The tireless rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again aka NBA Youngboy, teams up with Nicki Minaj for their third collaboration “WTF.” The 23-year-old gifted his die hard fan base eight albums in 2022 and has not lifted his foot off the gas in 2023. Back in January he took a different sonic approach for I Rest My Case attempting new subgenres like alternative, hyper-digital, and punk-rap. Also, the project did not contain any guest features.
A few months later Youngboy phones a fellow hip-hop comrade Minaj for a new melodic rap track “WTF.” The two previously collaborated on “What That Speed Bout!?” in 2020 then “I Admit” last year from YoungBoy’s DJ Drama-produced album Ma’ I Got A Family.
Is “WTF” Worth The Hype?
“WTF” which stands for “who the f**k” arrives prior to his forthcoming project Don’t Try This At Home. The album is rumored to drop this Spring. In the track YoungBoy uses his monotonous vocal tone and cadence. But in contrast to his previous works, “WTF” has a gospel-like sound with scattered background vocals. Mellow 808’s and a heavy bass in the production make for a calming listen. But Minaj and YoungBoy’s performance make the track banal and anticlimactic. The absence of a strong hook and melodies do not do the instrumental justice. Overall, the track has poor replay value.
Meanwhile, the “WTF” music video sees Minaj as a graceful ballerina in a tutu. The ballet theme ties to one of YoungBoy’s raps in the song: “They weren’t with me when I was hangin’ out that car, this ain’t realest / Ballerina, we spinned the whole car, somethin’ get spilled in it.”
The duo raps about steering clear of facades and new relations. Minaj and YoungBoy shy away from people because they find it hard to trust them. Both the rappers have learned being in the music industry that people don’t always have your best interest in mind. And if you weren’t with YoungBoy when he was at his grandad’s house in the trenches, you aren’t in his inner circle. People don’t understand what he has endured- they just see him as a superstar.
The track abruptly ends after Nicki’s short verse where she sprinkles in wordplay and a few bars. She conveys the genuine friendship her and NBA YoungBoy share. “Cross YoungBoy, then you cross the Queen.” They can trust each other as business partners and friends.
