AI YoungBoy is the seventh solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released on August 4, 2017, by Never Broke Again, distributed by Atlantic Records, serving as his first commercial release with Atlantic.[1][2] The mixtape features guest appearances from Peewee Longway and Yo Gotti. 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.[3]
| AI YoungBoy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Mixtape by | ||||
| Released | August 4, 2017 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 44:28 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| YoungBoy Never Broke Again chronology | ||||
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| Singles from AI YoungBoy | ||||
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The mixtape was supported by two singles: "Untouchable" and "No Smoke".[4][5]
A sequel was released on October 11, 2019.
Promotion
editSingles
editThe 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.[4][6]
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.[5][7]
Music videos
editThe music video, "Graffiti", was released on July 28, 2017.[8]
The music video, "Wat Chu Gone Do" featuring American rapper Peewee Longway, was released on August 18, 2017.[9]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Pitchfork | 7.6/10[10] |
AI YoungBoy received positive reviews from music critics. Writing for Pitchfork, 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."[10]
Year-end lists
edit| Publication | List | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Mass Appeal | The 25 Best Albums of 2017 | 18[11] |
| Jon Caramanica for The New York Times | Best Albums of 2017 | 19[12] |
| Noisey | The 100 Best Albums of 2017 | 45[13] |
Commercial performance
editAI YoungBoy debuted at 24 on the US Billboard 200, which became YoungBoy's first entry on the chart.[3] The mixtape also debuted at number 17 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 12 on the US Top Rap Albums charts, which was also YoungBoy's first entry on both charts as well.[3] On August 4, 2020, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over a million units in the United States.[14]
Track listing
editTrack listing and credits were adapted from Spotify and Genius.[2][15]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Trappin'" | Supah Mario | 3:12 |
| 2. | "Wat Chu Gone Do" (featuring Peewee Longway) |
| 3:14 |
| 3. | "No Smoke" | DJ Chose | 2:40 |
| 4. | "Ride on 'Em" |
| 2:55 |
| 5. | "Dark into Light" (featuring Yo Gotti) |
| 2:44 |
| 6. | "No. 9" | Red On Da Track | 3:03 |
| 7. | "Untouchable" | D. Brooks Exclusive | 3:00 |
| 8. | "Left Hand, Right Hand" |
| 2:42 |
| 9. | "Twilight" | CashMoneyAP | 3:00 |
| 10. | "Came From" | Dubba-AA | 3:25 |
| 11. | "Murda Gang" | Dubba-AA | 2:54 |
| 12. | "Have You Ever" |
| 3:13 |
| 13. | "Graffiti" |
| 3:26 |
| 14. | "GG" |
| 2:04 |
| 15. | "Dedicated" |
| 2:49 |
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[22] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ AI YoungBoy by YoungBoy Never Broke Again, August 4, 2017, retrieved September 28, 2022 – Apple Music
- ^ a b AI YoungBoy, August 4, 2017, retrieved September 28, 2022 – Spotify
- ^ a b c "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Chart History". Billboard. September 28, 2022.
- ^ a b Untouchable by YoungBoy Never Broke Again, August 4, 2017, retrieved September 28, 2022 – Apple Music
- ^ a b "No Smoke by YoungBoy Never Broke Again". September 28, 2022.
- ^ YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Untouchable [Official Music Video], retrieved September 28, 2022 – YouTube
- ^ YoungBoy Never Broke Again - No Smoke [Official Music Video], retrieved September 28, 2022 – YouTube
- ^ YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Graffiti [Official Music Video], retrieved September 28, 2022 – YouTube
- ^ YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Wat Chu Gone Do (feat. Peewee Longway) [Official Video], retrieved September 28, 2022 – YouTube
- ^ a b Pearce, Sheldon (August 15, 2017). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again: AI YoungBoy Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ Petreycik, Kyle (December 26, 2017). "The 25 Best Albums of 2017". Mass Appeal. Archived from the original on December 26, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon (December 6, 2017). "Best Albums of 2017". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ Petreycik, Kyle (December 6, 2017). "The 100 Best Albums of 2017". Noisey. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ American album certifications – YoungBoy Never Broke Again – AI YoungBoy". Recording Industry Association of America
- ^ "AI YoungBoy by YoungBoy Never Broke Again". Genius. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ "American album certifications – YoungBoy Never Broke Again – AI YoungBoy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 21, 2023.