Colors | ||||
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Mixtape by | ||||
Released | January 21, 2022 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 66:51 | |||
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Producer |
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again chronology | ||||
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Singles from Colors | ||||
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Colors is the sixteenth solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released through Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records on January 21, 2022. The mixtape features a sole guest appearance from Quando Rondo. The deluxe edition was released on the same day, containing an additional guest appearance from Internet Money. [2] Producer Cheese mixed, mastered, and engineered every track on the standard edition of the mixtape, with Lawrence Rivers also engineering "Gangsta", which features Quando Rondo. For the deluxe edition, "Flossin", his Internet Money collaboration, was mixed by Jeremie Inhaber and Francisco Salcido, mastered by Inhaber, and engineered by Mark Dorflinger. Colors was preceded by its lead single "Bring the Hook".
Commercially, Colors debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 80,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, becoming YoungBoy's eighth top-ten album on the chart.
On January 5, 2022, YoungBoy released the promotional single, "Fish Scale", alongside the official music video, in anticipation of the then-upcoming mixtape. [3] Exactly one week later, on January 12, 2022, he officially announced Colors and its release date. [4] Alongside the announcement, he released the lead single, "Bring the Hook", alongside the official music video. [5] The single "Flossin", a collaboration with American record label and record producer collective Internet Money, was released on January 21, 2022, the same day as the mixtape, and is included on its deluxe edition. [6]
Before the release of Colors, YoungBoy released a few songs from the mixtape with music videos to his YouTube channel, which were not officially released. The first visual was for "Emo Rockstar", which was released on December 22, 2021. [7] He then released the music video for "Emo Love" on January 7, 2022. The visual for "Foolish Figure" was released two days later, on January 9, 2022. The final unofficial song with a music video was "Know Like I Know", which was released on January 18, 2022. [8]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [9] |
Pitchfork | 6.6/10 [1] |
HipHopDX | 3.5/5 [10] |
Colors received generally positive reviews from critics. Writing for AllMusic , Paul Simpson felt that "the release allows YoungBoy to show off his range, from aggressive trap to more pop-leaning melodic tracks." Concluding his review, he notes "While staying true to YoungBoy's style, this is one of his more accessible releases." [9] Paul A. Thompson from Pitchfork began his review by stating that "YoungBoy continues to push himself to vocal extremes—in addition to that familiar growl and effusive harmonizing." He notes that Colors is stitched together by "YoungBoy's willingness to lay bare the most tortured parts of his psyche." Concluding his review, he states "meaningfully synthesize (or even thoughtfully arrange) its disparate parts, a generous listener might find the volatility of YoungBoy's emotions from one song to the next an interesting thread on its own." [1] Anthony Malone from HipHopDX notes that Colors "sees YoungBoy more conflicted than ever, saying one thing but acting the opposite." He continues to write that "Cuts such as “2Hoo,” “DC Marvel” and “Expensive Taste” are filled with shallow romanticism and descriptions of a sex life that's better suited on the down-low," and "On “Dis & That,” YoungBoy sounds like he's on autopilot and falling back on production that's stale and repetitive." He concludes his review by writing: "Colors suffer from an overabundance of songs that inflates the project, ruining what could be a more digestible project if the fat was trimmed." [10]
Colors debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 80,000 album-equivalent units (including under 2,000 in pure sales) in its first week, according to MRC Data. This became YoungBoy's eighth top-10 album on the chart. [11] YoungBoy also became the fastest rapper in history to chart 20 albums on the Billboard 200, accomplishing this feat under four and a half years after first appearing on the chart. Colors has sold 500,000 album-equivalent units so far.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Long Live" |
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| 2:39 |
2. | "Bring It On" |
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| 4:04 |
3. | "No Switch" |
|
| 3:00 |
4. | "Smoke One" |
|
| 3:24 |
5. | "2Hoo" |
|
| 2:46 |
6. | "DC Marvel" |
|
| 2:56 |
7. | "How You Been" |
|
| 2:04 |
8. | "Expensive Taste" |
|
| 3:52 |
9. | "Cage Feeling" |
|
| 2:31 |
10. | "Dis & That" |
|
| 2:55 |
11. | "Gangsta" (featuring Quando Rondo) |
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| 4:16 |
12. | "Know Like I Know" |
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| 3:52 |
13. | "Bring the Hook" |
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| 4:25 |
14. | "Fish Scale" |
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| 2:50 |
15. | "Emo Rockstar" |
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| 3:12 |
16. | "Emo Love" |
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| 3:01 |
17. | "Snow Bunny" |
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| 3:14 |
18. | "Foolish Figure" |
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| 2:45 |
19. | "I Got This" |
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| 6:05 |
Total length: | 64:03 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
20. | "Flossin'" (with Internet Money) |
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| 2:48 |
Total length: | 66:51 |
Credits adapted from Tidal. [12]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [18] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
"Bring It On" is a song by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on January 21, 2022, as the second track from his seventeenth mixtape, Colors. The song features a murderous essence that YoungBoy brings as he raps about murder, firearms, and crime.
Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, known professionally as YoungBoy Never Broke Again or NBA YoungBoy, is an American rapper. From 2015 to 2017, he released eight independent mixtapes and garnered a regional following for his work. He signed with Atlantic Records and Artist Partner Group in the latter year to release the singles "Untouchable" and "No Smoke", both of which marked his first entries on the Billboard Hot 100. Released in January of the following year, his single "Outside Today" became his first to peak within the top 40 of the chart, and received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It served as both his mainstream breakthrough and the lead single for his debut studio album, Until Death Call My Name (2018), which peaked at number seven on the US Billboard 200 despite mixed critical reception.
The discography of American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again consists of six studio albums, three compilation albums, 26 mixtapes, three extended plays, and 102 singles. His music has been released on record labels 101 Distribution, Atlantic Records, and Motown Records, along with subsidiaries Never Broke Again and Artist Partner Group. With over 80 million digital units sold in the United States, he is among the highest certified artists in the United States. YoungBoy has achieved three number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and one top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2022, YoungBoy received a plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America which reads "100 RIAA Gold/Platinum Certifications", making him the youngest artist to receive this at just 22-years-old. He is also the youngest artist in history to chart 100 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 at just 23-years-old.
The discography of American rapper Quando Rondo consists of two studio albums, six mixtapes, and forty-five singles.
AI YoungBoy 2 is the twelfth full-length mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on October 11, 2019, by Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records. It features guest appearances from NoCap and Quando Rondo—both signees of Gaulden's record label, Never Broke Again. The project features production from several established record producers, including Buddah Bless, CashMoneyAP, JetsonMade, Mike Will Made It, Nick Mira, and Wheezy. The mixtape serves as a sequel to YoungBoy's breakout mixtape, AI YoungBoy (2017), alongside a follow-up to his eleventh full-length mixtape, Realer (2018).
Realer is the eleventh solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on December 20, 2018, through Never Broke Again, Artist Partner Group, and Atlantic Records. It features guest appearances from Lil Baby and Plies, alongside production from Ben Billions, DJ Swift, DrellOnTheTrack, Dubba-AA, Eliot Bohr, PlayboyXO, Vintage Rippah, and several other producers. The mixtape serves as a follow-up to Gaulden's compilation album, 4Respect 4Freedom 4Loyalty 4WhatImportant, released in September of the same year. It also marks Gaulden's fifth release of the year.
Still Flexin, Still Steppin is the thirteenth solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released on February 21, 2020, by Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records. It features a lone collaboration with the rapper Quando Rondo on the track "Suited Panamera". YoungBoy Never Broke Again also released a music video for the song "Lil Top".
38 Baby 2 is the fourteenth solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released on April 24, 2020, by Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records. It features YoungBoy's mother Sherhonda Gaulden and American rapper DaBaby.
Internet Money Records, often credited as Internet Money, is an American record label and record producer collective. It was founded in 2015 by American record producer Taz Taylor, who serves as the chief executive officer (CEO). The producer collective consists of Taylor himself, Nick Mira, Rio Leyva, Thankyouwill, Mason Wu, Vendrbeats, Noah Mejia, Spaceman, Cxdy, E-Trou, KC Supreme, Pharaoh Vice, Census, Paryo, and Birdman Zoe. A blend of a YouTube channel, record label, and producer union, Internet Money is a medium and agency for producers, as well as an aggregator.
