I'm an elder millennial rap fan and I've always been kind of lukewarm on YoungBoy. To me, guys like Kevin Gates, Rod Wave, and Young Thug mix melody and rap better. I've always assumed I'm just too old, obviously his millions of fans get and appreciate what he does.
But I can't help but notice this article dedicates a lot more words to his persona and the lurid true-crime elements surrounding him than specific songs or albums that will stand the test of time. And I have noticed this trend among a lot of the most popular rap artists - both fans and critics often seem more interested in the drama and violence surrounding artists than the songs, which to me is kind of a bummer.
This was genuinely fascinating. I'd at least heard of NBA Youngboy, but as I am old and uncool I don't know any of his music and had absolutely no idea how big he was. Going to check him out. I doubt it will be my jam, but you never know.
Impressive and fascinating. Yup, had never heard of NBA Young Boy. I asked my 18-and-17-year-old sons. They've got him on their Spotify playlists. Now we've got something more to talk about. Another reason to be grateful for the piece.
Great, couldn't put it down, or whatever that means in digital screen time. Really dug the exploration of popular culture meets algorithms stuff. Truly incredible how the most famous people on earth are sometimes virtually unknown.
Great article. and very fair. NBA YoungBoy hasn't ever been my cup of tea, I'm not a big fan of the autotune, and I find a lot of those rappers to be interchangeable. That could be my lack of immersion in the genre, though.
That said, his popularity and his fans' near obsession seem to be parallel to the fascination of Taylor Swift and her lyrics. The labyrinthine and opaque references to feuds and heartbreaks, the way rap fans decoded each layer of the K.Dot/Drake beef or the Lil Wayne/Birdman relationship. There's something very anime, like episodic, about this particular fandom.
He might be ignored largely by mainstream media but that's surprising when there have been moral panics about everyone from Kendrick, Tyler the Creator, to Linkin Park. He's featured with Migos, the group who arguably popularized the autotuned triplet rapping, and Jelly Roll, a new media darling, appears on his latest record. So that Super Bowl performance might not be too far away.
Lastly, it's awfully strange Pitchfork hasn't picked up the mantle. I'm old enough to remember when Spin featured Black Portland, a terrible collaboration between Young Thug and Bloody Jay, as a one of the albums of the year and Pitchfork has never strayed away from gangster rap. I mean, they love Gucci Mane. In a few years, it'll all be considered academic and he'll have his own Tiny Desk.
Wow. What an incredible story. I had no idea any of this was going on. Or even that things like these happen, and yet they do. It's all very surprising and so wrong. And both sad and weirdly triumphant. I don't know how to feel right now. Conflicted, I suppose.
Oh man I remember finding out about Von from the "slide4von" days, it was real disgusting shit. I hated everyone who participated in that, I hate Durk, lukewarm rapper and terrible person. I hated Von that kid was a monster. I hated YoungBoy for all the horrible shit I'd seen him do over the years but I will admit he is a fascinating figure, real modern day Khan type dude
Target audience reached. I was one of these NBA Youngboy kids. I was in middle school living in the suburbs watching every video on youtube since 38 baby dropped. The only reason I stopped listening was that I simply could not keep up with the volume of music he kept putting out. I really appreciate you writing this! Comparing Youngboy to Leadbelly was genius and spot-on. Unlocked so many memories.
First off it's a fantastic piece of writing.
I'm an elder millennial rap fan and I've always been kind of lukewarm on YoungBoy. To me, guys like Kevin Gates, Rod Wave, and Young Thug mix melody and rap better. I've always assumed I'm just too old, obviously his millions of fans get and appreciate what he does.
But I can't help but notice this article dedicates a lot more words to his persona and the lurid true-crime elements surrounding him than specific songs or albums that will stand the test of time. And I have noticed this trend among a lot of the most popular rap artists - both fans and critics often seem more interested in the drama and violence surrounding artists than the songs, which to me is kind of a bummer.
Thugger is one of his main influences
This was genuinely fascinating. I'd at least heard of NBA Youngboy, but as I am old and uncool I don't know any of his music and had absolutely no idea how big he was. Going to check him out. I doubt it will be my jam, but you never know.
I listen to Kacey Talk every day
Thats a classic. I like “I Am Who They Say I Am” as well
Hard to fathom beating someone down while rolling on ecstasy!
I know I'm out of the loop, but I still can't believe this is the first I'm hearing about this guy. Also,
I didn't think albums were still sold at all, let alone one hundred and nine million of them.
Yes the Crime-Is-A-Racist-Myth crowd tries to wishcast this stuff out of existence by ignoring it, but they really did keep this guy under wraps good.
It’s not traditional sales. It’s streaming equivalent sales for the most part
That makes more sense
Impressive and fascinating. Yup, had never heard of NBA Young Boy. I asked my 18-and-17-year-old sons. They've got him on their Spotify playlists. Now we've got something more to talk about. Another reason to be grateful for the piece.
Great, couldn't put it down, or whatever that means in digital screen time. Really dug the exploration of popular culture meets algorithms stuff. Truly incredible how the most famous people on earth are sometimes virtually unknown.
Please do Esdeekid next
Great article. and very fair. NBA YoungBoy hasn't ever been my cup of tea, I'm not a big fan of the autotune, and I find a lot of those rappers to be interchangeable. That could be my lack of immersion in the genre, though.
That said, his popularity and his fans' near obsession seem to be parallel to the fascination of Taylor Swift and her lyrics. The labyrinthine and opaque references to feuds and heartbreaks, the way rap fans decoded each layer of the K.Dot/Drake beef or the Lil Wayne/Birdman relationship. There's something very anime, like episodic, about this particular fandom.
He might be ignored largely by mainstream media but that's surprising when there have been moral panics about everyone from Kendrick, Tyler the Creator, to Linkin Park. He's featured with Migos, the group who arguably popularized the autotuned triplet rapping, and Jelly Roll, a new media darling, appears on his latest record. So that Super Bowl performance might not be too far away.
Lastly, it's awfully strange Pitchfork hasn't picked up the mantle. I'm old enough to remember when Spin featured Black Portland, a terrible collaboration between Young Thug and Bloody Jay, as a one of the albums of the year and Pitchfork has never strayed away from gangster rap. I mean, they love Gucci Mane. In a few years, it'll all be considered academic and he'll have his own Tiny Desk.
Great writing, Daniel! Hell yeah.
This was really great. It reminds me of what music coverage used to be like. Thanks!
Exactly the sort of article I subscribe for!
Fuck yes, well done. I was on the street in Atlanta the night Von was shot and it was HOT. RIP king
Well I just read this entire piece stunned, start to finish. Well done.
Wow. What an incredible story. I had no idea any of this was going on. Or even that things like these happen, and yet they do. It's all very surprising and so wrong. And both sad and weirdly triumphant. I don't know how to feel right now. Conflicted, I suppose.
Oh man I remember finding out about Von from the "slide4von" days, it was real disgusting shit. I hated everyone who participated in that, I hate Durk, lukewarm rapper and terrible person. I hated Von that kid was a monster. I hated YoungBoy for all the horrible shit I'd seen him do over the years but I will admit he is a fascinating figure, real modern day Khan type dude
Wow.
Target audience reached. I was one of these NBA Youngboy kids. I was in middle school living in the suburbs watching every video on youtube since 38 baby dropped. The only reason I stopped listening was that I simply could not keep up with the volume of music he kept putting out. I really appreciate you writing this! Comparing Youngboy to Leadbelly was genius and spot-on. Unlocked so many memories.