Realer (mixtape)
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. 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. 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.
Background and release
On October 28, 2018, Gaulden teased the release of 38 Baby 2, the sequel of his breakthrough mixtape, 38 Baby, by sharing the mixtape's initial artwork on his Instagram. On October 30, 2018, Gaulden released the non-album single, "Not Wrong Now". On November 3, Gaulden released the song "Blasian", which failed to appear on the mixtape. On November 12, Gaulden released the official music video for the mixtape's eleventh cut, "Dope Lamp", exclusively to his YouTube channel. This was followed by the release of the non-album single, "Hypnotized" on November 15. On December 10, Gaulden officially released the mixtape's lead single, "Valuable Pain", alongside announcing the release of the project. Upon the release of the mixtape, Gaulden released the official music video for the album's outro, "I Came Thru".
Critical reception
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".
Commercial performance
Realer debuted at number fifteen on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 42,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. The album also accumulated a total of 55.97 million on-demand streams of the album's 12 tracks.