MASA (album)
| MASA | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 25, 2025 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| YoungBoy Never Broke Again chronology | ||||
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| Singles from MASA | ||||
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MASA (backronym as Make America Slime Again) is the upcoming eighth studio album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, scheduled to be released through Never Broke Again and Motown on July 25, 2025.[1] It is expected to feature guest appearances from rappers Playboi Carti and Young Thug. Its production was handled by YoungBoy's go-to engineer and producer Cheese, LondnBlue, Mally Mall, Simo Fre, TnTXD, and several other producers. The album serves as a follow-up to Gaulden's seventh studio album, I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders (2024) and his third compilation album, More Leaks (2025).
Release and promotion
[edit]After years of being under house arrest, Gaulden was officially released on probation in April 2025.[2] Upon his release, on May 3, Gaulden's associate, Kyle "Montana" Claiborne revealed that he's working on an album and a tour.[3] On May 15, Gaulden and his Never Broke Again label announced the tour of the same name and its dates in a promotional trailer, revealing that tickets would be up for sale on May 20.[4] Following high demand, additional dates were added to the tour multiple times.[5][6]
On May 29, 2025, Gaulden was granted a presidential pardon by Donald Trump, permitting him to not have to submit to his previous probation restrictions.[7] Days later, on June 2, Gaulden and his team took to Instagram to announce an additional 13 dates due to high demand.[6] On June 16, Gaulden took to his Instagram to announce that the album would be released on July 4, 2025.[8] In late June, Gaulden was seen with his crew in New York City filming a music video, which would be revealed as "Diesel", the album's twenty-sixth cut.[9] On June 24, Gaulden's wife, Jazyln Mychelle shared a vlog of the two and their kids on vacation in Jamaica; this led to many Jamaican producers claiming involvement in Gaulden's, at-the-time, upcoming album.[10] On July 2, Gaulden shared the album's official artwork with its release planned for July 4. Upon its announcement, Playboi Carti shared a picture of the two from an unreleased music video on his alternative Instagram.[11][12] This was soon followed by Young Thug taking to his Instagram story to ask Gaulden to call him, hinting at a potenital collaboration between the two rappers.[13] Upon the album's original release of July 4, several tracks from the album were leaked, resulting in the record being released as a 10-track sampler with the album being pushed back to July 25.[1]
Singles
[edit]On May 3, upon Gaulden's release from prison, he released the album's first two promotional singles, "Where I Been" and "Shot Callin".[3] On May 21, Gaulden appeared as a guest apperence on both Kanye West and Playboi Carti's version of "Alive".[14] On May 22, Gaulden released the album's second promotional single, "Finest", accompanied by its music video.[15] This was soon followed by the release of the album's lead single, "Top Tingz" on May 23.[16] On July 1, Gaulden released the music videos for "Diesel" and "Over", the former appearing on the album's tracklist.[17] On July 12, Gaulden released the official, Rich Porter-directed music video for "Kickboxer".[18]
Artwork
[edit]The official artwork for MASA sees Gaulden "showing his love of the USA".[12] The cover is described as "bright and colorful" by HotNewHipHop's Zachary Horvath and features the rapper standing in front of the Flag of the United States with a green balaclava, representing the "Slime" in the album's name.[12] HotNewHipHop's Bryson "Boom" Paul also described the cover as "bold" and wrote that it "[symbolizes] defiance and patriotism".[1] The United States flag in the background can also be linked to Gaulden's presidential pardon, and the name of the album being in reference to Donald Trump's Make America Great Again slogan, with the album also aiming for an original July 4th release—the United States' day of independence.[12]
Controversy
[edit]On July 7, 2025, following the release of the MASA sampler, Florida rapper Kodak Black took to his Instagram to share his thoughts on the project, stating that he doesn't like it: "I just heard little bruh album it’s straight trash, I don’t even like that [...] and I like Youngboy music but that shit ass tho". Kodak suggested that Gaulden was dropping MASA to get his attention and further indicated that there is behind-the-scenes drama between the two rappers, stemming from Gaulden's relationships with two of Kodak's ex-girlfriends.[19][20] Following Kodak's post, Doodie Lo, an artist signed to Lil Durk—who Gaulden has an on-and-off feud with—commented in support of Kodak before an affiliate of Gaulden, ChaseDatBag B responded to the comment suggesting that Doodie Lo was unnecessarily attention seeking.[20]
Critical reception
[edit]MASA received generally positive reviews from music critics. Upon the release of the album's sampler, HotNewHipHop's Bryson "Boom" Paul wrote that the album is "a celebration of freedom" and that it "represents resilience, growth, and the rapper’s determination to reclaim his narrative".[1] He continued that Gaulden "transforms personal trials into anthems of survival" and that he "[solidifies] his place in hip-hop’s evolving landscape".[1] He concluded that on the project, Gaulden "ruthless aggression that fans have come to adore" and that he is in "full throttle from beginning to end as he reclaims his star power".[1]
Track listing
[edit]Tracklist adapted from Apple Music.[21]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21. | "MASA" |
|
| 2:55 |
| 22. | "Kickboxer" |
|
| 3:50 |
| 23. | "When Time Pass" |
|
| 2:49 |
| 24. | "Priorities" |
|
| 3:07 |
| 25. | "Peepin" |
|
| 3:47 |
| 26. | "Diesel" |
|
| 3:46 |
| 27. | "Shot Callin" |
|
| 3:45 |
| 28. | "Finest" |
|
| 3:21 |
| 29. | "Where I Been" |
|
| 3:34 |
| 30. | "Top Tingz" |
|
| 3:34 |
| Total length: | 34:28 | |||
Sample and interpolation credits
- "Shot Callin" contains samples of "Tweaker", written by LiAngelo Ball, Stanislav Kunash, and Andrei Rodionov, as performed by Gelo.
