Colors (mixtape)

Last updated
Colors
Youngboy Never Broke Again - Colors.png
Mixtape by
ReleasedJanuary 21, 2022 (2022-01-21)
Genre
Length66:51
Label
Producer
  • 12Hunna
  • Amart
  • Ambezza
  • BBoyBeatz
  • BeatsAintFree JG
  • Beezo Beatz
  • Berge
  • Bj Beatz
  • Blom
  • BryceUnknwn
  • Cash
  • Cheese
  • Dan
  • DopeTrademark
  • Droc
  • DT
  • DY Krazy
  • Ele Beatz
  • Exavis
  • FriendsOfClay
  • GorillaOnThaTrack
  • Hagan
  • HicksMadeThat
  • Hurt
  • Indiagotthembeats
  • Its2Ezzy
  • Jay LV
  • JRHitmaker
  • Karltin Bankz
  • Lastwordbeats
  • Lastworld
  • LC
  • Leor
  • LondnBlue
  • Lufye
  • Luhkim
  • LVL35Dav
  • Nick Schmidt
  • OG Parker
  • Otxhello
  • Prod.KpBeats
  • Saucey Beats
  • Skeeo
  • Supah Mario
  • Tayo
  • Taz Taylor
  • Tfisdon
  • TNTXD
  • UpNorth
  • WassupBans
  • Y2tnb
  • Yakree
  • Yo Benji
YoungBoy Never Broke Again chronology
From the Bayou
(2021)
Colors
(2022)
Better than You
(2022)
Singles from Colors
  1. "Bring the Hook"
    Released: January 12, 2022

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".

Contents

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.

Release and promotion

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]

Other songs

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]

Critical reception

Colors ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [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]

Commercial performance

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.

Track listing

Colors track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Long Live"
  • Cheese
  • Saucey Beats
  • Luhkim
  • Ele Beatz
  • WassupBans
  • LVL35Dav
2:39
2."Bring It On"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Aaron Hill
  • Daniel Lebrun
  • Seth Love
  • Lastwordbeats
  • Droc
  • Berge
  • Skeeo
4:04
3."No Switch"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Brian Stewart
  • Giovanni Gardner
  • Cheese
  • BBoyBeatz
  • GorillaOnThaTrack
  • Tayo
3:00
4."Smoke One"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Nikhanj
  • Kim
  • Anthony Martinez
  • Benjamin Ibrahimovic
  • Cheese
  • Saucey Beats
  • Luhkim
  • Amart
  • Yo Benji
3:24
5."2Hoo"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Aaron Gilfenbain
  • Nicolas Schmidt
  • Jonathan Gabor
  • Cheese
  • BeatsAintFree JG
  • Nick Schmidt
  • Hurt
2:46
6."DC Marvel"
2:56
7."How You Been"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Leor Shavah
  • Ethan Hicks
  • Daniel Valvano
  • Luca Steinkirchner
  • Cheese
  • Leor
  • HicksMadeThat
  • Dan
  • Lufye
2:04
8."Expensive Taste"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Lebrun
  • Droc
  • Cash
3:52
9."Cage Feeling"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Mateus
  • David Blom
  • Jordan Edon
  • Junior Sinchi
  • Cheese
  • WassupBans
  • Blom
  • Tfisdon
  • Jay LV
2:31
10."Dis & That"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Shavah
  • India Williams
  • Jack Thierer
  • Cheese
  • Leor
  • Indiagotthembeats
  • Yakree
2:55
11."Gangsta" (featuring Quando Rondo)
  • Cheese
  • Supah Mario
4:16
12."Know Like I Know"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Stewart
  • Brandon Russell
  • Karionne Payton
  • Cheese
  • BBoyBeatz
  • Bj Beatz
  • Prod.KpBeats
3:52
13."Bring the Hook"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Hill
  • Lebrun
  • Lukas Payne
  • Sterling Reynolds
  • Mandell Strawter
  • Lastwordbeats
  • Droc
  • LondnBlue
  • Karltin Bankz
  • Lastworld
4:25
14."Fish Scale"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Mathias Liyew
  • Othello Houston
  • Cheese
  • Ambezza
  • Otxhello
2:50
15."Emo Rockstar"
  • Gaulden
  • Dwan Avery
  • Michael O'Brien
  • Kalop Carpenter
  • Goldberg
3:12
16."Emo Love"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Gilfenbain
  • Gabor
  • Clayton Priskorn
  • Cheese
  • BeatsAintFree JG
  • Hurt
  • FriendsOfClay
3:01
17."Snow Bunny"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Payne
  • Reynolds
  • Thomas Horton
  • Cheese
  • LondnBlue
  • Karltin Bankz
  • TNTXD
3:14
18."Foolish Figure"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Gilfenbain
  • Gabor
  • Hagan Lange
  • Luke Clay
  • Cheese
  • BeatsAintFree JG
  • Hurt
  • Hagan
  • LC
2:45
19."I Got This"
  • Gaulden
  • Goldberg
  • Lebrun
  • Dorien Theus
  • Anders Christiansen
  • Nicolai Andersen
  • Kasper Knudsen
  • Droc
  • DT
  • DopeTrademark (un)
  • UpNorth (un)
6:05
Total length:64:03
Deluxe bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
20."Flossin'" (with Internet Money)
  • Gaulden
  • Danny Snodgrass, Jr.
  • Bryce Frizzell
  • Travis Nelson-Barker
  • Jabrielle Brooks
  • John Mbata
  • Donny Flores
2:48
Total length:66:51

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [12]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Colors
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [18] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">YoungBoy Never Broke Again</span> American rapper (born 1999)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">YoungBoy Never Broke Again discography</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quando Rondo discography</span> Hip hop recording artist discography

The discography of American rapper Quando Rondo consists of two studio albums, six mixtapes, and forty-five singles.

<i>AI YoungBoy 2</i> 2019 mixtape by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

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).

<i>Realer</i> (mixtape) 2018 mixtape by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

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.

<i>Still Flexin, Still Steppin</i> 2020 mixtape by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

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".

<i>38 Baby 2</i> 2020 mixtape by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internet Money Records</span> American record label and record producer collective

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.

<i>Top</i> (album) 2020 album by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

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<i>Until I Return</i> 2020 mixtape by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

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<i>Sincerely, Kentrell</i> 2021 studio album by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flossin'</span> 2022 single by Internet Money and YoungBoy Never Broke Again

"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.

<i>Better than You</i> (mixtape) Mixtape by DaBaby and YoungBoy Never Broke Again

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.

<i>The Last Slimeto</i> 2022 studio album by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

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).

<i>Realer 2</i> 2022 album by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

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.

<i>AI YoungBoy</i> 2017 mixtape by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

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".

<i>Ma I Got a Family</i> YoungBoy Never Broke Again album

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.

References

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  4. Callender, Brandon (January 12, 2022). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again announces new mixtape Colors". The Fader . Retrieved January 21, 2022.
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