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Top (album)

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"Murder Business" redirects here. For the song by Iggy Azalea, see Murda Bizness.

Top
Studio album by
YoungBoy Never Broke Again
ReleasedSeptember 11, 2020
GenreHip hop
Length54:42
Label
Producer
  • 12Hunna
  • 17OnDaTrack
  • 1Mind
  • Aaron Selva
  • ABOnTheBeat
  • AKel
  • Ayo Bleu
  • BJ Beatz
  • BxsedJay
  • Cássio
  • Cheese
  • Cubeatz
  • DJ Suede the Remix God
  • DrellOnTheTrack
  • D-Rok
  • Drum Dummie
  • Dubba-AA
  • Dzimi
  • HitmanAudio
  • Humblebee
  • India Got Them Beats
  • Jack LoMastro
  • JetsonMade
  • Jonnie Hope
  • Julia Lewis
  • Karltin Bankz
  • LayZ
  • LC
  • LondnBlue
  • Mike Laury
  • Neeko Baby
  • Palaze
  • PlayboyXO
  • SephGotTheWaves
  • Smash David
  • TayTayMadeIt
  • Tenroc
  • Trapman TwoThree
  • Trauma Tone
  • Vinnyforgood
  • Wallis Lane
  • WassamWop
  • Wheezy
  • Wwind
YoungBoy Never Broke Again chronology
38 Baby 2
(2020) 		Top
(2020) 		Until I Return
(2020)
Singles from Top
  1. "All In"
    Released: August 3, 2020
  2. "Kacey Talk"
    Released: August 13, 2020
  3. "Callin"
    Released: September 1, 2020

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.[1][2] The album follows his debut album Until Death Call My Name, released over two years before.[3] 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.[4][5]

Top received generally positive reviews from critics who highlighted the album's versatility and material. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, in which it earned 126,000 album-equivalent units, of which 19,000 were pure album sales. Nine of the twenty-one tracks from the album debuted on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] The album was supported by three singles: "All In", "Kacey Talk" and "Callin".

Release and promotion

[edit]

Following the release of 38 Baby and after releasing music continuously for four years,[7] YoungBoy announced that he would take a brief hiatus from releasing new music. At the time, he tweeted, "After Friday [38 Baby 2's release], I'll never release a song/album again until I'm in a better situation".[8] He also publicly asked his label for his masters in exchange for four new albums. However, the label declined this offer.[9] The album was announced by YoungBoy on August 20 through his social media, along with the date, and indicated the project would consist of 18 tracks.[10][11] By August 25, the album reached number one on Apple Music based on pre-orders alone.[12] On August 30, Gaulden tweeted that he wanted to add additional tracks to the album to change it to 21.[13] Just a day before the album's release, Gaulden shared the album's tracklist, previewing 21 songs alongside features from Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg.[14]

Upon the album's release, Gaulden released the official music video for the album's eleventh cut, "Dead Trollz" directed by FlyGuyNick.[15][16][17] Just a day later, on September 12, Gaulden released the official music video for the album's twentieth track, "Peace Hardly", also directed by FlyGuyNick.[18]

Singles

[edit]

On September 26, 2019, Gaulden released the album's eighteenth cut, "House Arrest Tingz" exclusively on his YouTube channel.[19][20] On June 16, 2020, Gaulden released the album's seventeenth cut, "Sticks with Me" exclusively to his YouTube channel, along with a Rich Porter-directed video, which shows YoungBoy in one scene performing in and around a casket and gravesite.[21] On August 3, Gaulden released the album's lead single, "All In". On it, YoungBoy deals with heartbreak and loss over a guitar-tinged production.[12] The track was produced by Yung Lan, LC, 12Hunna, and BJ Beatz; it later peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.[12] The album's second single, "Kacey Talk" was released on August 13, 2020, featuring ad-libs from YoungBoy's son Kacey who appears in the video along with one of his brother's Kayden.[22][23] The track was produced by Cheese, Julia Lewis, and 1Mind; it peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100.[24][25] On August 26, following the album's announcement, Gaulden released the album's sixteenth cut, "Murder Business" exclusively to his YouTube channel.[8][26] The album's third and final single, "Callin" featuring Snoop Dogg, described as a "minimal and smooth" track, showcasing Gaulden's signature aggressive "punch and high energy", was released on September 1.[27][28] On September 9, Gaulden released the non-album single, "Soul Stealer" which failed to appear on the album.[29]

Cover art

[edit]
See also: List of controversial album art § Plagiarism

The album cover was revealed along with the album's announcement. It immediately drew criticism for its similarities to that of Atlantic Records labelmate Roddy Ricch's Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial (2019).[30] Both covers are shot in black and white and features similar poses and clothing. Zoe Johnson of XXL noted: "NBA YoungBoy, however, is wearing two iced-out Cuban link choker chains, which sit on the neckline of his shirt while Roddy's jewelry is tucked inside of his shirt".[30] Ricch responded in now-deleted tweets, writing, "It's only ONE roddy". He also downplayed any issues between him and YoungBoy: "And I been good wit dude so don't make it about him... I'm just tired of all this comparing stuff".[30]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[31]
Consequence of SoundC+[32]
HipHopDX3.7/5[33]

