The rapper’s raw confession about loneliness, regret and fatherhood reveals what really fuels his relentless grind

YoungBoy Never Broke Again has spent nearly a decade as one of rap’s most prolific and polarizing figures, flooding streaming platforms with music at a pace few artists can match. Now, the Louisiana rapper says the engine behind that massive catalog is running on something far more personal than ambition.

In a candid interview with i-D magazine published Tuesday, Oct. 6, the 26-year-old artist admitted he has seriously considered walking away from music altogether. What keeps him in the game, he said, has little to do with streams, charts or money.

Logging Off to Look Inward

The conversation opened with a surprising revelation. YoungBoy confirmed he had deleted his Instagram account, a page followed by roughly 12 million people. He explained that he felt he was handling himself poorly and needed distance from the constant noise of social media.

It was a rare moment of transparency from an artist who has long kept the press at arm’s length. Rather than deflect, he leaned into the discomfort, describing a stretch of intense self-reflection that forced him to confront hard truths about who he had become.

A Painful Look in the Mirror

YoungBoy told i-D that certain circumstances and people in his life had shaped him into someone he no longer recognized — or even liked. He said he struggled with the knowledge that his actions had hurt others, and that the realization weighed heavily on him.

The emotional toll, he said, has been significant. He described the experience as deeply isolating, offering a glimpse of the loneliness that can shadow even the most successful entertainers.

For fans who know him mainly through his combative lyrics and headline-grabbing legal battles, the tone marked a striking shift. It painted a portrait of an artist wrestling openly with regret, accountability and the steep price of fame.

Why YoungBoy Won’t Walk Away

When asked where he finds the strength to sustain his famously relentless work ethic, YoungBoy offered an unexpected answer: he would quit right now if he could.

But he said the movement he has built feels bigger than himself. His main goal, he explained, is to bring people happiness — and if he can no longer do that, he would rather quietly step aside than overstay his welcome.

Above all, he pointed to his children as his true measure of success. He said his legacy will not be defined by wealth or personal accolades, but by the kind of people his kids grow up to be. If someone met them and told him he had done a great job as a father, he said, that would be the real win.

His hope for them is simple: that they are happy and free to pursue whatever path they choose.

Fatherhood as the Final Scoreboard

The remarks reframe the story of one of hip-hop’s most tireless hitmakers. For years, YoungBoy’s output has been treated as a numbers game, measured in album drops, chart placements and streaming totals. His own definition of victory, it turns out, looks very different.

The sentiment reflects a broader shift in hip-hop, where artists increasingly measure success through family, mental health and personal growth rather than sales alone. For YoungBoy, the grind is no longer about proving himself to the industry. It’s about the people waiting for him at home.

A New Chapter Abroad

Despite the heavy reflections, YoungBoy said he is in a happier place today. Following his successful MASA Tour in 2025, he has been traveling the globe and soaking in new surroundings.

After spending time in South Korea, he has made his way across Europe and is now embracing the Parisian lifestyle in France — a slower, quieter rhythm far removed from the pressures that once consumed his days.

Whether this season of travel signals a longer hiatus or simply a much-needed reset remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: for YoungBoy, the reason to keep going has never been more personal.

Source: The Breakfast Club