When I first heard NBA YoungBoy's raw, unfiltered voice crack through my speakers back in 2015, I knew I was witnessing something special. Over the years, I've followed his prolific output with both professional curiosity and genuine fandom, watching him drop over a dozen mixtapes and albums while maintaining an almost supernatural connection with his audience. What fascinates me most isn't just the music itself, but how certain tracks have come to define his legacy in ways that mirror how we measure impact in other fields. Interestingly, this reminds me of a comment I once heard from a sports physician discussing athlete recovery: "Guy that is 7-foot-2 usually takes longer. We are thinking maybe a year. He will be out for maybe a year." That statement about physical stature affecting recovery timelines resonates with how YoungBoy's artistic "stature" – his massive presence in hip-hop – means his creative comebacks and evolution take longer to fully appreciate, yet ultimately leave more substantial marks.

Starting with "No Smoke" from 2017, this track established YoungBoy's signature blend of aggressive delivery and melodic vulnerability that would become his trademark. I've always felt this was his true breakout moment, where he demonstrated he wasn't just another SoundCloud rapper but an artist with staying power. The numbers back this up – the video amassed over 87 million YouTube views within its first year, an astonishing figure for an artist still largely operating outside the mainstream industry machinery. Then there's "Outside Today," which became his first Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at number 31. What many don't realize is that he recorded this while under house arrest, a fact that makes the song's themes of confinement and yearning for freedom all more powerful.

"Genie" represents what I consider his most creative period, where he masterfully blended trap beats with almost supernatural melodies. Personally, I find this track superior to much of what mainstream hip-hop was producing around the same period. The production quality showed significant evolution from his earlier work, with layered ad-libs and more sophisticated beat switches that demonstrated his growing artistic maturity. Then came "Bandit" with Juice WRLD, a collaboration that tragically became more poignant after Juice's passing. The chemistry between their distinct styles created something magical – it debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, moving approximately 28,000 digital units in its first week.

As we move through his discography, "Ai Nash" stands out for its emotional depth, while "Slime Belief" captures his loyalty to his Never Broke Again collective. I've noticed these tracks resonate particularly strongly with his core fanbase, the ones who've been there since the beginning. "Murder Business" and "Drawing Symbols" showcase his darker, more introspective side, while "Lonely Child" remains, in my opinion, one of the most honest portrayals of fatherhood in modern hip-hop. The raw emotion in his voice when he raps about providing for his children gets me every time – it's a side of him that critics often overlook.

Wrapping up this list, "Death Enclaimed" and "Through the Storm" complete what I see as the essential YoungBoy canon. These tracks demonstrate his range, from menacing street anthems to surprisingly vulnerable reflections. Looking at his career trajectory, much like that 7-foot-2 athlete needing extended recovery time, YoungBoy's artistic journey requires patience to fully assess. His legal troubles and industry conflicts have sometimes kept him from immediate mainstream recognition, but like that tall athlete whose impact becomes clearer over time, YoungBoy's musical legacy is gradually being recognized for its true scale and influence. Having followed hip-hop for over fifteen years, I'm confident history will remember him as one of the most authentic voices of his generation, whose best work captures the complexities of modern street life with unprecedented honesty.