Top received generally positive reviews from music critics. Fred Thomas from AllMusic stated that YoungBoy has reached a new level of "versatility and expression." He further states that "the material is some of his strongest, managing commercial accessibility while giving a more authentic view of his personality than anything he's done before."[31] Okla Jones from Consequence of Sound stated that "YoungBoy Never Broke Again will undoubtedly garner more notoriety following the release of Top," however, she also mentions that "YoungBoy's biggest flaw is sometimes not having much new to say." She concludes her review by adding "While this overall body of work may leave many things to be desired from an artistic standpoint, it also gives voice to an entire community of Southern youth."[32]

Josh Svetz from HipHopDX states that "the raps offer up the pristine voyeuristic escapism into the neighborhoods white suburbanites wouldn't be caught dead setting foot in." He also mentions that "YoungBoy's songwriting makes mainstream rap feel dangerous again." Finalizing his review, he declares that "Top reinforces that no matter how famous YoungBoy gets – he'll always keep it real, something we rarely see in today's world."[33]

Year-end lists

[edit]
Select year-end rankings of Top
Publication List Rank
Complex The Best Albums of 2020 31[34]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Top debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 126,000 album-equivalent units (including 19,000 pure album sales) in its first week, becoming YoungBoy's third number-one album overall, as well as his second number-one album in 2020. The album also dethroned Big Sean's Detroit 2 from the Billboard 200's number one position.[35][36] It also accumulated a total of 156.32 million on-demand US streams from all its tracks, in the week ending September 26, 2020.[37]

Top also helped YoungBoy accumulate a new record in the rap-related history of the Billboard 200, making him the fastest rapper to have AI YoungBoy 2 and 38 Baby 2 debut atop the chart within five months, while the latter and Top debuted between six months, a total of three number one albums in ten months, with the former two being the fastest recorded and surpassing a previous record held by DMX. DMX previously debuted at number one within a seven-month period with 1998's It's Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood.[37][38]

Track listing

[edit]
Top track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Drug Addiction"
  • Palaze
  • LayZ Beats
2:44
2."Cross Roads"
2:48
3."The Last Backyard..."
  • Gaulden
  • Tavian Dawson Carter
TayTayMadeIt2:36
4."Right Foot Creep"
  • Gaulden
  • Carter
TayTayMadeIt2:39
5."Dirty Stick"
  • Gaulden
  • Daniel Lebrun
  • Logan Christopher
  • Sven Steenbergen
  • D-Roc
  • 17onDaTrack
  • ABonTheBeat
2:49
6."Kacey Talk"
2:31
7."My Window" (featuring Lil Wayne)
3:12
8."I'm Up"
  • Gaulden
  • Wesley Glass
  • Aaron Selva
2:26
9."Off Season"
  • Gaulden
  • Aaron Lockhart
  • Mike Laury
  • Jonathon Montoya
  • Dubba-AA
  • Mike Laury
  • Jonnie Hope
2:38
10."All In"
  • Gaulden
  • Luke Clay
  • Michael O'Brien
  • Brandon Russell
  • Yung Lan
  • LC
  • 12Hunna
  • BJ Beatz
2:36
11."Dead Trollz"
  • Gaulden
  • Jarrian Thompson
  • Lukas Payne
  • Sterling Reynolds
  • PlayboyXO
  • LondnBlue
  • Karltin Bankz
3:29
12."Fuck Ya!"
  • Gaulden
  • Don'Taye Shephard
  • Gregory Sanders Jr.
  • Allen Kelly
  • Hitman Audio
  • AKel
  • WassamWop
3:04
13."Big Bankroll"
  • Gaulden
  • Brandon Russel
  • Jaylen Jackson
  • Kendrell Mattox
  • BJ Beatz
  • DrellOnTheTrack
  • BxsedJay
3:20
14."Boom"
  • Gaulden
  • Braylen Rembert
  • Sanders
  • Hitman Audio
  • Ayo Bleu
2:28
15."Reaper's Child"
  • Gaulden
  • Vincent Verdi
  • Kevin Gomringer
  • Tim Gomringer
  • Jack Lomastro
  • Nizzy
  • Farsi
  • Wallis Lane
  • Vinny For Good
  • Cubeatz
  • Jack Lomastro
3:23
16."Murder Business"
  • Gaulden
  • India Williams
  • Gregory Sanders
  • India Got Them Beats
  • Hitman Audio
2:12
17."Sticks with Me"
  • Gaulden
  • Don'Taye Shephard
  • Daniel Wright
  • WassamWop
  • Trapman TwoThree
2:49
18."House Arrest Tingz"
Drum Dummie2:48
19."To My Lowest"
  • Gaulden
  • Mattox
  • Nikola Pejovic
  • DrellOnTheTrack
  • DZIMI
3:05
20."Peace Hardly"
2:42
21."Callin" (featuring Snoop Dogg)
  • Cheese
  • Cássio
  • Vinny For Good
  • Wallis Lane
2:23
Total length:54:42

