Photo by Akasha Rabut / The FADER
YoungBoy Never Broke Again (a.k.a. Kentrell DeSean Gaulden) is asking a judge to ease some stricter conditions of his house arrest while he awaits his pending federal firearm case in Louisiana.
According to recent documents obtained by Rolling Stone, the rapper's legal team filed a motion on earlier this month requesting recording time in an outside studio. Gaulden's team also asked for the ability to participate in "certain" activities approved by his pretrial officer due to his "deteriorating" mental health.
“Being confined to his home and unable to complete his employment obligations has led to great anxiety, depression, loss of weight, and sleep. Mr. Gaulden has been visibly stressed and has expressed concern and loss of hope that he will be able to return to his contracted employment obligation,” his lawyers said, alleging that his sales have "suffered" due to his "limited ability to produce quality recordings." They claimed Gaulden has already "exhausted all his options for recording in his home with a very limited production crew.”
Per Rolling Stone, his attorneys also told prosecutors beforehand that Gaulden would still be subject to restrictions such adhering to curfew, wearing an ankle monitor at all times, and a strict limitation on visitors, as well as the inability to tour.
In response, federal prosecutors are urging a judge to deny Gaulden's request, arguing that the terms of the motion are “hopelessly vague."
“The United States fails to see how the defendant’s current conditions of pre-trial release prohibit him from seeking and obtaining mental health treatment,” Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Morris said in a filing submitted on Monday, November 27. He went on to add that Gaulden is already allowed to leave his home for "necessary" medical appointments and can receive telehealth therapy. He then referred to Atlantic Records Chairman Julie Greenwald's 2021 testimony saying the label could build Gaulden an in-home studio, as well as the recent release of his latest record, Decided 2.
Gaulden's house arrest stems from his March 2021 indictment by a federal grand jury on felony weapons possession in Louisiana. Per his lawyers, Gaulden was subject to a botched search warrant, with Judge Shelly D. Dick later ruling that videos of the incident would be inadmissible in court. The ruling was later overturned during an appeal.
A judge has yet to issue a ruling on Gaulden's latest request.
The FADER has reached out to representatives for YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
