YoungBoy Never Broke Again's breakthrough mixtape, 38 Baby, is a testament to the Baton Rouge rapper's unbridled energy and unapologetic honesty. Released on 28 October 2016, this 14-track album is a masterclass in storytelling, with YoungBoy's urgent delivery and Louisiana drawl recalling the city's biggest rap stars, Boosie Badazz and Kevin Gates, who both make appearances on the record.
With a runtime of 46 minutes, 38 Baby is a concise yet impactful collection of tracks that showcase YoungBoy's unique blend of bleak introspection and streetwise swagger. From the opening bars of 'How I Live' to the closing notes of 'They Ain't with Me', YoungBoy takes listeners on a journey through the harsh realities of his world, with tracks like 'Up in Blood' and 'Like Me' featuring Boosie Badazz and Kevin Gates, respectively.
Throughout the album, YoungBoy's lyrics are marked by a sense of urgency and desperation, as he navigates the cutthroat world of street life and grapples with the envy and resentment of those around him. Yet, despite the darkness of his subject matter, YoungBoy's music is infused with a sense of hope and resilience, making 38 Baby a compelling and deeply human listen.
With its release on Never Broke Again, LLC, 38 Baby marked a major milestone in YoungBoy's career, cementing his status as one of the most exciting new voices in rap. Six years on, the album remains a powerful and unflinching portrait of life on the streets of Baton Rouge, and a testament to YoungBoy's unwavering dedication to his craft.
Vinylscout