Philadelphia hip-hop veteran Gillie Da Kid has publicly addressed a controversial line from NBA YoungBoy’s new song that referenced his late son, YNG Cheese, in a tense but controlled response that has sent shockwaves through the rap community. The exchange, captured on the latest episode of 9 Mag TV, shows Gillie reacting to what he calls a disrespectful diss track, but he insists he is not rattled by the mention of his deceased child. The video, which quickly circulated across social media, has reignited the ongoing feud between two generations of Southern rap royalty.
The line in question appears on NBA YoungBoy’s unreleased track, which 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓭 online early Tuesday morning. In it, the Baton Rouge rapper allegedly references YNG Cheese, who was fatally shot in November 2021 at the age of 24. Gillie Da Kid, who was Cheese’s father and manager, did not mince words when asked about the diss. “All right. You be on my so bad, son. Oh, you just get on my nerves with your ugly ass. I probably got your phone away from me right now. Beat up,” Gillie said, visibly annoyed but maintaining composure.
But rather than issuing a direct threat, Gillie pivoted to a broader critique of NBA YoungBoy’s maturity and approach to conflict. “We don’t say what we was going to do on the internet and all that type of shit. That’s like kid shit,” he stated, his voice rising slightly. “You know what I mean? Like if you was going to do something you would have done it. Don’t you know. So do enough. That’s rap music, man.” The statement underscores a generational divide between Gillie’s old-school street code and YoungBoy’s modern approach of airing grievances through lyrics and social media.
Gillie then addressed the emotional weight of the diss head-on. “I don’t feel no type of way. You can’t make me feel some type of way mentioning my son. That don’t hurt. I already come to grips with what happened, bro. That don’t make sense. I already came to grips with that. That’s why I’m laughing, ’cause I’m like you somewhere on the rocks and shit. I’m not—yep. You got to laugh at this shit,” he said, punctuated with a dry laugh that sounded more like exhaustion than amusement.
The video transcript reveals a moments-long monologue in which Gillie repeatedly dismisses YoungBoy as a child. “You younger than my youngest child, man. Sometimes you take too much of that shit, man. You know what I mean? You need to come down off that shit,” Gillie said, directly addressing the camera. The statement is a pointed jab at YoungBoy’s age—23—and his well-documented legal troubles, including a recent federal firearms charge that landed him in a Utah detention center for months.
This is not the first time NBA YoungBoy has targeted Gillie Da Kid. The two artists have been locked in a simmering feud since 2020, when YoungBoy accused Gillie of siding with his rival, Boosie Badazz. The tension escalated after Cheese’s murder, with YoungBoy allegedly making veiled references to the tragedy in earlier songs. However, this latest mention marks the first direct naming of Cheese, crossing a line that many in the industry consider taboo.
Gillie’s response has drawn mixed reactions from fans and peers. Some applaud his restraint, calling it a mature handling of a deeply personal attack. Others worry that the dismissal only fuels YoungBoy’s desire for attention. Rapper and frequent collaborator Meek Mill, who has close ties to Gillie, posted a cryptic message on X shortly after the video dropped: “Some lines you don’t cross. Prayers up for G.” The comment has been interpreted as a subtle warning to YoungBoy.
Legal experts point out that referencing a murder victim in a diss track can carry serious real-world consequences, especially when the victim’s father is a respected figure in the street and music communities. “Gillie Da Kid is not just any father. He’s a man with deep roots in Philadelphia’s hip-hop scene and a known network of loyal affiliates,” said criminal defense attorney Michael Lawson, who has worked with several rappers. “If he chooses to escalate, the situation could turn volatile.”
However, Gillie’s own words suggest he is trying to de-escalate. “That’s all it is, man. Rappers make rap music. It ain’t nothing, man,” he said near the end of the clip. The sentiment echoes a common refrain in hip-hop: that lyrics are artistic expression and should not be taken literally. But in the context of a murdered son, that line blurs. “I don’t respond to [shit] with Von. He’s talking, go get your—you hear me? I’m not—now let me just tell you something,” Gillie said, cutting himself off.
The reference to “Von” is ambiguous—it could be a misheard lyric or a dig at deceased rapper King Von, who was also shot and killed in 2020. YoungBoy and Von were known to be associates, and Von’s death remains a sore spot in the Chi-rap landscape. Gillie may be suggesting that YoungBoy should follow Von’s path if he wants to “talk big.” But Gillie quickly withdrew that line, perhaps realizing he was walking dangerously close to the same line he criticized.
