NBA YoungBoy recently went viral for giving back to local communities, including New Orleans. In his latest effort, he donated to several Dallas organizations ahead of his Make America Slime Again Tour.
The rapper, born Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, made rounds throughout the city before kicking off the highly anticipated tour Monday night. The tour already has three sold-out shows at the American Airlines Center, according to HotNewHipHop.
Which two nonprofits did NBA YoungBoy donate to?
YoungBoy donated a total of $50,000 to two Dallas-based nonprofits that support residents and public safety efforts. The first $25,000 went to Manifest Freedom, which his former attorney, Brittany Barnett, founded to help formerly incarcerated individuals launch their own careers through entrepreneurship, advocacy and reshaping narratives.
According to her website, she employs “effective investment models” to support people affected by the criminal legal system. Having grown up with a formerly incarcerated mother, Barnett has dedicated her life to advancing criminal justice. She also works to help incarcerated women and girls who are impacted by maternal incarceration.
YoungBoy gave the other $25,000 to Urban Specialists, a national nonprofit that recruits and trains local leaders from diverse backgrounds to drive positive change and strengthen communities. Since its inception in 1997, the organization has dedicated itself to combating violence and crime, creating safer neighborhoods for area residents.
‘I just want to help in any way I can’
WAFB reported that Atong Lucky, founder of Urban Specialists, said the 25-year-old Baton Rouge native’s support “sends messages throughout America that redemption and transformation are real for these young people.”
“You know, a lot of people be getting hurt, so it ain’t really cool at this point to me,” YoungBoy told WFAA about the donations. “I just want to help in any way I can.”
In May, Blavity reported that YoungBoy was the latest person to be pardoned by President Donald Trump after being cleared of a federal gun charge, for which he was sentenced to 23 months in prison.
“I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father, and as an artist,” YoungBoy said in a statement shared online. “This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I’ve worked hard for and I am fully prepared to step into this.”
