Fabolous said that the album would be "very '90s-inspired and '90s-themed". "I was introduced to hip-hop in the '80s, but the '90s is when it flourished and you saw different people, different styles and different regions emerge it was a very diverse and versatile time and that's another reason why it sticks to me," he told MTV.[1] He said that the whole goal for the album was about his perspective of the '90's, where he came from and where he is today. He also said that it could bring back memories of the guys who really lived in it and it could influence the people who didn't live in it, they could also go in the vibe of it or look up the songs where it came from.[2]
The Young OG Project received positive reviews from music critics. Andrew Gretchko of HipHopDX said, "It’s an album filled with features – Rich Homie Quan, Chris Brown, French Montana and even Kevin Hart – and beats that are a mix of the wavy, electronic sounds so prevalent today and the anthemic rhythms of ‘90s-style tracks, each with plenty of bass to back the lyrics. With intros delivered by The Notorious B.I.G. and even a sampling of Drake’s “Fancy” flow, The Young OG Project has tracks for fans of the many subgenres of Hip Hop, from ‘90s beats to both commercial and street hooks. And while Fabolous may not excel on all of the album’s bouncier tracks the way he does over the laid back beats, his Christmas present to the world hits the right notes."[5]
David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "While 2014 was supposed to see the sequel to Fabolous' 2009 release Losos Way, the album The Young OG Project landed instead, celebrating the rapper's love of '90s hip-hop. As such, old-school act Brand Nubian get a righteous tribute with the opening "Lituation," but it takes until track three for the sound of the decade to power the aptly titled "All Good," while later, "Bish Bounce" bumps like Das EFX in their prime. Otherwise, the 1990s influence is less palpable as cloud rap beats ("We Good" floats, stutters, and dissolves) and an appearance from comedian Kevin Hart (during the Digable Planets-ish highlight "Cinnamon Apple") make this an album for the 2014–2015 season, while guest appearances from Rich Homie Quan, Chris Brown, and French Montana are as populist as they are contemporary. Still, Fabolous is invigorated by this slight slide into the past, and offers up numerous highlights (including the not-yet-mentioned "Ball Drop," a great New Year's Eve cut where everything is renewed) with a strong second line in support.[3]
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 71,000 copies in the United States.[6] In its second week, the album dropped to number 20 on the chart, selling 25,000 copies, bringing its total album sales to 96,000 copies.[7]
