''AI YoungBoy'' is the seventh solo

mixtape In the modern music industry, a mixtape is a musical project, typically with looser constraints than that of an album or extended play. Unlike the traditional album or extended play, mixtapes are labeled as laid-back projects that allow artists mo ...

by American rapper

YoungBoy Never Broke Again Kentrell DeSean Gaulden (born October 20, 1999), known professionally as YoungBoy Never Broke Again or NBA YoungBoy, is an American rapper. From Louisiana, United States, Gaulden released eight independent mixtapes and garnered a regional foll ...

. It was released on August 4, 2017, by

Never Broke Again Never Broke Again, also known as Never Broke Again, LLC, often abbreviated as NBA, is a record label based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, founded by American rappers YoungBoy Never Broke Again and OG 3Three Never Broke Again in 2015. It was launched ...

, distributed by

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...

, serving as his first commercial release with Atlantic. –

Spotify Spotify (; ) is a List of companies of Sweden, Swedish Music streaming service, audio streaming and media service provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. , it is one of the largest providers of music streaming services ...

The mixtape features

guest appearance The term guest appearance generally denotes the appearance of a guest in an artistic or pop-culture setting. The guests themselves (referred to as guest artists, featured artists, guest stars, or guest fighters, depending on context), are disting ...

s from Peewee Longway and

Yo Gotti Mario Sentell Giden Mims (born May 19, 1981), known professionally as Yo Gotti, is an American rapper, singer, and record executive. Rooted in Memphis rap, he released five independent albums—''Youngsta's on a Come Up'' (1996), ''From da Dope ...

. The mixtape also features production from Dubba-AA, DJ Swift, CashMoneyAP, DJ Shawdi P, and Nard & B, among others. The mixtape peaked at number 24 on the US ''Billboard'' 200, making YoungBoy's first entry on the chart. The mixtape was supported by two singles: " Untouchable" and " No Smoke". – Apple Music A sequel was released on October 11, 2019.

Promotion

Singles

The lead single from the mixtape, " Untouchable", was released on May 30, 2017, with the accompanied music video. The song was produced by D. Brooks Exclusive. The second single and final single from the mixtape, " No Smoke", was released on August 3, 2017, with the accompanied music video, before the mixtape was released. The song was produced by DJ Chose.

Music videos

The music video, "Graffiti", was released on July 28, 2017. The music video, "Wat Chu Gone Do" featuring American rapper Peewee Longway, was released on August 18, 2017.

Critical reception

''AI YoungBoy'' received positive reviews from music critics. Writing for ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

'', Sheldon Pearce noted that "the teenage rapper from Baton Rouge is quiet outside his raps, which teem with pent-up aggression and anxiety," because of this, he continued that "many songs read like journal entries." Continuing his review, Pearce states that YoungBoy "spills his guts in a grisly drawl still coated in a nasally boyish rasp, constantly negotiating the terms of innocence and indecency." Pearce concludes his review by writing that "''AI YoungBoy'' he evolves as a writer and rapper, and he begins to realize his versatility."

Year-end lists

Commercial performance

''AI YoungBoy'' debuted at 24 on the US ''Billboard'' 200, which became YoungBoy's first entry on the chart. The mixtape also debuted at number 17 on the US

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip-hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Luminate. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated January 30, ...

and at number 12 on the US

Top Rap Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip-hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Luminate. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated January 30, ...

charts, which was also YoungBoy's first entry on both charts as well. On August 4, 2020, the album was certified

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by the

Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

(RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over a million units in the United States.

Track listing

Track listing and credits were adapted from

and

Genius Genius is a characteristic of original and exceptional insight in the performance of some art or endeavor that surpasses expectations, sets new standards for the future, establishes better methods of operation, or remains outside the capabiliti ...

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 2017 mixtape albums Atlantic Records mixtape albums YoungBoy Never Broke Again mixtape albums Never Broke Again albums Albums produced by Nard & B