3860
3860 is a collaborative mixtape by American rappers Quando Rondo and YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on November 25, 2022, through Atlantic Records and Never Broke Again.[1][2] The project comprises 16 tracks spanning trap and pop rap genres, with a total runtime of 44 minutes, and features guest appearances including Lul Timm.[1][2] Produced as a joint effort between the labelmates—Quando Rondo signed to YoungBoy's Never Broke Again imprint—it follows their respective prior releases, Quando Rondo's Still Taking Risks in 2021 and YoungBoy's Ma' I Got A Family in October 2022.[1] The mixtape garnered attention for its raw street narratives and interpersonal tensions within hip-hop, particularly the track "Want Me Dead," where Quando Rondo delivers lines perceived as dissing the late King Von, referencing the 2020 shooting death outside an Atlanta nightclub allegedly involving Quando's associate Lul Timm.[3][4] This content fueled online debates amid ongoing rivalries tied to gang affiliations and past violence, including the 2020 killing of King Von's associate King Von during an altercation linked to Quando Rondo.[3] YoungBoy later distanced himself, stating he opposed the release due to personal reservations about the timing and content.[5] Despite the controversy, 3860 debuted at number 62 on the Billboard 200 and moved approximately 14,000 equivalent album units in its first week.[6][7]Background
Artists' Profiles and Prior Collaborations
Tyquian Terrel Bowman, professionally known as Quando Rondo, was born on March 23, 1999, in Savannah, Georgia.[8] He began his music career in 2017 with the viral single "I Swear to God," which led to a signing with Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records, marking his entry into the trap rap scene characterized by street narratives and melodic hooks.[9] Bowman's persona has been shaped by early legal troubles, including his involvement as a witness in a 2020 fatal shooting incident linked to rapper King Von, which heightened his association with gang-related conflicts in Savannah's street culture.[10] Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, better known as NBA YoungBoy (or YoungBoy Never Broke Again), was born on October 20, 1999, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[11] He founded the Never Broke Again imprint in 2016 following his debut mixtape 38 Baby, which established his prolific output of raw, introspective trap music amid personal hardships like his grandmother's passing and early arrests.[12] Gaulden's career trajectory has been intertwined with frequent legal entanglements, including multiple firearm possession charges and a 2019 federal gun case stemming from a Miami shooting, reinforcing his image as a resilient yet embattled figure in Southern hip-hop.[13] As labelmates under Never Broke Again, Quando Rondo and NBA YoungBoy shared aligned trap and drill influences, with Rondo crediting YoungBoy for early financial and artistic support without direct profit from his releases.[14] Their partnership culminated in the 2022 mixtape 3860, preceded by collaborative singles like "It's On" that showcased their chemistry in aggressive, street-coded flows.[15] This joint project extended their mutual endorsements and stylistic synergies, rooted in regional Southern rap traditions rather than prior full-length collaborations.[16] The mixtape's title, 3860, derives from street numerology fusing YoungBoy's "38" affiliation—tied to Baton Rouge's N. 38th Street and his 38 Baby origins—and Rondo's "60" connection to Savannah's 60s crew, symbolizing their factional unity without glorifying violence.[1][16]Recording and Production
The mixtape 3860 was recorded in 2022 ahead of its November 25 release, with every track handled by engineers Jason "Cheese" Goldberg and Jacoby "CxbGoCrazy" Cherry, who also managed mixing and mastering duties.[1] Production credits reflect contributions from multiple beatmakers associated with trap and melodic rap styles, including 808Melo, Bankroll Got It, Pooh Beatz, Synco, Yakree, and TJ Produced It for select songs, emphasizing synthesized 808 bass, sparse hi-hat patterns, and layered auto-tune effects typical of the artists' outputs.[1][17] The project proceeded under the creative direction of Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records, facilitating joint sessions where Quando Rondo and YoungBoy Never Broke Again structured tracks around alternating verses and unified hooks, as documented in the final track sequencing and performer listings.[2][1]Content and Style
Track Listing
The standard edition of 3860 comprises 16 tracks with a total runtime of 44:39.[18] Tracks are primarily written by Tyquian Bowman (Quando Rondo) and Kentrell DeSean Gaulden (YoungBoy Never Broke Again), with additional songwriting credits for featured artists and samples where applicable; production credits vary per track and include contributors such as CxbGoCrazy, Spacy, Xclusive, J. Thrash, Ayo Bleu, Lonis, 17OnDaTrack, 808 Melo, and others.[1]| No. | Title | Featuring | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I Swear | Lul Timm | 2:36 |
| 2 | It's On | 2:28 | |
| 3 | Casket Talk | 3:07 | |
| 4 | Give Me a Sign | 2:49 | |
| 5 | Want Me Dead | 3:09 | |
| 6 | Cream Soda | ||
| 7 | No Switch | ||
| 8 | You & Me (Tap In) | ||
| 9 | Double Up | ||
| 10 | All In | ||
| 11 | 3860 | ||
| 12 | Right or Wrong | ||
| 13 | Can't Compare | ||
| 14 | Trophies | ||
| 15 | Heart Tucked | ||
| 16 | Running Away from Home |
Musical Composition and Themes