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[39]

Musicians

  • YoungBoy Never Broke Again – vocals (all tracks)
  • Lil Wayne – vocals (7)
  • Snoop Dogg – vocals (21)

Technical

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[52] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for Top
Region Date Label(s) Format(s) Edition(s) Ref.
Various September 11, 2020
Standard [1]
United States January 28, 2022 LP [53]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Hamilton, Xavier (September 11, 2020). "Listen to YoungBoy Never Broke Again's New Album 'Top' f/ Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne". Complex. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  2. ^ Darville, Jordan (September 11, 2020). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again shares new album TOP". The Fader. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  3. ^ Class, DJ First (September 11, 2020). "Youngboy Never Broke Again is on 'Top' on his new album". Revolt TV. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Releases New Album 'Top' Feat. Snoop Dogg And Lil Wayne". The Source. September 11, 2020. Archived from the original on September 11, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  5. ^ Enis, Eli (September 11, 2020). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Unveils New Album TOP: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  6. ^ "RS Charts: Youngboy Never Broke Again's 'Top' Debuts at Number One". Rolling Stone. September 21, 2020. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Zidel, Alex (August 25, 2020). "NBA Youngboy Previews New Music From "TOP" Album". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Elder, Sajae (August 26, 2020). "Watch YoungBoy Never Broke Again's new video "Murder Business"". The Fader. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  9. ^ Caraan, Sophie (August 21, 2020). "NBA YoungBoy Announces New Album 'TOP'". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  10. ^ Lilah, Rose (August 20, 2020). "NBA Youngboy Announces New Album "TOP" & Release Date". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  11. ^ Proce, Joe (August 20, 2020). "Migos Share "Need It" Video f/ YoungBoy Never Broke Again". Complex. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c A, Aron (July 25, 2020). "NBA Youngboy Is Back With His Latest Drop "All In"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "Twitter: GGYOUNGBOY". Twitter. August 30, 2020. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  14. ^ Caraan, Sophie (September 11, 2020). "NBA YoungBoy Proves He's on 'Top' With New Studio Album". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on December 24, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  15. ^ Eustice, Kyle (September 11, 2020). "Fans Deem YoungBoy NBA's 'Dead Trollz' 'Hardest' Single Ever As Lil Wayne Comparisons Fly". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  16. ^ A., Aron (September 13, 2020). "NBA Youngboy Needs A Cemetary For These "Dead Trollz"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Caraan, Sophie (September 14, 2020). "NBA YoungBoy Drops Menacing "Dead Trollz" Visual". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  18. ^ Cho, Regina (September 14, 2020). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again shares two new videos: "Peace Hardly" and "Dead Trollz"". Revolt TV. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  19. ^ Zidel, Alex (September 26, 2019). "NBA YoungBoy Still Hustling Hard On His "House Arrest Tingz"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  20. ^ Saponara, Michael (September 27, 2019). "NBA YoungBoy Gets Creative on Lockdown With 'House Arrest Tingz' Video: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  21. ^ Powell, Jon (August 20, 2020). "Youngboy Never Broke Again drops new visual for "Sticks With Me". Revolt. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  22. ^ Zidel, Alex (August 13, 2020). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Comes Through With New Song "Kacey Talk"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  23. ^ Rouse, Isaac (August 14, 2020). "Youngboy Never Broke Again Puts His Lifestyle on Display in "Kacey Talk" Music Video". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  24. ^ Rohn, Jake (August 14, 2020). "New Music Friday - New Singles from Nas, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Rick Ross & More". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  25. ^ OnlineCrates (August 19, 2020). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Paints With His Kids In "Kacey Talk" Visual". AllHipHop. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  26. ^ Hamilton, Xavier (August 26, 2020). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Continues Run With "Murder Business" Video". Complex. Archived from the original on December 26, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  27. ^ Johnson, Patrick (September 1, 2020). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Snoop Dogg Drop New Single "Callin"". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  28. ^ Hamilton, Xavier (September 1, 2020). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Teams Up With Snoop Dogg for New Single "Callin"". Complex. Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  29. ^ Marie, Erika (September 9, 2020). "NBA YoungBoy Spits Aggressive Bars On "Soul Stealer" Single". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  30. ^ a b c Johnson, Zoe (August 21, 2020). "People Accuse YoungBoy Never Broke Again of Copying Roddy Ricches Album Artwork". XXL. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
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  32. ^ a b Okla, Jones (September 12, 2020). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again's Top Hints at a Next Level: Review". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  33. ^ a b "REVIEW: YOUNGBOY NEVER BROKE AGAIN'S 'TOP' IS HIS MOST TRUE-TO-SELF ALBUM YET". HipHopDX. September 11, 2020. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
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  35. ^ Sisario, Ben (September 21, 2020). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Earns a Third No. 1 Album in a Year". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
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  37. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (September 20, 2020). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Achieves Third No. 1 Album in Less Than a Year on the Billboard 200 Chart With 'Top'". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
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  52. ^ "American album certifications – Youngboy Never Broke Again – Top". Recording Industry Association of America. December 9, 2020.
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