The hip-hop community is watching closely. Veteran journalist and podcast host DJ Akademiks weighed in during his livestream, calling the moment “a powder keg.” He said, “Gillie is one of the most respected OGs out here. He doesn’t do internet beef. He handles things in the streets. For him to even respond on camera means he’s sending a message. YoungBoy better watch his back.” The sentiment was echoed by multiple commentators who noted that dissing a father’s dead child is a classic “unwritten rule” violation in the culture.
NBA YoungBoy, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, has not yet publicly responded to Gillie’s video. His management team remained silent when reached for comment. YoungBoy is currently on house arrest in Utah, awaiting trial on federal weapons charges, and his movement is heavily restricted. This legal situation adds another layer of tension: any real-world confrontation would be difficult for YoungBoy to initiate or evade.
Meanwhile, Gillie’s son Cheese, born Markell Gillie, was a rising rapper in his own right, signed to his father’s label. He was shot and killed outside a barbershop in Philadelphia. The murder remains unsolved. Gillie has channeled his grief into activism, speaking out against gun violence and mentoring young artists. To see his son’s name used as a punchline has reopened wounds that many believed were starting to heal.
“I already came to grips with what happened, bro. That don’t—but you think you going—that don’t make sense,” Gillie repeated in the video, stumbling over his words as emotions crept back in. The brief lapse in his otherwise stoic demeanor reveals a man struggling to maintain composure. He concluded, “That’s why I’m laughing, ’cause I’m like you somewhere on the rocks and shit.” But the laughter was hollow, a defense mechanism against the pain.
The incident raises broader questions about the limits of creative expression in rap. While diss tracks have always been a cornerstone of the genre, targeting a victim’s family—especially a father grieving a child—is considered a breach of ethics even in the most cutthroat beefs. “It’s one thing to diss the rapper himself. It’s another to bring up their dead relative,” said music critic DeJuan Johnson. “That’s not a bar. That’s a line you don’t come back from.”
Gillie Da Kid, 47, has been in the game since the early 2000s as part of the duo Major Figgas and later as a solo artist. He also gained fame as the creator of the “Milli Rock” dance and a close affiliate of Meek Mill. His word carries weight in Philadelphia and beyond. By choosing to respond with measured words rather than threats, Gillie may be trying to prevent the situation from spiraling into another tragedy.
But history shows that such restraint is often temporary. In 2021, after Boosie Badazz dissed YoungBoy’s family, the two almost came to blows at a Houston club. Only intervention from security stopped a physical altercation. Now, with Cheese’s name in play, the stakes are even higher. “Gillie is an old-school man. He doesn’t do internet beef. He believes in direct confrontation,” explained former rapper and street consultant Chill Will. “If YoungBoy keeps pushing, there’s going to be a real problem.”
The 9 Mag TV video ends with Gillie laughing again and the words “Thanks for tuning in to 9 Mag TV.” The casual sign-off belies the gravity of the moment. Whether this becomes a footnote or an escalation point depends on the actions of both men in the coming days. For now, the hip-hop world holds its breath, waiting to see if words will become actions.
NBA YoungBoy’s fanbase, known as the “Never Broke Again” collective, has already begun defending their idol on social media, arguing that Gillie is overreacting. “It’s just rap,” they chant, echoing YoungBoy’s own dismissals of previous beefs. But Gillie’s response suggests he may not view it the same way. “Rappers make rap music,” he said, but the irony is that he himself has built a career on rap music that often blurred the line between reality and art.
One thing is certain: the mention of YNG Cheese will not be forgotten. Cheese’s mother, who has largely stayed out of the public eye, posted a simple broken-heart emoji on Instagram after the video surfaced. No words were necessary. The pain is palpable. And as Gillie Da Kid sits in his Philadelphia studio, the weight of a father’s grief meets the recklessness of a young man’s ambition. The collision is messy, human, and all too real.
In the end, Gillie’s message to NBA YoungBoy is clear: grow up. “You younger than my youngest child, man. You need to come down off that shit.” Whether the young rapper heeds that warning or doubles down may determine the next chapter of this story. Breaking news desks across the country are monitoring the situation. For now, the ball is in YoungBoy’s court. The music plays on, but the silence between the beats is louder than any lyric.
