NBA YoungBoy is one of the hottest names in the rap scene today, with good reason. Not only does he make quality music, but he also makes albums faster than most musicians I’ve seen.
With all the success he’s experienced, some people tend to think the rapper is older than he actually is (he’s only 25!).
In this post, I’ll cover NBA YoungBoy’s age, career, and legal issues to give a clear picture of what his life has been like.
What Is NBA YoungBoy’s Age?
Born on October 20, 1999, Kentrell Gaulden, YoungBoy, is 25 years old as of writing this post. Given all the controversy he’s ignited, you’d think he’d be much older.
NBA YoungBoy’s Career
Early Beginning
Image source: Google
If you’ve followed Gaulden long enough, you know he didn’t have the happiest childhood. His family was struggling financially, his father was imprisoned for most of his upbringing, and his neighborhood had drug dealers at every corner.
So, what does the young child do? He resorts to music and writing for solace. Unfortunately, they couldn’t stop him from walking down the criminal path.
When he was 15, YoungBoy was sent to a juvenile detention center for robbery charges. As tragic as that might have been, it gave him the time and headspace to focus on writing.
So, when he got out, he had several songs stacked and was ready to break into the rap scene.
Finding Success
Like most starting artists, YoungBoy’s first few projects didn’t bring him as much success as he wanted. His mixtapes, Life Before Fame, Mind of a Menace, Mind of a Menace 2, and Before I Go gained some attention, but they didn’t go viral or anything.
It wasn’t until 38 Baby that the young rapper finally experienced a taste of international fame.
With songs like “Untouchable,” “No Smoke,” “AI Youngboy,” and “AI Youngboy 2,” he proved that he was a force to be reckoned with.
He also started collaborating with the biggest names in the industry. In his music video ‘41‘, you can see guest appearances by Young Thug, 21 Savage, Yo Gotti, and others.
Hitting Bigger Milestones
In 2020, YoungBoy wanted to pay tribute to the track that made his name. So, he released 38 Baby 2, and it was an even bigger hit than the original, securing the top spot on the Billboard 200.
That wasn’t the only sequel he released that year. Until I Return was a follow-up track to Before I Go, and it immediately got the 11th spot on the Billboard 200.
Sincerely, Kentrell was YoungBoy’s quickest hit at that time. The album reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 instantaneously and was his highest-grossing album.
Image source: Google
You’d think there would be nowhere to go from there, but Lil Top still had music to make and stories to tell. From I Rest My Case and Don’t Try This at Home to Richest Opp, our young famous friend released his projects with passion and commitment.
NBA YoungBoy’s Legal Issues
First-Degree Murder
On November 28, 2016, U.S. Marshals burst into YoungBoy’s performance venue and arrested him for first-degree murder charges. Apparently, they suspected that he shot a group of people from his car, and after a few interrogations, Gaulden confessed.
He pleaded guilty to one of the charges, admitting that he took several shots while driving by Kentucky St.
Gun Possession
The year was 2020, and Gaulden was shooting a music video with his team, having fun and not caring about anything in the world. In the blink of an eye, he was in handcuffs for knowingly possessing illegal guns.
The rapper pleaded guilty and agreed to spend 23 months in prison and a five-year probation.
Image source: Google
Fun fact: His Sincerely, Kentrell album came out while he was in jail. That was probably one of the reasons the album sold that well.
Wrapping Up
Ultimately, you can’t let NBA YoungBoy’s age fool you. Sure, he’s young, but he’s also achieved a level of success most people spend their entire lives trying to reach.
Of course, not all his achievements are that honorable. He’s had his fair share of run-ins with the law. So, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
Featured image source: Pinterest