Top is the second studio album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on September 11, 2020, by Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records. The album follows his debut album Until Death Call My Name, released over two years before. The album features guest appearances from Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg, alongside production from Cheese, Cubeatz, DJ Suede the Remix God, JetsonMade, Smash David, and Wheezy.
Until I Return is the fifteenth solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released on November 13, 2020, by Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records. The mixtape was released completely solo without any features.
Sincerely, Kentrell is the third studio album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released through Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records on September 24, 2021. Unlike Gaulden's previous projects, the album notably contains no guest appearances, which was a key part of the album's rollout. The album's production was handled by a range of accomplished producers including Einer Bankz, Mike Will Made It, Smash David, and Jason "Cheese" Goldberg—who also mixed and mastered the entire record. The album follows Gaulden's second full-length studio album, Top (2020), as well as Until I Return (2020), his fifteenth solo mixtape. A deluxe edition, named Sincerely, Kentrell >, was released four days later on September 28, 2021, and contains two additional songs. The deluxe edition's name is an ode to the "YB Better" trend at the time of the album's release.
"Flossin'" is a song by American record collective Internet Money and American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released on January 20, 2022 and is a bonus track from YoungBoy's mixtape Colors (2022). The song was produced by Taz Taylor, Bryceunknwn, JRhitmaker, Its2ezzy and Y2Tnb.
"No Switch" is a song by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on January 21, 2022, as the third track from his seventeenth mixtape, Colors. In the song, YoungBoy utilizes his raspy voice with a murderous, aggressive cadence as he raps about murder and firearms.
Better than You is a collaborative mixtape by American rappers DaBaby and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released through record labels Atlantic Records, Interscope Records, South Coast Music Group, and Never Broke Again on March 4, 2022. The mixtape was supported by three singles: "Hit", "Neighborhood Superstar", and "Bestie". It includes production from Cardo, Johnny Juliano, Yung Exclusive, Cheese, BlakeSale, Leor, TnTXD, Ambezza, Uzoh, Kayothewizard, and Red Jon.
The Last Slimeto is the fourth studio album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on August 5, 2022, by Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records. The album serves as YoungBoy's final release in his contract with Atlantic Records. The album features guest appearances from Kehlani, Rod Wave, and Quavo, alongside production from Bobby Raps, DJ Suede the Remix God, JetsonMade, OG Parker, Southside, and Jason "Cheese" Goldberg who mixed and mastered the entirety of the record. The album serves as a follow-up to Gaulden's sixteenth solo mixtape, Colors (2022).
Realer 2 is the seventeenth solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released through Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records on September 6, 2022. The mixtape features a guest appearance from the mother of YoungBoy's child, Jaz. The mixtape is a sequel to YoungBoy's December 2018 mixtape, Realer. YoungBoy's in-house producer Jason "Cheese" Goldberg mixed, mastered, and engineered every track on the mixtape. The album also features production from many prestigious producers such as Daysix, D-Roc, Drum Dummie, Jason "Cheese" Goldberg, Khris James, London on da Track, and TnTXD.
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. 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.
Jason Michael Goldberg, professionally known as Cheese, is an American record producer, songwriter, and audio engineer. He was a producer on YoungBoy Never Broke Again's Sincerely, Kentrell, The Last Slimeto, and the Birdman-assisted, From the Bayou. He also acted as an engineer on Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar's hit song, "goosebumps" and Tyler, the Creator, Ty Dolla $ign, and YoungBoy Never Broke Again's "WusYaName".
Ma' I Got a Family, also referred to by its full title Ma' I Got a Family, A Gangsta Grillz Special Edition Hosted by DJ Drama on streaming services, is the nineteenth solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released through Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records on October 21, 2022, a day after his 23rd birthday. The mixtape is hosted by DJ Drama as an installment of his Gangsta Grillz mixtape series. It features guest appearances from rappers Nicki Minaj and Yeat, while the production was handled by 808 Mafia, Chief Keef, Dmac, D-Roc, Drum Dummie, Mason Wu, Noah Mejia, TnTXD, Khris James, and Cheese, the latter two also mixed, mastered, and recorded the entire project. The mixtape marks YoungBoy's sixth release of 2022.