Sincerely, Kentrell is the thirdstudio album by American rapperYoungBoy Never Broke Again.[1] It was released throughNever Broke Again andAtlantic Records on September 24, 2021.[2] Unlike Gaulden's previous projects, the album notably contains no guest appearances, which was a key part of the album's rollout.[3] The album's production was handled by a range of accomplished producers includingEiner Bankz,Mike Will Made It,Smash David, andJason "Cheese" Goldberg—who also mixed and mastered the entire record. The album follows Gaulden's second full-length studio album,Top (2020), as well asUntil I Return (2020), his fifteenth solo mixtape. Adeluxe edition, namedSincerely, Kentrell > (pronounced "better"), 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.[3][4]
Sincerely, Kentrell received generally positive reviews from critics who highlighted the album's production and lyrical content. It debuted at number one on the USBillboard 200 chart, in which it earned 137,000album-equivalent units, of which 8,000 were pure album sales. Eleven of the twenty-three tracks from the album debuted on theBillboard Hot 100.[5][6]Sincerely, Kentrell also became the third project—behindTupac Shakur'sMe Against the World (1995) andLil Wayne'sI Am Not a Human Being (2010)—by an imprisoned artist to top the charts and is the first rap album in the 2020s decade to top the charts with no features.[7] The album was supported by five singles: "Toxic Punk", "White Teeth", "Nevada", "Life Support" and "On My Side".
Sincerely, Kentrell was first teased by theNever Broke Again label on December 16, 2020, through the label's officialInstagram.[8] The teaser stated that the album would be YoungBoy's biggest and would be released on May 7, 2021.[8] However, on March 22, 2021, Gaulden was arrested by federal agents inLos Angeles, stemming from his September 2020Baton Rouge arrest.[9][10] Attempting to evade the LAPD, Gaulden ditched his vehicle, which the LAPD searched and found a firearm inside.[11] TheFBI additionally charged Gaulden with firearm possession—of which he was found not guilty in July 2022.[11][12] On March 25, media personalityWendy Williams commented on YoungBoy's arrest, noting that, "he’s got to go to jail".[13] On April 19, 2021, Gaulden sent an email to his team while incarcerated, addressing his arrest, Williams, and the album:[14]
i can leave my kids millions of dollars to divide but can't give them the time they truly deserve nobody understand me they never did shit some times i don't understand myself but that's fine because im okay i ain't looking for you to feel sorry I just ask for one thing- For you to let me suffer in peace tell MS. WENDY WILLIAM I say she got a good soul and she's a beautiful women I can see that threw all the bad comments thrown at her tell her count her blessings (STAY IN GOOD SPIRIT) Sincerely Kentrell
While incarcerated, the Never Broke Again label page previewed "Still Waiting", a track recorded over a jail phone.[15] On September 10, YoungBoy shared the album's official artwork, alongside announcing its release date of September 24.[16] Weeks prior to the release of the album, billboards begun to appear, stating, "no features necessary", suggesting that the album would include no features, alongside "YB Better" billboards, referring to the popular trend on social media, indicating that YoungBoy is the best rapper.[3] On September 23, YoungBoy released the album's official tracklist, confirming it would have zero features.[17][18] On the night of the album's release, YoungBoy shared apoem titled, "Deep in Me".[19]
Upon the album's release, YoungBoy's management released the pre-recorded music video of the album's thirteenth cut, "Break or Make Me".[20] Following the release of the album, on September 26, the album's deluxe edition was released, containing an additional two bonus tracks, including the previously teased "Still Waiting".[4] On September 29, the official, pre-recorded, music video of the album's eighteenth cut, "Kickstand", was released.[21][22]
The album's lead single "Toxic Punk" was released on February 4, 2021.[23][24] The song was produced byCheese, DJ Trebble, Dmac, and TNTXD.[25] It debuted at number 99 on theBillboard Hot 100.[26] The album's second single, "White Teeth" was released on May 14, 2021.[27][28] The song was produced by TayTayMadeIt and peaked at number 78 on theBillboard Hot 100.[29][30] After gaining traction online for months due to the track being previously leaked, "Nevada" was released as the album's third single on July 7, 2021.[31] The track was produced by TnTXD and Vadebeatz. It peaked at number 58 on theBillboard Hot 100.[32] The album's fourth single, "Life Support", was released on September 10, 2021, alongside the album's tracklist.[17] It was produced by Cheese,Smash David, Ravis, Stunner Samples, and SMPLGTWY. The track peaked at number 48 on theBillboard Hot 100.[33] "On My Side" was released on September 17, 2021, as the album's fifth and final single.[34] The track was produced by Cheese, Leor Shevah, and Haze. It peaked at number 37 on theBillboard Hot 100.[35]
Sincerely, Kentrell received generally positive reviews from music critics. David Aaron Brake fromHipHopDX states that "like much of YoungBoy’s albumsSincerely, Kentrell is less a polished product and more the stream-of-consciousness thoughts of YoungBoy at the moment." He also cites that "YoungBoy raps through a thick Louisiana drawl, the battle between betrayal and loyalty takes center stage." He concludes his review by stating "Sincerely, Kentrell is YoungBoy at his most vulnerable and vengeful, worn down by his own paranoia, some justified and some fabricated."[37] Alphonse Pierre fromPitchfork states that "He has blurred the lines between his rap persona and lived reality, which makes it an uncomfortable, but sometimes remarkable listen." He further mentions that "Though the album’s quality may vary from song to song, it all adds up to a startling glimpse of a larger-than-life figure whose tragic shadow extends over everything he touches." Concluding his review, he explains that "While it carries the same flaws as his previous work, the latest album from the Baton Rouge rapper provides a clear portrait of a tragic figure who often blurs the lines between fact and fiction."[38]
Will Dukes fromRolling Stone writes that "his style, a whimsical mix of Young Thug and fellow New Orleanian Little Wayne is heavy on melody, which he fuses with some rough-and-tumble grit." He further mentions that "if these are the proverbial scars YoungBoy Never Broke Again ’s chosen to reveal to us, they’re from battles, thankfully, he’s already won." Concluding his review, he writes that "the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based rapper's third album is full of conviction and bruised passion."[39]
Sincerely, Kentrell debuted at number one on the USBillboard 200 chart, earning 137,000album-equivalent units (including 10,000 in pure sales) in its first week, according toMRC Data.[40] This became YoungBoy's fourth US number one debut on the chart.[40] The album also accumulated a total of 186.29 million on-demand streams of the album's 23 tracks.[40] In addition, YoungBoy joinedTupac andLil Wayne as the third rapper to receive a number one album while incarcerated.[40] In its second week, the album dropped to number four, earning 71,000 units.[41]
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