NBA YoungBoy, born Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, is an American rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, best known for a string of Billboard 200 number-one albums and one of the most loyal fanbases in hip-hop.
He rose from releasing independent mixtapes as a teenager to becoming one of the most-streamed artists in the world before his mid-twenties.
Who is NBA YoungBoy?
NBA YoungBoy’s real name is Kentrell DeSean Gaulden.
His stage name breaks down as follows: “NBA” stands for Never Broke Again, a motto reflecting his drive to escape poverty, while “YoungBoy” reflects the age at which he launched his career.
He also goes by YoungBoy Never Broke Again, YB, Lil Top, and 38 Baby. His music covers themes of street life, family, grief, loyalty, and personal struggle, drawing from his upbringing in Baton Rouge.
Despite lengthy legal battles and periods of house arrest, Gaulden kept releasing music throughout his career.
He has sold over 109 million digital copies, placing him among the top-selling artists of his generation.
By 2025, he launched his first-ever headlining tour, the MASA Tour, after five years off the live stage.
Early Life of NBA YoungBoy
Kentrell DeSean Gaulden was born on October 20, 1999, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Sherhonda Gaulden and Jeffrey Stadenn.
His father received a 55-year prison sentence, leaving him in the care of his maternal grandmother, Alice Gaulden, for much of his childhood.
As a toddler, Gaulden broke his neck while wrestling and had to wear a head brace, leaving scars on his forehead that became a recognizable part of his appearance.
He dropped out of Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge in the ninth grade.
After leaving school, Gaulden was arrested for robbery and sent to a juvenile detention center in Tallulah, Louisiana.
While there, he started writing lyrics. After his release, he discovered that his grandmother had passed away.
He moved in with fellow Baton Rouge rapper NBA 3Three and began working on music.
NBA YoungBoy Age / Birthday
NBA YoungBoy is 26 years old as of 2026, born on October 20, 1999. His zodiac sign is Libra, a sign often linked with balance and a desire for fairness, themes that surface frequently in his music.
At 26, he had already released more Billboard 200 chart entries than any rapper in history.
NBA YoungBoy Ethnicity and Nationality
NBA YoungBoy is an American national, born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is African-American, as confirmed by multiple sources.
His Baton Rouge roots run through his music, which frequently references the city’s streets, culture, and close-knit community of Southern rappers.
NBA YoungBoy Height and Weight
NBA YoungBoy stands 5 feet 8 inches tall (1.73 meters). His weight is approximately 75 kilograms (165 lbs).
Despite his average frame, his stage energy and delivery have given him a presence that fans and critics consistently describe as commanding.
NBA YoungBoy Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Gaulden released his debut mixtape, “Life Before Fame,” in 2015. He followed it with “Mind of a Menace,” “Before I Go,” and “38 Baby,” the last of which featured Boosie Badazz and Kevin Gates.
During a stint in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, he re-released two earlier projects. After his release in August 2017, he dropped the single “Untouchable.”
His August 2017 mixtape “AI YoungBoy” became his first major charting project, reaching number 24 on the Billboard 200. The singles “Untouchable” and “No Smoke” built his name beyond Baton Rouge.
By January 2019, YouTube listed him as one of its Top Music Artists, driven largely by his exclusive and consistent releases on the platform.
Breakthrough (2018–2019)
In 2018, Gaulden released his debut studio album, “Until Death Call My Name,” which peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200.
The single “Outside Today” preceded the album and reached number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, his highest chart position to that point.
He also released the mixtape “Master the Day of Judgement” and a series of four EPs that summer. Later that year, he added “Decided” and “Realer” to his catalog.
In October 2019, after a 14-month house arrest during which he could not record, he returned with “Bandit,” a collaboration with Juice WRLD that peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Shortly after, his mixtape “AI YoungBoy 2” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. “Bandit” remains one of his highest-charting singles to date.
Further Albums and the MASA Tour (2020–2025)
In 2020, Gaulden released “38 Baby 2,” which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and “Top,” which also entered at number one.
“Top” spawned the Hot 100-charting singles “Kacey Talk,” “All In,” and “My Window.” He then dropped “Until I Return,” initially available exclusively on YouTube.
In 2021, he released “Sincerely, Kentrell.” The following year brought “The Last Slimeto.” In 2023, he released “I Rest My Case,” “Don’t Try This At Home,” and “Richest Opp.”
His album MASA, released in 2025, broke the record for the most Billboard 200 albums by any rapper.
In May 2025, Live Nation announced the MASA Tour, Gaulden’s first-ever headlining tour after five years off the stage.
The 27-city run kicked off on September 2, 2025, at American Airlines Center in Dallas with sold-out shows, and included stops in Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Brooklyn, Miami, and New Orleans before closing November 12 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
Special guests on various dates included Offset, Kevin Gates, Toosii, DeeBaby, and Hunxho.
