‘I never listened to YK, but after seeing him speak out against being fake in the industry, I have mad respect for him and will check out his future projects’ – Rappers Who Exposed The Industry & Got Blackballed 

Becoming a rapper is often glamorized in today’s society, with the allure of wealth, cars, flashy jewelry, access to numerous women, and millions of adoring fans. However, there is a darker side to the industry that is usually kept hidden from fans, and some artists who have exposed these secrets have faced serious consequences. In this context, NBA YoungBoy is one such rapper who went from being a prominent figure in the industry to speaking out against it.

NBA YoungBoy rose to fame in 2015 with his mixtape “Life Before Fame” and gained further success with hits like “Outside Today.” By 2018, he became one of the most successful rappers of the decade, collaborating with various industry names such as 21 Savage, Young Thug, Trippie Redd, and more. However, as of 2024, YoungBoy distanced himself from these connections and decided to expose the industry’s darker side in an interview.

YoungBoy revealed that his primary focus was on money and notoriety, emphasizing the importance of getting paid and owning his art. He acknowledged the manipulative nature of the industry, recognizing that he was just a pawn in a larger game. Despite once falling for the industry’s tactics, he no longer bought into the facade and chose to speak out about its hidden aspects.

The rapper’s shift in perspective can be traced back to his dealings with Atlantic Records, his record label. Initially excited about his $2 million deal, YoungBoy later realized he had been taken advantage of, making pennies compared to his actual earnings for the label. Atlantic Records allegedly made over $100 million off YoungBoy, and he disclosed how they manipulated him into signing a deal that deprived him of ownership over his music.

NBA YOUNGBOY EXPLAINS HOW HE CAN TELL IF A RAPPER IS REALLY ‘GANGSTA’

NBA YoungBoy has said he can tell if a rapper is “gangsta” or not just by looking at their mother.

In a clip from his new interview with the Rap Radar Podcast, the Baton Rouge rapper opened up about his forthcoming album Don’t Try This At Home, on which he vowed to “talk crazy” — despite his recent “Stop the Violence” movement.

“I’m gonna talk crazy on there,” YoungBoy said. “I’m gonna show you Murda Man. I’m gonna talk crazy on there, but I’m letting you know though, don’t try this at home.”

He continued by saying the reality of street situations is often very different from the entertainment aspect of it, and that the majority of rappers aren’t as tough as they make out to be in their music.

“Don’t get me wrong, a lot of people you’ll see today, oh that’s 100 percent who they is,” YoungBoy added. “I don’t doubt it. A lot of rappers today, half of them probably 100 percent who they is. But I guarantee you bro, the majority of them, nah.”

He added: “It be like this bro: you’ll look at these rappers’ videos, you gon’ see a gun in this video, right? You go to the next one, you see a gun in his video, right?

“You gotta dig a little deeper sometimes, bro. Alright, now look at his mama. His mama ain’t no gangsta, so how the fuck is he a gangsta? That shit don’t be adding up, bro.”

NBA YoungBoy’s comments comes after he sat down for a sprawling interview with Billboard, where he spoke about his musical output and his newfound appreciation of Mormonism that began after meeting two missionaries while on house arrest in Utah.

“I wanted help very badly,” he admitted. “I needed a friend. And it hit me. It was just cool to see someone with a different mindset that had nothing to do with business or money — just these wonderful souls.”

The missionaries then began visiting the rapper’s home every day, where they would engage in talks with him about The Book of Mormon and sought to “make sure” YoungBoy’s “heart was in the right space” for his official baptism into the church.

He said he plans to become baptized into The Church of Latter-Day Saints after his house arrest is over.

NBA YoungBoy Responds To Joe Budden’s Comments About His ‘Stop The Violence’ Campaign

Elsewhere in that interview, NBA YoungBoy said his newfound interest in the religion has partially inspired him to rap less violent lyrics on some of his new music.

“What if they don’t like me now?” he said, wondering about his fans’ thoughts on his newfound approach. “I’m not changing. I will not be provoked, I will not be broken, and I’m not going back to who I used to be. Accept it or not — I ain’t going back.”

Both interviews come after YoungBoy dropped off his first album of 2023, I Rest My Case, which toyed with less violent lyrics. The project debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 after moving 29,000 copies in its first week.

I Rest My Case marked YoungBoy’s ninth project in just over a year, as he’s remained on a tear with new tunes since being found not guilty in his federal gun case back in July.