On July 25th, 2025, Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, also known as YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released his 8th studio album, MASA (Make America Slime Again), in its entirety. This 30-track project follows the success of the 11-track preview released 2 weeks ago. MASA showcases YoungBoy’s characteristic raw energy while balancing vulnerability through introspective lyrics. The second part of our review examines what makes this release a defining moment for the prolific rapper and why it resonates so deeply with his audience. In case you missed part 1, read it here.
Song By Song Analysis
Surprisingly, one of my favorites, I’m Ready, begins with a French vocal sample from Polska, a French-Polish influencer. The introduction establishes a global scene with allusions to Paris and a high-luxury lifestyle. Through lovely vocals and an almost EDM-inspired synth, it is an assertive and inspirational song that details YoungBoy’s determination to succeed despite setbacks, legal troubles, and betrayals. The chorus (“I’m ready, you can come where I’m headed / I told you I’ll be fine, I’m headed right where that bread at”) emphasizes YoungBoy’s relentless pursuit of success and financial gain. The 2-step beat is a slow tempo through which the emotional message is felt.
Another track I’m very fond of is Burn. Here, ‘Top’ once again sings about his previous street life adding vocals with hymns in the background of the beat. Accompanied by a therapeutic guitar, the soft 808s set the relaxed vibe of the song wrapping up the beat. He also shows accountability for being promiscuous: “She knows I’m a snake and she better beware.” From vulnerability to celebrating success, “I’m the head of this business, a money man,” the themes shift alongside the mellow piano trap beat. ‘YB’s devotion to his children also shows, “I’m saving up to buy my daughter a boat.”
Myself Pt. 2 is the sequel to By Myself, a single released on ‘Don’t Try This At Home,’ the American’s 6th studio album. The beat features an ominous piano and rolling hi-hats, creating a pulsating feel. The message is clear: YoungBoy is unapologetically himself. On Cash Shit, ‘Lil Top’s’ affluence, freedom, and power are celebrated while boldly declaring a return to form and touring once again (“I’m back in that mode, I’m back on my sh*t, I’m back on the road”). He uses his vocals strategically in the chorus, giving the song an angelic vibe.
Wine & Dine is my number one favorite song from this album. It leans into a more seductive vibe, celebrating a passionate, almost obsessive attraction to a woman. This is evident in the lyric, “And all these girls like my drugs.” Mr. Gaulden features two women in the video as they go on a date in Europe. The beat features an ambient synth layer with a slow tempo that fits the romantic theme perfectly.
On Morocco, Kentrell dives head first into themes of self-reflection, longing, and regret within a broken romantic relationship. With hopes of starting a family and making their partner happy, ‘AI Youngboy’ expresses shock and sadness at the sudden breakup of a relationship they thought would last. By emphasizing how the reality deviated from their expectations, the term “never could imagine” is used repeatedly in the bridge and chorus to emphasize the shock and emotional weight of the circumstance. A mellow piano beat with spine tingling vocals give the song it’s identity.
The double track formart returned with the 1st music video released after the 11 song preview 2 weeks go, So Not Sorry / Out The Window. So Not Sorry is a flamboyant show of confidence and success. Its beat features a subtle trumpet paired with Youngboy’s fast flow gives the song a marching cadence akin to a militaristic anthem. No remorse is felt by DeSean evident by his closing lyric, “I just triple crossed ’em, sorry, but not sorry.” The music video features the artist in France with a white Rolls Royce luxury vehicle showing his lifestyle.
Out The Window‘s heavenly beat features a lovely piano with vocals complimenting in the background. The tone and mood shifts to an affectionate feel contrasting the 1st song. Mr. Gaulden’s tests his vocal range, hitting high notes and once again showing his versatility in the booth. The song’s message is loyalty, with Kentrell affirming that he is ready to “ride” for their brother (‘I’m out that window, you know I’m gon’ ride for my brother) (I’m out that window, right now’).
If you’re looking for a song emphasizing endurance and rebellion, Combat Boots details the journey from adversity to achievement for Youngboy. It portrays the unfiltered feelings of overcoming poverty, incarceration, and betrayal to become stronger. “Combat boots” and “Baton Rouge roots” are repeated in the chorus, signifying ancestry and military preparation as living in Baton Rouge is as dangerous as being in the military.
Mr. Gaulden’s struggle with addiction is addressed in the song F*ck The Drugs. He describes it as a destructive force, apparent by lyrics such as “F*ck these drugs, been havin’ a n*gga on and off and likin’ you” and “F*ck this drank, been havin’ a n*gga tryna compromise the truth.” The story is about his journey from humble beginnings to worldwide success while battling with his addictions along the way. Another piano is utilised in the beat, giving the track a dark and moody aesthetic. Music video features Never Broke Again members ‘Ben 10’ & ‘Big B’ together with Youngboy in Amsterdam having fun.
