Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, known globally as NBA YoungBoy or YoungBoy Never Broke Again, has built one of the most prolific output records in modern music history. Since emerging from Baton Rouge in 2015, his catalog expanded past dozens of commercial mixtapes, studio albums, and collaborative projects before he even turned thirty. Navigating his extensive discography requires looking past standard album cycles and tracking an artist who treats recording studios like second homes, dropping bodies of work at a pace that frequently rewrites industry metrics.
Understanding this vast collection means breaking down his career into distinct eras. From his early regional breakout tapes to his record-shattering Billboard chart dominance, Gaulden's music reflects a turbulent life lived entirely in the public eye.
The Rise of Baton Rouge (2015–2017)
Before signing a major label joint venture, Kentrell built a grassroots following through relentless mixtape drops from his home city. This initial phase established the raw, confessional street rap style that defined his early career.
- Life Before Fame (2015): His debut project introduced listeners to a gritty Baton Rouge perspective characterized by sharp cadences and unfiltered storytelling.
- Mind of a Menace series (2015–2016): Spanning multiple installments, these tapes solidified his local reputation and expanded his regional footprint across the American South.
- 38 Baby (2016): Named after his home neighborhood block in Baton Rouge, this mixtape became a turning point. It featured breakout tracks that caught the attention of wider hip-hop audiences and planted the flag for his signature numerical project naming conventions.
- AI YoungBoy (2017): Marking his first project to chart on the Billboard 200, this release proved his regional buzz could translate into national commercial traction.
Commercial Breakthrough and Studio Debut (2018–2019)
Transitioning from underground mixtape darling to mainstream force, Gaulden dropped major statements that performed exceptionally well on streaming platforms.
- Until Death Call My Name (2018): Released as his official debut studio album, this project peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200 and spawned massive singles like "Outside Today". It demonstrated that he could maintain his core street ethos while packaging it for broader audiences.
- Realer (2018): Dropped late in the year, this mixtape showcased his melodic versatility and included certified hits such as "Valuable Pain".
- AI YoungBoy 2 (2019): Released while Gaulden was incarcerated, this sequel project debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Moving over 110,000 units in its first week, it cemented his status as a streaming titan who didn't need traditional promo runs to dominate charts.
The Pandemic Era Prolific Run (2020–2021)
While the global music industry slowed down during 2020, YoungBoy accelerated his output, releasing multiple chart-topping projects in a single twelve-month window.
- Still Flexin, Still Steppin and 38 Baby 2 (2020): Both projects arrived early in the year, with the latter securing another number-one debut on the Billboard 200.
- Top (2020): His second official studio album featured collaborations with artists like Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne, debuting at the top spot with heavy first-week numbers.
- Sincerely, Kentrell (2021): Released while he was incarcerated again, this deeply personal album beat out Drake's Certified Lover Boy for the number-one spot on the Billboard 200, moving over 137,000 equivalent album units in its first week.
To explore official chart tracking and certifications for these releases, you can check out details via Billboard or review artist data on Genius.
High-Volume Output and Label Shifts (2022–Present)
As his contract obligations evolved, Gaulden continued to deliver massive quantities of music, moving between major label structures and independent releases.
- The Last Slimeto (2022): Functioning as a massive 30-track statement piece, this album marked the culmination of his Atlantic Records era before transitioning fully to Motown.
- Colors, Realer 2, and 3800 Degrees (2022): A relentless sequence of late-2022 drops that kept his audience fed with fresh material across different stylistic lanes, moving from aggressive battle rap to melodic introspection.
- I Rest My Case, Don't Try This At Home, and Richest Opp (2023): Demonstrating genre experimentation—such as the rage-rap style on I Rest My Case—alongside traditional street anthems on Richest Opp, these 2023 projects proved his creative well was far from dry.
Collaborative Projects and Inter-Artist Chemistry
Beyond his solo output, Gaulden has maintained a steady pipeline of joint records with fellow rappers, producers, and industry peers. Notable collaborative milestones include:
- Fed Baby's (2017) with Moneybagg Yo
- Nobody Safe (2020) with Rich the Kid
- From the Bayou (2021) with Birdman
- Better Than You (2022) with DaBaby
- 3860 (2022) with Quando Rondo
These collaborative efforts highlight how he adapts his delivery to match different regional flows, ranging from Memphis trap aesthetics to Atlanta bounce.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many studio albums does NBA YoungBoy have?
While he has released dozens of commercial mixtapes that function similarly to albums, his formal studio album discography includes projects like Until Death Call My Name, Top, and Sincerely, Kentrell. Because he frequently labels major commercial releases as mixtapes, fans often view his entire album and tape run as a single continuous body of work.
What is NBA YoungBoy's best-selling project?
AI YoungBoy 2 (2019) is widely recognized as one of his most commercially successful and critically acclaimed releases, crossing multiple multi-platinum certifications and spending extended periods on the charts.
How many Billboard charting entries does he have?
He holds numerous historical records on the Billboard charts, including becoming one of the youngest artists to place over one hundred entries on the Hot 100 alongside dozens of entries on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
What was his first official number-one album?
AI YoungBoy 2 in October 2019 marked his very first project to debut at the number-one spot on the Billboard 200 chart, paving the way for subsequent chart-toppers like Top and Sincerely, Kentrell.
