NBA YoungBoy is making one of the biggest changes of his life — and according to the rapper, he has no plans to move back to the United States.
The 26-year-old Baton Rouge rapper, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, revealed that he is now living in South Korea and intends to make the country his permanent home.
During an appearance on Open Thoughts with Funny Marco, YoungBoy was asked whether he could see himself returning to America to live.
His answer was clear: “Never in life.”
Why South Korea?
YoungBoy described South Korea as safe and clean, two qualities that appear to be a major part of why the rapper is embracing his new surroundings.
The move represents a dramatic change for an artist whose career and personal life in the United States have often been surrounded by legal problems, intense media attention and controversy.
For YoungBoy, South Korea appears to offer something different — distance and a chance at a quieter chapter.
However, there is one important piece that still has to fall into place. YoungBoy has indicated that his long-term future in the country depends on obtaining the proper visa status.
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What About His Children?
YoungBoy is also a father to several children, which naturally raises the question of how living thousands of miles away will affect his family.
The rapper has indicated that his financial situation makes the distance easier to manage because he can arrange for his children to travel and spend time with him.
Still, moving across the world is a major lifestyle change for both YoungBoy and his family.
The Move Comes After His Presidential Pardon
YoungBoy’s new chapter follows another major turning point in his life.
In May 2025, President Donald Trump granted YoungBoy a presidential pardon following the rapper’s federal gun-related legal troubles.
The pardon removed a major legal cloud that had followed YoungBoy and gave him considerably more freedom to travel and move forward with his life.
Now, a little more than a year later, he’s chosen to build that next chapter outside the United States.
YoungBoy Also Reveals Heart Problems
The South Korea announcement wasn’t the only major revelation.
YoungBoy has also spoken publicly about dealing with an enlarged heart, a health issue he says affected him during his previous tour.
And it could dramatically change the future of his music career.
The rapper suggested that he may only have one or two albums left in him and could complete one final tour before stepping away from music.
For an artist who has built one of hip-hop’s most loyal fan bases and released music at an unusually fast pace throughout his career, retirement would mark the end of a major era.
Is NBA YoungBoy Really Done With America?
Right now, YoungBoy certainly sounds serious.
Moving from the United States to South Korea is more than a vacation or extended trip. If he secures long-term residency and follows through with his plans, it could represent a complete reset for the rapper.
Between the presidential pardon, his health concerns, a possible final tour and his decision to start a new life overseas, YoungBoy appears to be entering a very different stage of his life.
The bigger question now may not be whether he’ll return to America.
It may be how much longer NBA YoungBoy plans to remain NBA YoungBoy.
What Do You Think?
Would you leave the United States and start completely over in another country if you had the money and opportunity to do it?
Drop your thoughts in the comments.
Sources: WBRZ and E! News.