBoy Calls Out The Music Industry
Take “F**k The Industry Pt.2,” where he calls out artists such as Drake, Jay Prince, Lil Durk, and Lil Yachty. Referencing Drake and Durk, he states, “Talked to Drake ‘cross FaceTime, he wasn’t feelin’ me / Told me that he f*ck with Durk, damn, that sh*t gettin’ to me / Told me that he like the sh*t I’m doin’, but can’t do sh*t with me.” Accusing past collaborators of doing whatever they can to prevent him from being successful, this “me against the world” mentality remains prevalent throughout the entire record. Sirens race through the background while menacing piano chords work their way into the mix of much of Richest Opp. Other standouts such as “Free Meechy,” “Slider,” and “Hurt My Heart” follow this dark theme. There are a slew of genuinely great choruses from YoungBoy throughout the record.
Richest Opp begins to falter when it strays away from the core emotion of the record. The more understated, toned-down tracks such as “Just Flow” and “I Got That S**t” leave room for the wallpaper production to become increasingly obvious. As a whole, Richest Opp leaves the listener wishing that NBA YoungBoy was in a room of producers looking to take more sonic risks. The more YoungBoy’s ominous voice takes over the record, the better. For the record’s redundant flaws, fans will likely leave with a handful of personal favorites to keep them satisfied until the next project inevitably rolls around.
While Richest Opp is likely the best we’ve heard from NBA YoungBoy in 2023, it leaves the audience wondering, what’s next? The headline-making MC can only rap over same-y beats for so long before the hip-hop world moves on to the next prevailing trend. However, the world hasn’t moved on yet. Selling a project of 58k units in week one, Richest Opp is set to debut in the Top 5. In fact, the project sets him up for a historic milestone. With the new project, he joins Future and Drake on the list of the highest-selling rappers ever.
For those who’ve ditched his wild world over the past year, it’s worth returning to with Richest Opp. It’s his most emotionally charged project in a long while. It’s already generated an argument between him and Soulja Boy over social media. Soulja Boy accused NBA YoungBoy of releasing the album on the same day to ride off of his hype. NBA YoungBoy responded with hostility, sparking a beef over social media. However, the beef was nothing more than fun competition between the two vibrant MCs. On the Bootleg Kev Podcast, Soulja Boy confirmed that he’d be open to collaborating with NBA YoungBoy. Still, it looks as if his tension with Lil Durk rages on.
NBA YoungBoy’s career as a rapper is changing the hip-hop game. Widely touted as one the hardest workers in hip-hop, the Louisiana-born MC has been releasing music like clockwork over the past few years. Astoundingly, YoungBoy has already put out three albums in 2023 alone. His latest mixtape, Richest Opp, has him set to join Future and Drake for the third-most Top 10 rap albums. This is especially impressive, considering he’s merely 23 years old.
For most rappers, an over-saturation of music would be a death sentence for their career. However, YoungBoy has garnered a fanbase that’s along for the ride regarding his repetitive output. At this point, his reputation for releasing a new project every few months is one that fans have become accustomed to. As a result, his studio albums and mixtapes continue to debut in the Top 5 on the Billboard charts.
NBA YoungBoy Turned To Music As A Child
NEW ORLEANS, LA – AUGUST 25: Rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again performs during Lil Weezyana at Champions Square on August 25, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)
NBA YoungBoy’s early life was full of trouble surrounding run-ins with the law. Named Kentrell Gaulden, he began to turn to his pen as a child to process the chaotic world around him. Growing up in an impoverished area of Baton Rouge, his father was absent throughout his upbringing. He was surrounded by drugs and violence daily, an experience he’s lyrically chronicled throughout his career. Dropping out of high school in the ninth grade, YoungBoy was forced to fend for himself from a young age.
