NBA YoungBoy’s “Mass Tour” (Make America Slime Again) has been one of the most commercially successful—and chaotically dangerous—tours in recent hip-hop history. A 45-date nationwide arena run, the tour has left a trail of security nightmares, violent altercations, and high-profile cancellations across the country. The peak of this chaos came in October 2025, during his first performances back in his home state of Louisiana in seven years, culminating in a dramatic police intervention that led to rumors of an official performance ban.

The New Orleans Incident: When a Stroll Became a Mob Scene

On October 19, 2025, NBA YoungBoy’s first show at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans was a sold-out homecoming. Recognizing the risk, the New Orleans Police Department deployed a massive security detail of over 400 officers throughout the French Quarter and the Central Business District.

However, after the midnight show wrapped, chaos erupted. Around 1 or 2 AM, on what was also his 26th birthday, YoungBoy made a spontaneous, unannounced decision to take a casual stroll near the intersection of Canal Street and Bourbon Street. Rolling with a small crew and no dedicated security detail, the most recognizable face in hip-hop was suddenly accessible to the thousands of hyped fans who had just left the arena.

Within minutes, a handful of enthusiastic supporters exploded into a dense mob swarming his location. The gathering quickly became restricted and dangerous. Videos of the scene show police officers responding swiftly, physically grabbing YoungBoy by the arms, torso, and shoulders to carry him backward through the crowd toward a waiting car. Although YoungBoy appeared resistant to leaving his fans, the NOPD later clarified that the move was purely a matter of crowd control to ensure public safety, confirming that zero arrests were made. The incident, however, highlighted the volatile power of his connection with his fanbase and sparked industry whispers that the city might outright ban future performances.

The “Tour from Hell”: Cancellations and Violent Fandom

The New Orleans incident was merely the climax of a tour defined by turbulence:

Violent Brawls: During the show at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, a straight-up brawl erupted among fans in the stands, forcing a brief pause in the performance.
Assault on Staff: At the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, an incident shocked the public when a 14-year-old fan allegedly assaulted a 66-year-old usher, punching and kicking the elderly staff member in a disturbing viral video.
The Lil Durk Beef: The most significant disruption was tied to the ongoing, real-world beef with Chicago-based rapper Lil Durk. Intelligence about potential violence led the Chicago United Center to abruptly cancel YoungBoy’s scheduled show just one day before it was set to happen, citing their inability to guarantee safety. Fandom at his shows has turned into a test of loyalty, with fans who dared to yell “Free Durk” at shows in New Jersey facing immediate and violent physical consequences from YoungBoy supporters.

The Man Behind the Madness: Authenticity and Pardon

The intense, sometimes cult-like devotion of his fanbase, who self-identify as Y-N (young nas)*, stems from YoungBoy’s raw authenticity and defiance. Born Kentrell Gaulden in Baton Rouge, his childhood was marred by his father serving a life sentence for murder and his mother battling addiction. He started rapping using a cheap microphone in his grandmother’s Section 8 apartment, creating a DIY sound that resonates deeply with Gen Z from underserved communities.

His lyrics occupy a fascinating duality, simultaneously glorifying the street grind while dissecting its soul-crushing toll, which fans view as pure survival stories. With over 20 billion Spotify streams and more than 15 billion total YouTube views, he is one of the most-watched and most prolific rappers of his generation.

Adding another layer to his complex mythology is his highly publicized legal history. After a series of arrests, his federal firearms case resulted in house arrest in Utah, which the FBI internally labeled “Operation Never Free Again.” The controversy culminated in a remarkable development in May 2025, when a Presidential Pardon from Donald Trump cleared his record and allowed the current nationwide arena tour to proceed.

Ultimately, his fans see every arrest, controversy, and scandal not as a character flaw, but as evidence of his authenticity—proof that YoungBoy “truly lives what he raps about,” cementing his position as a powerful, volatile, and profoundly influential voice for a generation.