I Rest My Case
| I Rest My Case | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 6, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2022 | |||
| Length | 39:50 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
| |||
| YoungBoy Never Broke Again chronology | ||||
| ||||
I Rest My Case is the fifth
It is YoungBoy's first studio project with Motown since signing with the label in October 2022[3] following the completion of his contract with Atlantic Records earlier that year.
Release and promotion
I Rest My Case was first announced by YoungBoy Never Broke Again through his official Instagram page in December 2022, where he stated that an album would be released in January.[4] Despite the album initially being titled Black, through YoungBoy's Amp radio show, he stated that the album's name would be changed to I Rest My Case.[5] Weeks later, YoungBoy's label Never Broke Again revealed the album's initial cover art, however, it received backlash from supporters.[6] Days later, a new cover art was announced which received much more support.[1]
Following the release of the album, YoungBoy would appear on the cover of Billboard's Power 100 magazine[7] in which he stated that this change in appearance was due to him wanting to change.[8]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Clash | 7/10[10] |
| HipHopDX |  [11] |
I Rest My Case received mediocre reviews from music critics. Paul Simpson from
Writing for HipHopDX, Nadine Smith writes that "he’s developed a dependable sound, not quite country rap, but aching with a bluesy soulfulness and frequently accompanied by classical guitar," this was followed up by her stating that "it’s a style he does well, but his voice ecompasses a wider spectrum of timbres and emotions." Concluding the review, Nadine notes that "within those 19 tracks, there’s a more experimental EP, but because of the expectations YoungBoy has established for himself, it feels padded out to album-length with what could easily be leftover scraps from past sessions," finishing off by writing, "YoungBoy’s voice makes a compelling argument for itself, but tightening the focus might help strengthen his case as an artist."[11]
Jason Lipshutz from Billboard stated that, "YoungBoy generally gets more discerning and ferocious with every new project, and I Rest My Case is one of his strongest full-lengths to date."[12]
Commercial performance
I Rest My Case debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 29,000 album-equivalent units (including 1,000 copies in pure album sales) in its first week.[13] The album also accumulated a total of 39.59 million on-demand streams of the album's songs.[13]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Top Girls" | Kentrell Gaulden | 0:30 | |
| 2. | "Black" |
|
| 2:08 |
| 3. | "Louie V" | Gaulden |
| 1:34 |
| 4. | "Swag On Point" |
|
| 2:28 |
| 5. | "Bitch Yeah" |
| Timmydahitman | 2:48 |
| 6. | "Red" |
|
| 2:14 |
| 7. | "Double Cup" | Gaulden |
| 2:22 |
| 8. | "Fight With My Sheets" |
|
| 2:45 |
| 9. | "Rage" |
| TayTayMadeIt | 2:11 |
| 10. | "Top Haters" | Gaulden | 0:24 | |
| 11. | "Just Like Me" |
|
| 2:47 |
| 12. | "Ride Me" | Gaulden | Scalez | 1:52 |
| 13. | "Not My Friend" |
| TrentonxKyle | 3:00 |
| 14. | "Mini Me" |
|
| 1:56 |
| 15. | "Clear" |
|
| 2:30 |
| 16. | "I Love YB Skit" | Gaulden | 0:19 | |
| 17. | "Groovy" |
|
| 3:10 |
| 18. | "Same Thang" |
| Swiger Music | 2:42 |
| 19. | "Hey Pops" |
|
| 2:06 |
| Total length: | 39:50 | |||
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[14]
- YoungBoy Never Broke Again – vocals
- Jason "Cheese" Goldberg – mastering, mixing
- Khris "XO" James – engineering
Charts
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[15] | 9 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] | 5 |
References
- ^ a b Mamo, Heran (January 5, 2023). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again's New Album 'I Rest My Case' Release Date & Cover Revealed". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ Garcia, Thania (January 5, 2023). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Dropping a New Album on Friday". Variety. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Signs With Motown". Billboard. October 24, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Keise, Kevin (December 8, 2022). "NBA YoungBoy says he's dropping an album in January". REVOLT. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- ^ "NBA YoungBoy launches radio show on Amazon Amp". Fox 8. December 9, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
- ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (January 2, 2023). "NBA YOUNGBOY TO KICKSTART 2023 WITH NEW ALBUM 'I REST MY CASE'". HipHopDX. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
- ^ Garvey, Meaghan (February 1, 2023). "The Secret Life, House Arrest and Rebirth of YoungBoy Never Broke Again". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "NBA Young Boy Talks About Fame, His Music, Changing His Ways & More Billboard Cover". Billboard. February 1, 2023. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ a b "I Rest My Case Review by Paul Simpson". allmusic.com. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (January 6, 2023). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again – I Rest My Case". Clash. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ a b Smith, Nadine (January 11, 2023). "NBA YOUNGBOY 'I REST MY CASE' HAS GLIMPSES OF EXPERIMENTATION BUT IS MUCH OF THE SAME". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ Lipshutz, Jason (January 6, 2023). "First Stream: New Music From YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Popcaan & Drake, Shania Twain and More". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ a b "SZA's 'SOS' Spends Fifth Straight Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. June 12, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ "I Rest My Case by YoungBoy Never Broke Again on Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
