NBA YoungBoy continues to prove that momentum matters more than timing. Despite an already packed 2025 and multiple releases in the past year, the Baton Rouge rapper is seeing major success with his new album Slime Cry—even as it goes head-to-head with A$AP Rocky’s long-awaited Don’t Be Dumb.
After initially teasing Slime Cry for a late-November release, YoungBoy instead dropped the project on the very same day as Rocky’s album. The move raised eyebrows, especially considering YoungBoy had already delivered three projects last year alone. Still, any concerns about fan fatigue appear unfounded.
According to Kurrco, Slime Cry currently holds the No. 1 spot on U.S. Apple Music across all genres, edging out Don’t Be Dumb, which sits just behind it at No. 2. It’s a notable win for YoungBoy, particularly given the anticipation surrounding Rocky’s return. With both fanbases highly engaged, the two projects are expected to battle closely throughout the week—and potentially on the Billboard 200.
That said, Rocky may have an advantage in traditional sales. A press release revealed that Don’t Be Dumb moved around 130,000 physical copies before release, driven largely by vinyl purchases. YoungBoy, by contrast, tends to rely almost entirely on streaming, which could impact first-week numbers depending on how the charts weigh different formats.
There’s also added intrigue this time around, as Billboard and YouTube no longer collaborate on stream data. Given YoungBoy’s massive digital presence—reportedly exceeding 16 billion YouTube views—it remains to be seen how the updated metrics will affect his chart positioning.
Beyond the charts, YoungBoy has more reasons to celebrate. The RIAA recently awarded him 36 new certifications, officially making him the most certified rapper of all time with a staggering 126 total plaques. With Slime Cry boasting a hefty 30-track runtime, that number could climb even higher in the coming months.
All signs point to this being the first major sales and streaming showdown of 2026—and if early numbers are any indication, NBA YoungBoy isn’t slowing down anytime soon.