If you’ve ever scrolled through YouTube and seen a thumbnail of a kid with three distinct scars on his forehead, you’ve met Kentrell DeSean Gaulden. Most people just call him NBA YoungBoy. But when fans ask where is YoungBoy from, they aren't usually looking for a simple GPS coordinate. They want to know about the place that made him one of the most polarizing and prolific artists of the 2020s.
Basically, YoungBoy is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Specifically, he’s from the North side of the city. If you want to get really technical, he represents the 38th Street area, which is where that "38 Baby" moniker comes from. It isn't just a cool nickname; it’s a neighborhood identifier that carries a ton of weight in the "225" area code.
Baton Rouge isn't like New Orleans. It’s grittier, industrial, and feels a bit more claustrophobic. Growing up in the 70805 zip code—which is where YoungBoy spent a huge chunk of his childhood—means living in a place where the poverty rate is high and the margin for error is razor-thin.
The 38th Street Connection
You've probably heard him scream "38" in half his songs. To outsiders, it’s just a number. To Kentrell, it’s the block. He was raised primarily by his maternal grandmother, Alice Gaulden. His dad? He was sentenced to 55 years in prison when YoungBoy was just a little kid. That’s a heavy weight for any toddler to carry.
Speaking of being a toddler, those scars on his forehead? They came from a wrestling accident when he was about four years old. He actually broke his neck. He had to wear a halo brace—the kind that screws into your skull—to keep his spine straight while it healed. Those permanent indentations are literally a map of his physical survival before he was even old enough to go to kindergarten.
Life on Chippewa Street and the surrounding blocks wasn't exactly easy. After his grandmother passed away in 2010, things got even more chaotic. He dropped out of Scotlandville Magnet High School in the ninth grade. Think about that for a second. At 14, while most kids are worrying about algebra, he was already in the streets, getting arrested for robbery and sent to a juvenile detention center in Tallulah, Louisiana.
Why Baton Rouge Matters to His Sound
Louisiana rap has a very specific "DNA." It’s melodic but aggressive. It’s "pain music." You can hear the influence of local legends like Lil Phat and Boosie Badazz in everything YoungBoy does.
Honestly, the reason he’s so huge on YouTube—we’re talking billions of views, out-streaming global pop stars—is because of that Baton Rouge authenticity. He doesn't just rap about the "trenches" as a concept. He names specific streets. He talks about the humid, thick air of the South. He talks about the paranoia of living in a city where, as he once told The FADER, "nothing stays secret."
- Neighborhood: North Baton Rouge (The 38th Street area)
- Zip Code: 70805
- Local High School: Scotlandville Magnet (briefly)
- Key Landmarks: Chippewa Street, the 38th Street block
The city of Baton Rouge and YoungBoy have a complicated relationship. On one hand, he’s their biggest modern export. On the other, his legal history there is a mile long. In 2020, he was famously arrested alongside 16 others on Chippewa Street during a music video shoot. The cops alleged there were drugs and firearms involved. It’s a recurring theme: he keeps going back to where he’s from, and every time he does, trouble seems to find him.
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Life After the 225
Even though he is synonymous with Louisiana, YoungBoy hasn't actually lived there full-time in years. For a long while, he was on strict house arrest in a gated community in Layton, Utah. Imagine going from the humid, loud streets of North Baton Rouge to the snowy, silent mountains of Utah. It’s a total culture shock.
While in Utah, he actually started hanging out with Mormon missionaries and talked about getting a Mormon baptism. It’s wild to think about, but it shows how much he’s trying to distance himself from the environment that created him, even if he still reps it in every single verse.
There was also that massive plot twist in May 2025 when he was granted a federal pardon by Donald Trump. That wiped out a lot of his legal baggage, giving him a fresh start that most rappers from his neighborhood never get.
What You Should Know If You're a Fan
If you’re trying to understand the "NBA" (Never Broke Again) movement, you have to look at the people he grew up with. He didn't just pick a crew; he’s surrounded by the guys he was on the block with in Baton Rouge—guys like OG 3Three and NBA Ben 10. They are a "homegrown" brand in the truest sense.
He didn't start in a fancy studio. He bought a microphone from Walmart when he was 14 and started recording in his bedroom. That raw, unpolished sound is why the 38 Baby mixtape blew up in 2016. It sounded like the neighborhood.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers:
- Listen to "38 Baby" (the song): This is the definitive anthem for his hometown. It’s the best way to "hear" where he’s from.
- Watch the "Untouchable" Video: It was filmed right after he got out of jail in 2017 and captures that feeling of being back in the BR streets.
- Check out the 70805 Zip Code History: If you're doing a deep dive into the socio-economics of his lyrics, researching North Baton Rouge’s history with industrialization and poverty provides a lot of context.
- Follow the Never Broke Again Label: He’s been signing other Louisiana artists to make sure the Baton Rouge sound doesn't die out, even while he’s living in Utah or elsewhere.
Ultimately, YoungBoy is a product of his environment. You can take the kid out of Baton Rouge, but the scars—both the ones on his forehead and the ones in his lyrics—are permanent. He’s the voice of a specific part of the South that often feels forgotten, and that’s exactly why his fans are so loyal.
Keep an eye on his recent releases under the Motown deal; he’s been experimenting with different sounds lately, but he always circles back to that 38th Street energy sooner or later.