The rapper’s music began to gain significant traction as early as 2016. After releasing numerous mixtapes on YouTube and Soundcloud, he garnered attention from the surrounding Baton Rouge community. This would quickly morph into industry-wide exposure. Releasing multiple albums throughout 2016, a 16-year-old YoungBoy even included artists such as Kevin Gates and 21 Savage on Before I Go and 38 Baby. By 2017, NBA YoungBoy’s career had taken off through the breakout mixtape AI YoungBoy. Hit tracks such as “Untouchable” and “No Smoke” solidified him as a mainstream force, with his textbook-rapid flows blowing up across the Internet.
Legal Troubles During Fame
SUNNY ISLES, FLORIDA – MAY 12: Sunny Isles Beach police officers stand near a van where an individual was found shot to death after a shooting close by that reports say involved rapper NBA Youngboy on May 12, 2019 in Sunny Isles, Florida. Police continue to investigate both of the scenes near the Trump International Beach Resort. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
However, NBA YoungBoy’s troubling childhood circumstances have followed him throughout his catapulting music career. He’s had to balance constant court cases with music creation throughout his fame. In 2016, he was arrested for attempted first-degree murder in connection to a drive-by shooting in Baton Rouge. In 2018, he was arrested for kidnapping and assault in an incident involving his once-girlfriend. Once again, he was arrested in 2021 for illegal possession of firearms.
Due to his constant troubles with the law, YougnBoy has spent much of the past half-decade under house arrest. However, the unfortunate circumstance has yielded some benefits for the understated MC. With nothing much to do but create music, the past five years have seen him build up his catalog to over 25 mixtapes and five studio albums. Ironically, his legal struggles have enabled him to hone in on his rap career.
A Shift While In Utah
In addition, he’s taken advantage of the quiet time in the hopes of becoming an inspiration to younger generations. In an interview with Billboard, YoungBoy spoke about his time under house arrest in Utah. The isolation and chance to reconnect peacefully with his family have positively influenced the rapper. In the long term, he plans to buy more land there. YoungBoy also stated that he’s most looking forward to “change.” He added, “I’m very curious of the person who I shall become.”
On all accounts, collaborators with NBA YoungBoy have had nothing but good things to say about the MC throughout his career. In 2021, he earned a spot on Tyler, the Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost. His verse off of “Wusyaname” stole the show on the song, with the hip-hop audience being shocked at his ability to flow over a soul-based beat. Tyler shouted out YoungBoy during a show back in 2021, simply stating, “He’s such a sweetheart.” YoungBoy has also released collaborative mixtapes from artists such as Birdman, Moneybagg Yo, Rich the Kid, and DaBaby.
He’s Looking To Rebirth His Image
In retrospect, NBA Youngboy’s career is one of persistence and dedication. Overcoming childhood obstacles, there’s no doubt that his lack of direction would contribute to legal troubles later in life. However, we’re beginning to see a more mature and measured YoungBoy as he enters his mid-20s. Solidifying himself as one of the biggest names in hip-hop, it will be interesting to see if he continues his constant music output over the next few years. With his success when diving into other hip-hop styles, there’s no doubt that fans wouldn’t mind a more experimental record that took YoungBoy longer to complete. However, he’s inspired other rappers to stay consistent with their releases.
NBA YoungBoy’s Richest Opp will deliver another prolific first week for the rapper. Hits Daily Double has logged the rapper’s new mixtape with a 58,000 first week.
Youngboy’s latest effort has the same projects as the new album from The Jonas Brothers. Both releases are projected for the top five debuts.
In what was supposed to be a battle of the albums, NBA YoungBoy still delivered his Richest Opp project. Lil Durk delayed Almost Healed for another week.
The new Richest Opp project comes on the heels of Youngboy recently dropping his 33-track Don’t Try This at Home album. In addition, YoungBoy released the video for “Bitch Let’s Do It.”
Richest Opp is a 17-track album largely delivered by the rapper solo. Included in the album is “Fuck the Industry Pt. 2,” where Youngboy throws shots at Drake, Durk, J. Cole, Lil Yachty, and more. You can hear all of the album below.
