YNG LEGEND’s melodies hit with an immediacy that’s hard to ignore throughout his 2025 release, iamnotasaint >, introduced by its standout opening track, “Free Pain!”
“Free Pain!” began circulating online after the artist’s announcement of its inclusion on TIDAL’s Thoro Hip-Hop playlist. The track opens with a defiant tone, anchored by the line, “Free pain, free pain, what do you stand to gain? Know you can’t replace me with a lame,” showcasing LEGEND’s knack for twisted cadences and sharp wordplay. “Free Pain” was released as a single on December 12, and recent social media activity suggests a visual will follow.
The release also caught the attention of Juan Navarro, Director of Hip-Hop and R&B at TIDAL, who curated the track for the playlist and referred to it as his “favorite upload of the week.”
Listen to @ynglegend_’s “Free pain!,” Tidal’s Upload of the Week. Now on our Thoro Hip-Hop playlist: https://t.co/QxJZkjt33s #TidalThursday pic.twitter.com/aZzVOF1QiR
— Tidal (@TIDAL) December 4, 2025
Navarro described the single as a “dope melodic rap song” with a hook that carries shades of Young Thug and Playboi Carti. “Free Pain!” is currently featured on TIDAL’s Thoro Hip-Hop playlist, wedged between releases from some of today’s leading artists.
Inside iamnotasaint >
The 11-track project, clocking in under 30 minutes, blends wavy melodies with reflective themes. Across the album, LEGEND incorporates piano, guitar, and bass-driven arrangements while balancing ethereal trap with personal subject matter. When asked about the meaning behind “Free Pain!,” LEGEND explained “it means you gotta go all way, the pain is free until u reach the goal.”
But who exactly is YNG LEGEND? Born Ace McIntosh-Hunter, YNG LEGEND is no newcomer to the spotlight. Before shifting into music, the Bay Area native cut his teeth on screen, appearing as Roland Devoe in BET’s The New Edition Story, which earned him a nomination for the YoungStars award at the 2017 BET awards. He also appeared in Capital One’s TV spot “Fourth Graders,” with Alec Baldwin and Charles Barkley, and CBS’s S.W.A.T., starring Shemar Moore and Deshae Frost.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, LEGEND began prioritizing his music, cultivating a sound that blends Gen Z sensibilities with echoes of his early 2000s upbringing. His delivery leans into shifty tones, melodic risks, and an unorthodox cadence that stands out within today’s rapidly evolving trap landscape.
What’s Next?
As YNG LEGEND continues to roll out music and visuals independently, his sound is already carving out its own lane. With a growing digital footprint, playlist recognition, and a style that blends emotional grit with melodic experimentation, it’s only a matter of time before more listeners start asking the same question: Have you seen YNG LEGEND?
To stream “Free Pain!” click here.
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