“Slime Examination” became a viral hit on YouTube and TikTok during this period, amassing millions of views.
NBA YoungBoy Discography
| Year | Title | Chart Peak (Billboard 200) |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | AI YoungBoy (mixtape) | No. 24 |
| 2018 | Until Death Call My Name | No. 7 |
| 2019 | AI YoungBoy 2 | No. 1 |
| 2020 | 38 Baby 2 | No. 1 |
| 2020 | Top | No. 1 |
| 2021 | Sincerely, Kentrell | Top 5 |
| 2022 | The Last Slimeto | Charted |
| 2023 | I Rest My Case | Charted |
| 2023 | Don’t Try This At Home | Charted |
| 2023 | Richest Opp | Charted |
| 2025 | MASA | No. 1 |
NBA YoungBoy Awards and Recognition
Gaulden received a BET Awards nomination for Best New Artist in 2019.
That same year, he was listed as one of YouTube’s Top Music Artists, a recognition based on consistent streaming performance and exclusive releases on the platform.
His record for the most Billboard 200 charting albums of any rapper is one of the most cited statistics in contemporary hip-hop.
By 2025, with the release of MASA, he held that record outright.
His 2019 single “Bandit” earned him his highest Billboard Hot 100 placement, reaching number 10.
NBA YoungBoy Tours and Concerts
The 2025 MASA Tour marked NBA YoungBoy’s return to the live stage after a five-year absence.
Produced by Live Nation, the 27-city North American tour sold out its opening two nights in Dallas. It ran from September 2 through November 12, 2025.
Openers on the tour included DeeBaby, EBK Jaaybo, K3, Mellow Rackz, Lil Dump, Baby Mel, and Offset on select dates.
Special surprise guests also joined him on stage. VIP packages were available through VIP Nation, including backstage access and pre-show lounge experiences.
The MASA Tour name stands for Make America Slime Again, a phrase drawn from Gaulden’s longstanding “slime” branding with his fanbase.
NBA YoungBoy Wife
NBA YoungBoy married Jazlyn Mychelle Hayes in January 2023. The couple had been together for several years before the wedding.
The marriage license, reviewed at the time by The Shade Room, confirmed the January 7, 2023 date.
Jazlyn Mychelle is the mother of three of his children. Their daughter Alice arrived in August 2021. Their son Klemenza Tru Gaulden was born in September 2022.
On February 22, 2026, Gaulden announced the arrival of their third child together, posting a video from the hospital, though he did not publicly share the newborn’s name or sex at the time.
How Many Kids Does NBA YoungBoy Have?
NBA YoungBoy is the father of at least 11 confirmed children.
His confirmed children include Kayden Gaulden, Kamron Gaulden, Taylin Gaulden, Kamiri Gaulden, Kacey Alexander Gaulden, Armani Gaulden, Kodi Gaulden, Kentrell Gaulden Jr., Alice Gaulden, and Klemenza Tru Gaulden, along with his third child with Jazlyn Mychelle born in February 2026.
Kamron is reportedly not Gaulden’s biological son but is raised as his own. Iyanna Mayweather, daughter of boxer Floyd Mayweather, is the mother of Kentrell Jr., born in January 2021.
His son Kacey and son Kayden both appeared in the music video for “Kacey Talk.”
In 2019, Gaulden released “4 Sons of a King,” a song dedicated to four of his children at that time. He has consistently described fatherhood as a central motivation in his life and work.
NBA YoungBoy Net Worth
NBA YoungBoy’s estimated net worth is $10 million as of 2026. His wealth comes primarily from music streaming, album sales, and YouTube revenue.
His prolific output, including multiple number-one Billboard 200 albums, has made him one of the most-streamed artists in hip-hop.
YoungBoy’s 2025 MASA Tour, produced by Live Nation and spanning 27 cities of arena-level venues, added a major touring revenue stream to his income.
Gaulden also launched his own record label, Never Broke Again, and a clothing line.
Real estate has formed part of his asset base as well. After relocating to Utah, he lived in a $5.2 million home in Salt Lake City.
NBA YoungBoy Social Media
NBA YoungBoy is active primarily on Instagram and YouTube, where his music videos and exclusive releases have driven hundreds of millions of views.
- Instagram: @nba_youngboy
- YouTube: NBA YoungBoy’s YouTube channel
His YouTube channel has played a central role in his career, as he regularly released music exclusively there before wider distribution.
By early 2019, his consistent YouTube output was a key factor in his ranking as one of the platform’s Top Music Artists.
Conclusion
Kentrell DeSean Gaulden built one of the most prolific rap careers in streaming-era history from a Baton Rouge detention center where he first picked up a pen, going on to set the all-time record for the most Billboard 200 charted albums by any rapper.
His 2025 MASA Tour, his large family, and a catalog stretching across dozens of projects confirm that NBA YoungBoy’s output, both musical and personal, has no sign of slowing down.