NBA Youngboy announces return to the stage with first arena tour after years of legal setbacks

Time of India

15-05-2025

Rapper
NBA Youngboy
is making a long-awaited return to the stage with his first arena headlining tour, set to begin in September 2025. After spending more time navigating the courtroom than performing live, the Baton Rouge native is now stepping back into the spotlight.
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The
MASA Tour 2025
is not just a milestone in his music career—it's a turning point in a journey marked by legal turmoil and personal reinvention.
The MASA Tour 2025: NBA Youngboy's long-awaited comeback
, born Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, will kick off his
arena tour
on September 2, 2025, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The 27-city run concludes on October 19 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, bringing him full circle back to Louisiana. The tour marks his first full-length
concert series
in five years.
Joining him on the road are special guests DeeBaby, EBK Jaaybo, and K3—a lineup fans are already buzzing about. Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 22, following an artist pre-sale.
Speaking ahead of the announcement, Youngboy said, 'It feels good to be back in the spotlight and to finally perform for my fans after all this time.' His words reflect the significance of this tour, not just professionally, but personally.
NBA Youngboy's legal troubles and road to redemption
Though his music has never lost relevance, NBA Youngboy's life offstage has been dominated by courtroom drama. In an effort to escape the legal complications tied to his hometown of Baton Rouge, he moved to Huntsville, Utah, a place he once visited as a teen to see an AmeriCorps counselor who had mentored him. But even there, controversy found its way.
In November 2024, Youngboy pleaded guilty to participating in a prescription drug fraud scheme run from his Utah home.
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One month later, in December, he was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison after admitting to being a felon in possession of a firearm—a charge linked to a 2020 video shoot in Baton Rouge.
According to a report by XXL, Youngboy is slated for release on July 27, 2025, just weeks before the MASA Tour begins. He will remain under 60 months of supervised release, adding a layer of scrutiny as he prepares for life back on the road.
Despite these hurdles, Youngboy has kept fans engaged with new music. His latest single, 'Shot Callin',' gives listeners a taste of what's to come during the tour—and suggests that he's still got plenty to say.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Where I Been / Shot Callin [Official Video]
As the MASA Tour 2025 approaches, it stands as more than just a concert series—it's a statement. From Los Angeles to Miami, Chicago to New York, NBA Youngboy is stepping back onto the stage with something to prove.
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'I'm here to perform for my fans, and that's what matters right now,' he told reporters during the tour's reveal. Whether this marks a true turning point or just a pause in a turbulent chapter remains to be seen. But for now, fans can look forward to a powerful return from one of hip-hop's most complicated and compelling voices.