- "Top Tingz" contains an interpolation of "Put It on Me", written by Kentrell Gaulden, Jason Goldberg, Leor Shevah, and Arjun Hasnain, as performed by YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Apple Music.[21]
Musicians
- YoungBoy Never Broke Again – vocals (all tracks)
Technical
- Henry8 – mastering (21-23, 30), mixing (21-23, 28), recording (21-23)
- Jason "Cheese" Goldberg – mastering (24-29), mixing (24-27, 29), recording (24-27), assistant recording (21-23)
- DJ Ryno – mixing (30)
- YoungBoy Never Broke Again – recording (27-30)
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Label(s) | Format(s) | Edition(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | July 4, 2025 | MASA Sampler | [1] | ||
| July 25, 2025 | Standard | [21] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Paul, Bryson "Boom" (July 4, 2025). "NBA Youngboy Is Politically Correct In New Album "Make America Slime Again"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Mullahy, Brian (April 10, 2025). "Rapper YoungBoy returns to Utah, brings heavily armed security with him". KUTV. Archived from the original on April 10, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Fisher, Caroline (May 4, 2025). "NBA YoungBoy Fans Receive Promising Update After Rapper's Prison Release". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on May 4, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Spera, Keith (May 15, 2025). "NBA Youngboy to conclude first arena headlining tour at New Orleans' Smoothie King Center". The Times-Picayune. ISSN 1055-3053. Archived from the original on May 15, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ "NBA YoungBoy adds second NOLA date to upcoming tour". WBRZ-TV. May 21, 2025. Archived from the original on May 25, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Bras Nevares, Gabriel (June 2, 2025). "NBA YoungBoy Expands His "Make America Slime Again" Tour With New Dates". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Coscarelli, Joe (May 29, 2025). "NBA YoungBoy Says He Will 'Keep Building' After President's Pardon". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 29, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Horvath, Zachary (June 16, 2025). "NBA YoungBoy Announces He's Dropping An Album On July 4th". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Horvath, Zachary (June 24, 2025). "NBA YoungBoy Reportedly Seen Filming A Music Video In NYC Amid Album Rollout". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Fisher, Caroline (June 25, 2025). "NBA YoungBoy & Wife Jazlyn Mychelle Vlog Jamaican Getaway Amid New Album Buzz". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Bras Nevares, Gabriel (July 6, 2025). "Playboi Carti Hypes Up Anticipated NBA YoungBoy Collab On "Make America Slime Again"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Horvath, Zachary (July 2, 2025). "NBA YoungBoy Puts His Pride For The USA On Full Display For Official Cover Of "Make America Slime Again"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Bras Nevares, Gabriel (July 3, 2025). "Young Thug Asks NBA YoungBoy To Hit Him Up, Sparking Collab Rumors". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
- ^ Saponara, Michael (May 21, 2025). "Ye & YoungBoy Never Broke Again Flex on Their Detractors With Blaring Collaboration 'Alive': Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Cole, Alexander (May 22, 2025). "NBA YoungBoy Delivers Some Heat With Melodic Single "Finest"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on May 25, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Cole, Alexander (May 23, 2025). "NBA YoungBoy Drops Blistering New Single "Top Tingz"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on May 25, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Centeno, Tony M. (July 7, 2025). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Drops 6 New Songs Ahead Of 'MASA' Album". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on July 13, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ^ Akaash (July 12, 2025). "NBA YoungBoy Releases Video For 'Kickboxer'". HipHop-N-More. Archived from the original on July 13, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ^ Saponara, Michael (July 8, 2025). "Kodak Black Calls YoungBoy Never Broke Again's Upcoming Album MASA 'Straight Trash'". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
- ^ a b Sadler, Armon (July 7, 2025). "Kodak Black Disses NBA YoungBoy's New Album MASA: "It's Straight Trash"". Vibe. Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
- ^ a b c "MASA by YoungBoy Never Broke Again on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
