On May 28, 2025, rapper Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, known professionally as NBA YoungBoy, was granted a full presidential pardon by former President Donald Trump. This clemency arrives just weeks before the Baton Rouge native was scheduled for release from prison, where he was serving a nearly two-year sentence for federal gun charges in Utah. 

In a heartfelt statement shared on his social media platforms, NBA YoungBoy expressed gratitude to President Trump, as well as to advocate Alice Marie Johnson and his attorney Brittany K. Barnett for their roles in securing the pardon. He wrote, “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. 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.” 

The pardon not only clears his criminal record but also lifts previous travel restrictions, allowing him to embark on his upcoming “MASA” tour, set to commence in September. 

This act of clemency is part of a broader series of pardons issued by Trump, which included former politicians, a union leader, and other public figures. 

NBA YoungBoy’s pardon marks a significant turning point in his life and career, providing him with a renewed opportunity to focus on his music and personal growth.