YoungBoy Never Broke Again helped make a terminally ill child’s dream come true by collaborating with him on his first official musical release, which has since gone viral amid a groundswell of support.
Keontae McKinnon, a five-year-old boy and avid Hip-Hop fan from San Antonio, TX, battling Stage 4 cancer, requested that he record and release a rap song as his last wish in light of his worsening medical condition.
King Kyle Lee, a local artist and leader of the Anti Bullying Gang, helped make McKinnon’s hope turn into a reality, bringing a make-shift recording studio to the young wordsmith’s hospital room to lay down vocals for his track.
However, little did McKinnon know that his song would also feature an appearance from his favorite rapper, YoungBoy Never Broke Again. McKinnon, who raps under the name NBATAE, even received a call from NBA YoungBoy himself, who complimented him on his rap name while giving him words of encouragement and support.
In a clip shared on social media, Lee played a recording of the Baton Rouge native sending McKinnon his regards, with McKinnon visibly excited by YoungBoy’s message.
“What’s happening soldier, it’s YoungBoy,” he told McKinnon. “How you feeling over there, fatt? I hope you’re holding up, man. Stay strong. And I like your rap name. It’s cool.”
Paras Griffin/Getty Images
The song, “Keontae’s Final Wish,” finds NBATAE rhyming over a revamped version of The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Victory” instrumental, delivering lyrics expressing his gratitude for his family and his refusal to give up on life, despite his deteriorating health.
“Mommy praying hard/ Daddy right by my side,” the East Side representative says at the beginning of the song before launching into a verse packed with nods to his perseverance.
“Keontae in the ring, gotta lion in his chest/ Facing big battles, so I never take a rest/ Stage 4, nah, that don’t define the kid/ Fire in his soul from the life that he lives,” he raps with swaggering confidence.
YouTube
Shouting out his brothers, sister, and grandmother, NBATAE remains stoic, conveying his relentless attitude and the sacrifices made by his loved ones with each word spat.
“They all working hard for me/ I love them, my family/ Every single time, they’ll not give up on me/ Not at all, you not gon’ give up on me.”
In the accompanying music video, NBATAE, clad in a San Antonio Spurs jersey and shades, is wheeled around his neighborhood while surrounded by a throng of supporters, immediate and extended family.
YouTube
“Keontae’s Final Wish” has quickly become a viral sensation, with McKinnon’s charisma, strength, and talent captivating social media users and earning him fans across the country and beyond.
Currently available on streaming platforms, and racking up radio spins, “Keontae’s Final Wish” is a reminder that Hip-Hop is at its best when it comes from the heart and resonates at the core.
Listen to “Keontae’s Final Wish” by NBATAE below.
