Baton Rouge rapper NBA YoungBoy (Kentrell Gaulden) is starting an entirely new chapter abroad. Over a year after receiving a full presidential pardon from Donald Trump in May 2025 that cleared his federal weapons charges, the 26-year-old artist revealed he has packed up his life and left the United States behind.
Appearing on host Funny Marco’s Open Thoughts podcast, YoungBoy shared that he has relocated to South Korea in search of safety, privacy, and a clean slate. Addressing whether he would ever permanently move back to America, the father of 13 offered a definitive response: “Never in life”. The NBA YoungBoy leaves US South Korea Trump pardon podcast interview discussion quickly went viral, as the rapper highlighted how a recent heart condition diagnosis changed his overall perspective on life and his career.
“Never in life.” — NBA YoungBoy on returning to live in the United States
While YoungBoy insists that music is no longer his main priority, he noted plans to wrap up a couple final album projects and perform overseas before stepping away from the industry. Though he feels safe in South Korea, he clarified that he is still navigating the official visa process to secure permanent residency, adding that his children can easily visit him by plane.
