It’s no secret that NBA Youngboy is one of the most consistent artists in the industry. With (now) three studio albums, 17 mixtapes, three EPs and a plethora of music videos under his belt, the Baton Rouge rapper has been applying heavy pressure since his arrival. Known to randomly drop music videos on his Youtube channel (racking up AT LEAST 10 million views on each one), he’s become a household name and acquired a loyal/cult following in the process. With this in mind, there really shouldn’t be any debates about his impact and influence these days. Today (Sept. 24), the 21 year old releases his highly anticipated album Sincerely Kentrell.

Since arriving with 2017’s AI Youngboy project, NBA Youngboy (real name Kentrell DeSean Gaulden) has captivated hip-hop’s collective imagination. To some fans, his raw, soulful flow and complete account of life on the streets of Baton Rouge has made the Atlantic Records/Never Broke Again signee into a spotlight for realism in hip-hop. To others, his lengthy catalog of legal troubles and seemingly endless disputes with former lovers tells a familiar tale of a talented artist that’s allowed himself to be consumed by the negative side of fame and fortune.

Whatever side of the fence you’re on, NBA Youngboy’s star power is undeniable. Despite the fact that he never seems to be actively pursuing commerciality, the Louisiana rapper found himself among the most streamed artists of 2020. Logging over 4.6 million streams across a long span of mixtapes and major label releases, NBA Youngboy came in third behind Drake and the late Juice WRLD. To put this in context, this achievement means that (on paper) he was a bigger draw than Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Post Malone and The Weeknd.

While he doesn’t do many interviews, NBA YoungBoy talked to the Grammys last year about speaking his truth through music and appreciation for his fans: “My brain ain’t on standstill,” he said. “My music is kind of my life, so you know the music ain’t going to be at no standstill. I’ll always feel like I got something to speak on or to say to get my point across. I’m always, like, in a moment with my music or with my thoughts or with my releases. That’s kind of how I do that connection with my fans.”

Stream Sincerely Kentrell now.