NBA YoungBoy’s latest mixtape, Richest Opp, dropped on May 12. It’s his third album release of the year, following studio albums I Rest My Case and Don’t Try This At Home. According to industry sales data, Richest Opp is projected to sell somewhere in the region of 58,000 copies in its first week. While not as strong as Don’t Try This At Home‘s 62,000 sales, it should be good enough for a top-five debut in the charts.
While myriad data about album success exists, it’s a little harder to find when broken down by genre. In regards to the Billboard 200, the Rolling Stones hold the record for all-time top-10 albums with 37. In terms of rap music specifically, the best-performing artist in terms of albums is a tie between Jay-Z and Nas. The two rap legends have 16 apiece. While NBA YoungBoy isn’t quite there yet, he’s getting close. And he’s joining some big-name stars in third.
NBA YoungBoy Projected For Third-Most Top-10 Rap Albums
If Richest Opp peaks in the top 10, it will be NBA YoungBoy’s 15th top-10 album. All five of his studio albums peaked in the top 10, with Top and Sincerely, Kentrell reaching number one. As for mixtapes, NBA YoungBoy saw 11 consecutive mixtapes fail to break the top 10. Six failed to chart entirely and two charted outside the top 150. NBA YoungBoy’s performing mixtape prior to 2019 was Realer, which peaked at #15. However, all of his mixtapes since AI YoungBoy 2 have reached the top 10.
If Richest Opp can reach the same mark, it would make YoungBoy the third-most successful rap artist in terms of top-10 releases. He would share the honor with Drake and Future, who both have 15 to their name already. While many people downplayed this, pointing to how frequently YoungBoy releases new content, it’s still an amazing feat. The volume of content doesn’t really matter. You could release 100 albums and mixes and see none of them chart. It’s a historic feat for the Utah-based rapper. What do you think about Richest Opp? Do you think it deserves to be top 10? Let us know in the comments.
As per usual, NBA YoungBoy is on a mission to prove himself as one of the hardest-working artists in the industry. This past New Music Friday the 23-year-old unleashed his third full-length project of 2023 so far, Richest Opp. It spans 17 tracks, just one of them including a guest appearance from Ten. Outside of that, YB handles things on his own, markedly dissing artists like Lil Yachty, J. Cole, and Drake throughout his bars.
Along with the release of his mixtape came plenty of drama for YB. Not only did he have to explain his “F*ck The Industry Pt. 2” bars to a confused Lil Boat, but he also pushed both Soulja Boy and Lil Durk’s buttons. The former popped off at the Louisana native in a wild Instagram Live session on Friday in response to a tweet. “Bring your p*ssy ass out the house. You can’t come outside. On God, you on house arrest. F*ck you talking about? Matter fact, you can text me the address. We’ll come to you, n*gga,” Soulja yelled into his phone as thousands of followers watched.
Aside from that situation, YoungBoy was also facing concerns about being outsold by Lil Durk this weekend. The father of six was planning on sharing his latest album yesterday as well but ultimately opted out in favour of sharing his joint single with J. Cole first. The “WTF” hitmaker was obviously incredibly pleased with this news, as he responded by sharing a video of him dancing, flexing stacks of cash, and giving Smurk a warning about what’s to come if he tries any similar stunts in the future.
According to the latest reports, NBA YoungBoy’s new project is on pace to sell 58K in its first week out. This is slightly lower than the 62K he moved with April’s Don’t Try This At Home, but is still impressive compared to what we’ve seen other artists amass as of late. What are your top three titles from Richest Opp? Let us know in the comments, and tap back in with HNHH later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
NBA Youngboy, the renowned rapper, recently released a fiery diss track titled “F*ck The Industry Part 2,” taking aim at various artists including Lil Durk, Drake, J. Cole, and Lil Yachty. The diss track addresses Lil Durk’s album delay, J. Cole’s alleged snub, Drake’s collaboration with Lil Durk, and Lil Yachty’s past relationship with City […]
Even with the nearly 10-year age gap between them, Soulja Boy continues to carry on his beef with NBA YoungBoy, who threw out plenty of shots on his Richest Opp mixtape that arrived at midnight on Friday (May 12). Even before unleashing his third project of the year, the Louisana native found himself feuding with the “Pretty Boy Swag” hitmaker after he vented about both YB and Lil Durk during an Instagram Live session. Of course, the latter two lyricists have long-standing issues of their own that also made headlines today, along with more social media slander from Soulja.
