YoungBoy Never Broke Again
A rapper from Baton Rouge whose raw, emotive storytelling and relentless work ethic generated a massive, dedicated following outside the traditional music industry machine.
Born 1999 (age 27)·American rapper·Birthday: October 20·Generation Z
Biography
YoungBoy Never Broke Again's music is a direct transmission from a life of intensity. Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Kentrell Gaulden began releasing music online as a teenager, his voice already carrying a weathered grit that conveyed struggle and street wisdom far beyond his years. His rise was organic and explosive, fueled by a staggering output of mixtapes and a visceral connection with listeners on platforms like YouTube. His songs, often recorded with minimal production, are diaristic entries detailing pain, loyalty, and the pressures of his environment. Despite minimal radio support or mainstream media fanfare, he has repeatedly dominated streaming charts, demonstrating a fanbase that operates in its own powerful ecosystem. His career has unfolded alongside significant legal challenges, creating a complex figure whose art and life are inextricably linked, making him one of the most compelling and commercially successful artists of his generation.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
YoungBoy was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When YoungBoy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
YoungBoy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has accumulated dozens of songs with over 100 million streams on YouTube.
- His 2020 album "Top" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
- He has released over 15 commercial mixtapes and studio albums since 2017.
- Had four albums chart on the Billboard 200 simultaneously in 2021.
- His single "Outside Today" is certified quadruple Platinum by the RIAA.
Did You Know?
He taught himself how to play piano and often creates his own melodies.
He has a large collection of tattoos, many of which are portraits of family members.
A significant portion of his music videos are filmed in his hometown of Baton Rouge.
He became a father for the first time at the age of 17.
“I just speak what's on my mind. I don't try to make it sound cool or nothin'.”
