Masked Up
| "Masked Up" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Nettspend and Youngboy Never Broke Again | |
| from the album Early Life Crisis | |
| Released | March 6, 2026 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 2:16 |
| Label | |
| Songwriters |
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| Producer |
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| Music video | |
| "Masked Up" on YouTube | |
"Masked Up" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American rappers Nettspend and Youngboy Never Broke Again, released on March 6, 2026, from his debut studio album Early Life Crisis, it was produced by CXO. A music video for the track was released five days later on March 11, 2026.
Composition and reception
"Masked Up" is a two-minute and 16-second-long song.[1] Nettspend wrote the song with YoungBoy,[2] and CXO, who did the mastering, and mixing.[1]
Shahzaib Hussain of Clash Magazine wrote how "Masked Up" sees Nettspend "distorted scream-rap bookends an NBA YoungBoy verse that hits with rapid-fire staccato intensity."[3] Alexandria Elise of Shatter The Standards wrote how YoungBoy sounds as a better pairing with Nettspend compared to OsamaSon on "pain talk" off the album.[4] Hattie Lindert of Pitchfork also felt the same way, writing how Youngboy brings "some refreshing tonal urgency to Nett’s characteristic half-thoughts".[5]
Vivian Medithi of The Fader wrote how "Masked Up" is a supercharged track, which sees "[Nettspend]'s avian cries tear through the punishing CXO beat." Medithi also wrote how "YB’s hammering verse is supported by a herd of noxious 808s that stampede in like wild horses."[6] Eric Alper wrote how "the track is a distorted, siren-laced collision of bass waves, rat-tat-tat drum hits, and sonic swerves, with Nettspend’s glitching scream-raps framing a rapid-fire YoungBoy verse that hits with staccato momentum. Together they unleash an almost abstract blur of flexes that sweeps through cash, clothes, planes, and automobiles without stopping to explain itself."[7]
Elijah Pareño of Rolling Stone Philippines wrote how the track features Nettspend keep things "loose and unpredictable". At the same time, YoungBoy's cadence holds the track together, showcasing the duo's contrast throughout. Nettspend's delivery lands with more angst, and the song follows that lead, whereas YoungBoy's brings the track's intensity to a whole new level right away. Nettspend and NBA Youngboy’s exchange is an effective yin-and-yang dynamic.[8] Jon Caramanica how Nettspend and YoungBoy's collaboration is an "emblematic of hip-hop’s rapid evolution." he states how YoungBoy sounds like Rakim amidst the short chirps and tension of the young rapper Nettspend, he speaks on how having guest appearances is important to expand one's reach among the internet, but Caramanica stated how despite all the pressures, all the opportunities, all the things that life is presenting to him as an internet rapper on the rise, deep down is still a "badass" kid.[9]
Music video
A music video for "Masked Up" was released on March 11, 2026, which sees the two rappers "mean mug while cars do donuts in the background."[6] Visually, the video is taken during the night time and features grainy, somewhat compressed artifact and lo-fi visuals, it was also filmed in Utah.[10][7]
References
- ^ a b ""Masked Up (feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again)" – Song by Nettspend". Apple Music. Apple Inc. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ^ "Nettspend Navigates His Newfound Global Fame on early life crisis". Hypebeast. Hypebeast. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ^ "Nettspend Unveils New Album "Early Life Crisis."". Clash Music. Clash Music. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ^ "Album Review: *early life crisis* by Nettspend". Shatter the Standards. Shatter the Standards. March 6, 2026. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- ^ Lindert, Hattie (2026-03-13). "Nettspend: early life crisis Album Review". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ^ a b "Nettspend, NBA YoungBoy, Slime You Out Masked Up Video". The Fader. The Fader, Inc. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Nettspend and YoungBoy Never Broke Again Drop Chaotic "Masked Up" Video from Album *Early Life Crisis*". That Eric Alper. That Eric Alper. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ^ "Skusta Clee, beabadoobee, Nettspend, and All the Songs You Need to Know". Rolling Stone Philippines. March 18, 2026. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ "Why Is NBA YoungBoy on a Nettspend Song?". The New York Times. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "Nettspend And NBA YoungBoy Have A Wild Night With Drifting Cars In Their Lo-Fi 'Masked Up' Video". Uproxx. Uproxx Media. Retrieved 24 February 2026.