Earlier this afternoon, the Chicago-born artist began streaming for his millions of followers, not hesitating to get a few things off his chest. “You can’t wait to meet what? Bot, what the f*ck you said?” Soulja popped off in response to a tweet from YoungBoy saying “It’s gone be nice to meet [him] too.” As he continued to speak, things only got more amped up, eventually including threats aimed at the 23-year-old. “Boy, you don’t want to meet me, n*gga! This shit ain’t sweet. This ain’t no meet-and-greet, n*gga!”
“I can’t wait to meet you too, n*gga,” Soulja sarcastically added before slapping his phone out of anger. “Bring your p*ssy ass out the house. You can’t come outside. On God, you on house arrest. F*ck you talking about? Matter fact, you can text me the address. We’ll come to you, n*gga,” the 32-year-old proposes to his op. “We can come to Utah.” Elsewhere, the “Crank That” artist makes comments about putting more dents in YB’s head, among other hateful antics.
We’re still awaiting a response from NBA YoungBoy, though he’s certainly been busy on social media over the past few days. Aside from going back and forth with Soulja Boy, he also took a moment to explain his bars dissing Lil Yachty on “F*ck The Industry Pt. 2,” and threw shade at Lil Durk after the father of six rescheduled his album release date from today. Which rap beef are you most invested in right now? Let us know in the comments, and tap back in later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Lil Yachty seems to be feeling some confusion after being dissed by 23-year-old NBA YoungBoy on the former’s new Richest Opp project. Thankfully he’s in good company, seeing as Drake and J. Cole were also targeted within the lyrics of “F*ck The Industry Pt. 2,” with bars like “Play with me, Lil Yachty mad about JT, f*ggot / Bitch, play with me, half of y’all ain’t got more money than me.” Elsewhere, YB claims that Champagne Papi refused to work with him because of his ties to Durk, a topic that’s also making headlines.
After hearing the track late last night, Yachty turned to Twitter to share his reaction. Rather than type out a tweet, the Georgia native used a meme of 50 Cent to get his feelings across. “I mean, why he say f*ck me for?” the Power producer asks in the clip, prompting another user to reply with a video of the Lousiana native’s response. “This n*gga Yachty crazier than a muthaf*cka, son,” YoungBoy told the camera with a smile on his face. “Aye bitch, you got me laughing over here, boy. Bitch, you know why I said that, man.”
— essie and millions ••••••• (@BAEHELPTOP) May 12, 2023
According to the “WTF” hitmaker, Lil Boat previously called him about the City Girl, who previously collaborated with him on “Act Up” in the earlier days of the female rap group’s come-up. “Mama, that bitch really check me ’bout that girl. That bitch checked the gangsta man,” YB continued to rant in response to Yachty. “If I ain’t mistaken, bro, you say you asked me about trying to talk to your bitch. And I was confused ’cause you a hoe and you was coming at me, like, I ain’t really do that. Bitch, I got a mental problem over here and I got too much money.”
“You n*ggas might as well stay the f*ck out my way,” he further advised. Apart from throwing shade at Yachty, the record-breaking rapper also didn’t hold back on publicly celebrating when Lil Durk confirmed that his highly anticipated project is delayed by a few weeks. What’s your favourite bar from NBA YoungBoy’s “F*ck The Industry Pt. 2” track? Let us know in the comments, and tap back in later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Soulja Boy goes off on NBA YoungBoy over his “It’s gone be nice to meet you” tweet 
(@SaycheeseDGTL) 