NBA YoungBoy, the prolific rapper known for both his chart-topping hits and his tumultuous personal life, has found himself at the center of social media attention once again—this time, not for controversy, but for a moment of pure childhood exuberance. On August 8, 2025, a video surfaced online showing his three-year-old son, Kentrell Jr., scaling a wall with a confidence and agility that instantly drew comparisons to none other than Spider-Man. The clip, shared on X (formerly Twitter), quickly went viral, with playful edits overlaying images of the Marvel superhero and a laughing emoji, highlighting the child’s uncanny resemblance to the web-slinging icon.
The internet, always quick to spot a meme-worthy moment, erupted in praise and amusement. Fans flooded the comments, dubbing Kentrell Jr. a “mini superhero” and jokingly suggesting he was ready to join the Avengers. According to reporting from several entertainment outlets, the video’s charm lies in its simplicity—a young boy, born in January 2021 to NBA YoungBoy and Iyanna Mayweather, determinedly gripping the wall and climbing with a fearless spirit that resonated with parents and fans alike. The widespread admiration wasn’t just about the physical feat; it was about the infectious energy of childhood and the universal joy of seeing kids channel their favorite superheroes.
For NBA YoungBoy, whose real name is Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, this heartwarming episode offered a rare glimpse into his life as a father. At just 25 years old, the rapper is father to 12 children with 10 women—a detail that has often fueled public fascination and tabloid headlines. Yet, moments like this, captured on video and shared with the world, provide a softer, more personal counterpoint to the stories of legal troubles and time spent in federal prison that have followed him throughout his career. As one fan quipped in the comments, “He’s not just raising rappers—he’s raising superheroes.”
This viral sensation comes at a time when NBA YoungBoy’s name is circulating in the news for another reason: the reported end of a long-standing feud with fellow rapper Kevin Gates. On August 9, 2025, just a day after the viral video of Kentrell Jr. made the rounds, reports surfaced from MyMixtapez and other hip-hop news outlets claiming that the two artists had called a truce and even collaborated on Gates’ upcoming album, Luca Brasi 4, set for release on August 13, 2025, through Bread Winner Records. While neither YoungBoy nor Gates has publicly confirmed the reconciliation or the collaboration, the buzz has been enough to spark excitement—and a fair amount of speculation—across the music world.
The roots of the beef between Kevin Gates and NBA YoungBoy reportedly stretch back to 2018, when Gates allegedly sided with another artist who was in conflict with YoungBoy. Despite the persistent rumors, Gates has publicly denied any animosity multiple times, including in 2020 and again in 2022. However, a drunken rant by Gates in 2020—widely believed to be about YoungBoy—added fuel to the fire. In that rant, Gates declared, “It takes a man to stand over kids bch. I might can’t get you but amma get your mama. He is young, and I saw a lot of myself in him, and you know am like yeah I love him, so I put him under my wings. They want you to think different of me you stupid mutha*a, your he control you, you b**ch.”
Monetary disputes were also rumored to have played a part in the falling out, especially after YoungBoy referenced such issues in his track “Story of TOP (Story of OJ Remix).” Yet, the narrative has always been murky, with both sides offering little in the way of direct confirmation or denial. In a 2023 interview with I Am Athlete, Gates reflected on his influence over younger artists, including YoungBoy, saying, “I really gave ‘em the game. I’m super proud of ‘em, whatever whatever. Sometimes, people could love you so much… that period of existence will be shattered if you don’t disappear. They got people like that.” He continued, “I been in the streets my whole life, so I got a bunch of people, like, y’all watch me do these things in the streets and emulated me and everything that y’all do.”
Kevin Gates’ career itself is a testament to resilience and reinvention. Born Kevin Jerome Gilyard on February 5, 1986, Gates began his musical journey in the early 2000s, releasing his first mixtape, Pick of Da Litter, in 2007 in collaboration with Boosie Badazz and Webbie. His breakthrough came with Stranger Than Fiction in 2013, followed by the gold-certified By Any Means and the platinum-certified Luca Brasi 2. His debut album, Islah, released in 2016, remains his most successful project to date, earning multi-platinum status and peaking at number two on the Billboard 200. Gates has continued to release music prolifically, with his latest album, I’m Him 2, arriving on March 19, 2025, and reaching the 69th spot on the Billboard 200.
The reported truce and collaboration between Gates and YoungBoy, if confirmed, would mark a significant moment in contemporary hip-hop—a genre where public feuds often dominate headlines, but reconciliations are less common. Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of Luca Brasi 4 to see whether the rumored track featuring YoungBoy materializes, and what creative sparks might fly from their partnership. Until then, the lack of official statements from either artist leaves the story tantalizingly unresolved, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding saga.
Meanwhile, the lighter side of NBA YoungBoy’s life continues to capture the public’s imagination. The viral video of Kentrell Jr. not only provided a welcome respite from the usual drama but also highlighted the universal appeal of childhood heroics. In an era when celebrity news is often dominated by scandal and strife, a simple moment of a child climbing a wall—and a father’s pride in that feat—reminds us all of the everyday joys that connect us, regardless of fame or fortune.
As the music world waits to see what comes next for both NBA YoungBoy and Kevin Gates, it’s clear that, at least for now, the spotlight belongs to a three-year-old with Spider-Man dreams and the boundless energy to match. Whether scaling walls or bridging divides, these recent events offer a glimpse into the complexities—and the simple pleasures—of life in the public eye.