The mixtape 3860 primarily employs a trap framework infused with drill influences, characterized by heavy 808 basslines, skittering hi-hats, and sparse, ominous synths that underscore its aggressive sonic palette.[20] Production emphasizes rhythmic drive over melodic complexity, with beats often built around sliding 808 glides and rapid percussion patterns typical of Southern trap's evolution into harder-edged styles.[21] Auto-Tune processing on vocals creates a polished yet gritty texture, enabling melodic choruses amid rapid-fire verses, as heard in tracks blending assertive energy with occasional introspective slowdowns.[22] Lyrically, 3860 recurrently explores themes of street loyalty and survival pressures, with both artists detailing alliances forged through shared legal troubles and interpersonal bonds tested by violence.[23] Personal hardships emerge in reflections on the burdens of fame and criminal entanglements, such as the constant vigilance against betrayal, while rivalries fuel confrontational narratives of retaliation and dominance.[22] Materialism surfaces indirectly through boasts of wealth accumulation amid peril, though the core motifs prioritize raw accounts of thug life over aspirational excess.[24] Vocal interplay between Quando Rondo and YoungBoy Never Broke Again highlights synergy through contrasting deliveries: Rondo's memorable, hook-driven melodies complement YoungBoy's versatile flows that shift per verse, creating layered dynamics on shared tracks.[25] This approach yields effective call-and-response structures, yet some patterns reveal formulaic rhyme schemes reliant on repetitive street vernacular, limiting rhythmic innovation despite the artists' chemistry.[24] Contrasts appear in assertive cuts like "Give Me a Sign," with its urgent pleas and melodic refrains, versus more ruminative pieces examining internal conflicts.[20]Personnel and Contributions
The primary performers on the mixtape 3860 are rappers Quando Rondo (Tyquian Terrel Bowman) and YoungBoy Never Broke Again (Kentrell DeSean Gaulden), who provide vocals across the majority of the 16 tracks, with both appearing together on tracks 1–5, 7–8, and 11–13.[26][1] Quando Rondo handles solo performances on tracks 6, 9–10, 14, and 16.[26] The sole featured guest is Lul Timm (also known as Lul Tim), contributing vocals to the opening track "I Swear".[1][26] Production responsibilities are distributed across multiple beatmakers, reflecting the independent, track-by-track collaborative approach common in contemporary Southern rap mixtapes. Notable producers include Swirv and 808 Melo for "My Friend", as well as 17OnDaTrack, D-Roc, and others for "Loaded".[27][28] For "It's On", recording engineering was handled by Jason Goldberg and CxbGoCrazy.[29] Jason Goldberg also served as mixing and mastering engineer on multiple tracks, including "It's On", "Loaded", and "My Friend", underscoring his central role in the project's audio polish.[29][28][27] The mixtape was executive-produced under the imprints of Quando Rondo, LLC and Never Broke Again, with distribution managed by Atlantic Records, highlighting the entrepreneurial structure of Never Broke Again as a boutique label founded by YoungBoy Never Broke Again in partnership with Atlantic.[1] Phonographic copyright is held jointly by Quando Rondo, LLC, Never Broke Again, and Atlantic Records.[1] Additional contributions, such as artwork design, are credited to Provence, though full liner notes remain limited in public documentation.[1]Release and Marketing
Announcement and Singles
The collaborative mixtape 3860 by Quando Rondo and YoungBoy Never Broke Again was promoted through pre-release singles that announced the project to fans in November 2022.[17] These singles generated initial buzz via digital streaming platforms and social media shares, capitalizing on the artists' established audiences.[30] Four singles supported the rollout: "Give Me a Sign", "Cream Soda", "Keep Me Dry", and "It's On".[17] "It's On" functioned as the final single, appearing as the second track on the mixtape and contributing to the hype with its aggressive trap production and lyrical content focused on street resilience.[1] The earlier singles like "Cream Soda" and "Keep Me Dry" were released ahead of the full project, teasing the collaborative dynamic between the two rappers.[31] Teasers and snippets of these tracks circulated on platforms such as Instagram, where Quando Rondo and YoungBoy Never Broke Again posted updates to engage their fanbases and signal the impending November 25, 2022 release date.[32] This strategy aligned with common practices in hip-hop mixtape culture, using targeted social media campaigns to amplify anticipation without extensive traditional press.[30]Promotion and Artwork
The mixtape employed a digital-first promotion strategy, emphasizing streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify for its November 25, 2022, release through Atlantic Records and Never Broke Again.[2][1] Pre-release teasers included social media previews, with Quando Rondo sharing the cover artwork on Instagram on February 26, 2022.[1] Official visualizers for select tracks, such as "It's On," were distributed via YouTube to build anticipation.[33] The cover artwork depicts Quando Rondo and YoungBoy Never Broke Again in prominent positions, overlaid with the numeric title "3860" as a central motif.[34][35] This visual design was highlighted in promotional shorts and fan-shared images on platforms like Pinterest, aligning with the project's branding without elaborated symbolic intent in official announcements.[30] Promotional efforts remained constrained by the artists' ongoing legal constraints, limiting traditional media appearances and favoring online dissemination.[36]