YoungBoy Never Broke Again “3800 Degrees” Album Review

3800 Degrees

YoungBoy Never Broke Again

• • Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
  • Date: 07 Oct, 2022
  • Content: explicit
  • Region: USA
  • Track(s): 13

• Never Broke Again, LLC / Atlantic Records, ℗ 2022 Atlantic Records Group LLC

With “3800 Degrees,” YoungBoy’s fourth full-length solo album, he establishes his mark as a musician whose influence goes beyond the online community. Although sonically quite different, “3800 Degrees” has a similar vibe to the direction Young Thug went in after Barter 6, his first commercial mixtape, was released. “3800 Degrees” clocks in just 33 minutes, making it shorter than many of YoungBoy’s sometimes rambling albums.

It is more appealing to old head haters and more critic-friendly due to its compact design and vintage sound. The production has a traditional feel to it despite not nearly being retro, with crisp basslines and MIDI piano reminiscent of No Limit albums. YoungBoy, despite his willingness to defy convention, is almost like a Voltron created from the greats of Louisiana rap, including Lil Wayne’s alien wavelengths, Silkk the Shocker’s and Mystikal’s erratic intensity, Boosie and Kevin Gates’ bluesy fervor, and others.

Album Cover Art

On a showy cover art, YoungBoy wears a pretty obvious poise on his countenance as he holds out both his hands to the side which leaves dangling his collection of iced-out jewelry in his grip. Matching what his hands are holding out is yet another pricey chain hanging proudly on his neck. In the background, however, is a lot of literal heat, represented by the flames of fire playing below and those pointy things that look like they are falling from a furnace above.

Tracks and Features

The line “So cutthroat, you would believe that they brought Slim back from Magnolia” from YoungBoy’s song “Choppa on My Shoulda” positions him as the literal rebirth of Louisiana rap’s golden age. On the bounce production “Ampd Up,” which features fellow Baton Rouge local Mouse on tha Track and a piano played in the montuno style of salsa, YoungBoy proudly displays his regional roots.

YoungBoy skillfully switches between a sing-along chorus and aggressive lyrics on “Won’t Step on Me.” He lets his Southern twang hang out by twisting “Baton Rouge” to rhyme with “would.” The unbridled intensity feels off-the-wall and first-take; his flow practically mocks the beat, never respecting its boundaries or rhythms, and the words stream outside the lines. On “Thug Nigga Story,” E-40 contributes a guest verse and product advertisement for his trademarked wine, the Earl Stevens Mangoscato, providing yet another point of comparison for YoungBoy’s wordy and erratic flows.

NBA shoots the same warning to his adversaries in “With Us” by channeling Scrappy. The song also has a tune that will actually make you want to nod your head, an ominous beat that will actually make you want to duck your head, and words that will actually make you want to insure your head, aside from the long needed praise of Scrappy.

Specifically on the hook of “Hard,” NBA YoungBoy truly imitates Shy’s sound. Anyhow, you’re sure to adore everything about the song, from the bossy/street-inspired lyrics to the hard-hitting music to the chemistry between YoungBoy and Shy. YoungBoy still exists on his own terms and shows up with brazen defiance, even while using retro sounds. I ain’t no 2Pac of this generation, I’m AI YoungBoy, he raps on “It Could Go.” YoungBoy plays with tradition in the same way that he tinkers with the beat and combines his phrases in surprising ways.

Album Theme

The Louisiana rapper flaunts his local origins with brazen defiance on his fourth solo album. It serves as a reminder of how exhilarating he can be when he is concentrated and coherent. The paranoia of a life lived perpetually on edge permeates every moment as the agony and passion entwine.

Production Credits

1MercyBeatz, A1 Rocky, Bans, Desro, DrellOnTheTrack, Drum Dummie, Evertime, Fasbeats and many other great producers oversaw the album’s production.

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