My Sh*t‘s beat highlites a heavy bassline with hard hitting 808s. References to “Gen5” (a Glock pistol) detail a violent, street-rooted mentality, while the chorus’ continuous assertion that “this my sh*t” shows dominion over everything, from ladies to wealth. From the adlibs to Kentrell’s energy, the song is a ‘mosh pit anthem’. This means it has capacity to elicit strong, physical crowd reactions such as ‘moshing’, in which attendees of live performances leap, push, or slam against one another. This slight change in sound aligns with the upcoming MASA Tour, utilizing chances for live perfomances.
Fire Your Manager ft. Playboi Carti sees a complete u-turn in the usual sound we are used to. Rage, a microgenre of trap music, is characterized by its energetic, repetitive, and somewhat chaotic sound, drawing inspiration from both EDM and trap music. It is Playboi Carti’s signature sound and his beats are utilized. Carti is one of only 2 features on the album. The chorus’ mention of promethazine with codeine highlight drug use as both a lifestyle staple and a destructive force. Material success is also heavily spoken about in this track.
For the lovebirds, If You Need Me‘s slow tempo with soft 808s, lovely sample of vocals and R&B style beat fits the exploration of love and romance. The repeated plea in the chorus, “You need me like I need you,” contrasts the agony of separation and past transgressions with a strong emotional reliance on a relationship. Kentrell’s singing evokes emotion in the listener. He announces his 13th child in the 1st verse, “Me and Jaz on our third kid, me and you just ran another lap.”
Once again, a rage beat is employed in the last music video currently released for XXX. The track is lyrically underwhelming as it is a innate, unrepentant hymn that, as the repeated chorus summarizes, celebrates a hedonistic lifestyle characterized by sex, violence, and drug use.
LO is a narration of “Top’s” street life in Baton Rouge. Highlighting the gun violence prevalent in the South are lyrics in the chorus such as, “I get down, I’m just like my daddy, I step on my opps, I got ’em all killed.” A slow tempo trap beat with undertones of creative sounds that are periodically heard contrast the songs dark storyline. It reveals how difficult it is to let go of bad habits such as toting guns and dealing drugs in the streets.
Alter is a deep introspective track. The slow mellow R&B type beat fits perfectly conveying Kentrell’s heartfelt emotion. A yearning for spiritual purification is evoked by the chorus’, “take me to the altar, clean me down with water,” where the “altar” symbolises rebirth. The thirst for redemption is evident perhaps from his past life of crime.
Slimretta is a short, gritty, uncompromising song that combines street bravado, loyalty, and a turbulent romantic dynamic to showcase Kentrell’s unapologetic Baton Rouge gangster persona. By referring to a lady as his “slimearetta,” this elevates her to the status of a devoted companion in his chaotic world. (And she so fire, she my lil’ slimearetta (Slimearetta). Youngboy refers to his colleagues and label mates as “slimes” together with his gang 4KTREY. The slow beat contrasts with the dark theme of the song.
Games Of War features heavy 808s which provide a pulsating feel and a militaristic sounding trumpet giving the tempo of an anthem soliders would march out to. Kentrell’s aggressive delivery gives this song potential to be another ‘moshpit anthem.’ Through vivid storytelling, the lyrics reflect NBA YoungBoy’s core themes: resilience, wealth, street life, and defiance. Get Up With Us is a typical “Murder Music” song from Kentrell. The term is used to describe a subgenre of Kentrell’s work characterized by its raw, violent, and personal lyrical content. It features an upbeat trap beat with subtle piano chords. It is a high energy song celebrating winning war with one’s enemies.
Cold World ft. Mellow Racks uses choir like vocals from Mellow and a slow tempo beat. It is the only other song with a feature. Emotional undertones such as vulnerability as evident in the 2nd verse, “They all murdered my cousins, I swear on my brother to not gotta burn by my kin.” The pair go back and forth complimenting each other’s styles on this soothing song. On No F*ck Kentrell’s carefree attitude speaks for itself. Layered high notes give the song a nostalgic feeling. They are accompanied by thoughts on loyalty and loss, and a beat that accentuates the aggressive and victorious energy of the song.
Finally, Big shows YoungBoy’s defiance in lines such as “I’m out that window right or wrong.” It is a braggadacious celebration of success. The chorus’s repetition of luxury vehicles (“Pink Bentley, yellow Demon, red Bentley, Rolls Royce”) and status symbols (“big pendant, big watch, big knots”) creates a catchy, anthemic hook. The mellow trap beat blends well with the lyrics of this song.
Verdict
YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s 8th studio album, MASA, has delivered fully and has definitely surprised some of his fanbase. Experimentation with new sounds has paid off as he maintains his unique style that drew a loyal fanbase. The album has variety of songs from rage songs, love songs, introspective tracks and aggressive murder anthems which are expected from Kentrell. Production and mixing was on point, with a handful of newer producers working with him on this album. Music videos are few but hopefully more will be released. Unfortunately, features were few which could have been improved upon. However, this album felt polished and it was well worth the wait. A solid 8 out of 10 is my rating.
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