Realer is the eleventh solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on December 20, 2018, through Never Broke Again, Artist Partner Group, and Atlantic Records.[1] It features guest appearances from Lil Baby and Plies, alongside production from Ben Billions, DJ Swift, DrellOnTheTrack, Dubba-AA, Eliot Bohr, PlayboyXO, Vintage Rippah, and several other producers.[2] The mixtape serves as a follow-up to Gaulden's compilation album, 4Respect 4Freedom 4Loyalty 4WhatImportant, released in September of the same year. It also marks Gaulden's fifth release of the year.[3]
Background and release
On October 28, 2018, Gaulden teased the release of 38 Baby 2 (2020), the sequel of his breakthrough mixtape, 38 Baby, by sharing the mixtape's initial artwork on his Instagram.[4] On October 30, 2018, Gaulden released the non-album single, "Not Wrong Now".[5] On November 3, Gaulden released the song "Blasian", which failed to appear on the mixtape.[6] On November 12, Gaulden released the official music video for the mixtape's eleventh cut, "Dope Lamp", exclusively to his YouTube channel.[7] This was followed by the release of the non-album single, "Hypnotized" on November 15.[8] On December 10, Gaulden officially released the mixtape's lead single, "Valuable Pain", alongside announcing the release of the project.[9] Upon the release of the mixtape, Gaulden released the official music video for the album's outro, "I Came Thru".[10]
Realer received mixed reviews from music critics. Writing for AllMusic, Paul Simpson wrote that the mixtape "showcases YoungBoy's uncompromising street narratives as well as his melodic sensibility".[11]
Commercial Performance
Realer debuted at number fifteen on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 42,000 album-equivalent units (including 3,000 pure album sales) in its first week.[12] The album also accumulated a total of 55.97 million on-demand streams of the album's 12 tracks.[12]
