Just weeks after releasing MASA, YoungBoy Never Broke Again is back with another new project.
With assistance from DJ Khaled, the Baton Rouge rapper returned on Tuesday (Aug. 12) with DESHAWN. The 13-track mixtape features only one collaboration with Kevin Gates, as YoungBoy continues the hot streak he started with MASA in July.
These back-to-back releases mark the celebratory end of a tumultuous legal chapter for the young rapper. Until this spring, YoungBoy was entangled in multiple criminal cases, pleading guilty in November to his involvement in a prescription drug fraud ring. In December, he was sentenced by a federal judge in Utah for gun charges. Just when it seemed his career might be over, President Donald Trump issued an unexpected pardon for the rapper this May.
“This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I’ve worked hard for, and I am fully prepared to step into this,” YoungBoy wrote in a statement shortly after the pardon.
Still, through his legal challenges, YoungBoy’s output never faltered. In 2024, he released I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders and followed up with this year’s More Leaks. MASA and now DESHAWN mark his second and third projects, respectively, in 2025 alone.
While MASA‘s sprawling 25 tracks showcased moments of self-reflection and vulnerability regarding his legal troubles, YB’s new mixtape carries that same introspection forward. On DESHAWN, YoungBoy continues to explore the trials and tribulations that have shaped his journey while incorporating moments of celebration and levity along the way.
Let’s get into the music. Here is Billboard‘s ranking of all 13 tracks on DESHAWN.
-
“Raq S—t”
YB sounds whiny on “Raq S—t,” and his falsetto is just grating. With hardly any song structure, “Raq S—t” feels more like a warm-up freestyle than an actual song.
-
“Free Vea”
YB’s repeated breathing and free form flow makes “Free Vea” feel incredibly scattered, with YoungBoy’s boilerplate lyrics about guns and violence not doing much to relieve the situation. With a chorus that is just YoungBoy listing off some of the guns in his arsenal, “Free Vea” could have been left to cook a little bit longer.
-
“Pants Down”
After two heartfelt love songs, the erratic and abrasive “Pants Down” feels especially crude. As YoungBoy recounts meaningless sexual encounters with little enjoyment, the escapades, as well as the song, both sound like a chore.
-
“Ms. Gaulden”
The closest YoungBoy has ever come to a love song, “Ms. Gaulden” delivers some surprisingly heartfelt bars. Lines like “When I’m dry, you my ocean / I’ll never try to spoil your moment,” and “Thank you for being right there on my side when I’m up in trouble” showcase his tender side, offering lyrics that might leave listeners slightly dewey-eyed.
-
“My’ya”
Another heartfelt track from YB, “My’ya” shows the Baton Rouge rapper yearning in a way that feels rare and special. “Know that you love me and I cherish you for it, I try and move forward,” he howls. It’s yet another instance of YoungBoy stepping outside his comfort zone, venturing down a romantic path he rarely explores.
-
“Lord Forgive Me”
YB sounds particularly animated for a song called “Lord Forgive Me.” The song hits all the checkmarks of a usual YoungBoy track, making it a bop for longtime fans but a quick shrug for everybody else.
-
“La Vida Loca”
“La Vida Loca” feels like a quintessential YoungBoy track — an upbeat tempo, raw howls about his pain and progress and the signature energy fans expect. However, the execution here lacks depth, and YoungBoy’s usual melodramatic flair feels fleeting compared to the standout moments in his catalog. While it checks the boxes of a typical YB song, it falls short of leaving a lasting impact.
-
“Blazers”
The giddy piano mixed with YB’s against-the-grain flow make “Blazin” feel a bit overwhelming by the end. The melodies are all over the place, as if YoungBoy is straining to get them out. The flexes, meanwhile, are just as vapid. “I got on all this ice, you know I’m in here with a hockey stick,” he spits with a shrug. The song also ends just as quickly as it begins, making it feel particularly uninspired.
-
“By The Gate”
“By The Gate” sees YoungBoy delivering incendiary bars aimed at his opps, paired with his signature blend of pained, soulful crooning. The track taps into his strengths, making it a surefire hit for die-hard YB fans.
-
“This Month Confessions”
YoungBoy is at his best when he’s baring his soul, and over chilling piano keys he closes out his latest project by doing just that. The Baton Rouge rapper once again wrestles with the disconnect between his success and the pain he carries, grappling with the harsh reality that fame won’t lighten his load. “They don’t know this tour not where my heart at, it ain’t gon’ heal my pain,” he croons. It’s a haunting conclusion to the mixtape — one that highlights all of YB’s strengths before leaving listeners with a bittersweet farewell.
-
“AI Marley”
With a boisterous intro from DJ Khaled and equally as energetic bars from YoungBoy, “AI Marley” starts DESHAWN off by kicking in the door. The 808s thump with precision, and YB’s vocals soar as he reminds his fans its business as usual now that he’s a free man. “N—a know Sex Money Murder, it’s Taliban, free all my rebels,” he cries out.
-
“Hustler”
With Khaled back in action, he forces YoungBoy to slow his roll just a little bit. The beat is smoother than what he’s used to, and as a result, YoungBoy sticks to tried-and-true rapping. He sounds alive as he feasts on the twinkling instrumental, showcasing his unbelievable dexterity on the microphone. He’s not treading any new territory lyrically, but it sounds too good to be mad about it.
-
“Trap Out” (Feat. Kevin Gates)
Both Louisiana rappers utilize their shared anguish on “Trap Out,” delivering the mixtape’s catchiest earworm. YB and Kevin Gates slide into their melodic bags, cultivating a sing-song cadence the rappers gently pass back and forth like a game of badminton. It’s easily the mixtape’s most digestible track, standing out for its refreshing variety amidst the high-energy intensity that defines DESHAWN‘s other songs.