Interviews

Published on April 12th, 2020 | by Dr. Jerry Doby

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Get to Know Rising Star 42 Dugg

42 Dugg is a new find for me and the young lion has quite an impressive list of accomplishments in a short period of time! Beginning his journey into the rap arena during a one-year stint in solitary while pulling a six-year bid, 42 Dugg hit the ground running pretty much as soon as he hit the streets. The same year he was released, he dropped “STFU,” a collaboration with Peezy, EWM Kdoe, Bagboy Mel, Cashkidd and EWM Buck that has amassed over 10 million views.

The track was followed up by his breakout single, “The Streets (feat. Babyface Ray),” which caught the attention of hip hop superstars Yo Gotti and Lil Baby.

Gotti formally announced Dugg’s signing to Collective Music Group in March 2019, when the Memphis legend invited the up-and-coming artist on stage during the Detroit stop of Meek Mill’s The Motivation tour and gifted him with a CMG chain.

The gesture coincided with the release of Dugg’s inaugural Young and Turnt release, which featured guest appearances by Yo Gotti, Lil Baby, Blac Youngsta and Peewee Longway. The project has since racked up 30 million+ streams and 50 million+ views on YouTube. The lead track from the project, “You Da One (feat. Yo Gotti),” earned rave reviews from the likes of Complex, HYPEBEAST and FADER.

Recently, Dugg released his second project, Young And Turnt 2, which features collaborations with Yo Gotti, Lil Baby and Babyface Ray and production credits from 808 Mafia South Side, Tre Pounds, Helluva and Cozmo Beats, among others.

As part of the highly-touted release, Dugg also dropped the music video for his single “Not A Rapper (feat Yo Gotti and Lil Baby)”. The visual – which was directed by IKONEQ FILMS – finds Dugg celebrating his newfound fame in Miami and savoring his luxury lifestyle alongside his mentors Yo Gotti and Lil Baby. The music video also features a cameo from MoneyBagg Yo.

“It’s special to celebrate this project and drop this video with my guys,” said Dugg, who is signed to Gotti’s Collective Music Group and Baby’s 4 Pockets Full imprint. “Yo Gotti and Lil Baby have really taught me to take rap seriously. Now, it’s my time and let’s turn this bitch all the way up.”

Young And Turnt 2 follows a milestone month for Dugg, whose standout performance on Lil Baby’s song “Grace” resulted in his first entry in the Billboard Hot 100. Since releasing the music video for Grace on March 13, the visual has pulled in over 7 million views to date.

Following the release of  Young & Turnt 2, The Hype Magazine got 42 Dugg to weigh in on a few things

From the outside looking in, who is the artist 42 Dugg?

I like to have fun, but I make real music. I’m fresh and I’m energetic, and I like to talk shit, but I ain’t rapping about shit that I haven’t been through. Everything I rap about is real.

What brought you to the entertainment industry, music specifically?

I did six years in prison, one of those years was in solitary, so I started rapping to pass the time. Some of the other people in there with me fucked with it, so when I got out I started going into the studio and recording music and shit. And when I saw how much money and fans and streams started coming in, I knew this was what I wanted to do. The camaraderie of it all is the best part – Gotti, Baby, CMG, 4PF and all of them. They help me ask the right questions and make this shit easy on me.

You are signed to Gotti and Lil Baby, how did this come to pass?

I met Baby through gambling – we were shooting dice and we became real cool. I ended up meeting Gotti next, we developed a relationship and he brought me out to a show in Detroit.

What have you learned from your two mentors?

When Baby and I are in the studio, we’re always bouncing ideas off each other. We both have grown a lot in this rap shit so I think we just make each other better rappers. With Gotti, he really taught me to take my rapping seriously. Things like finishing my songs and giving input on music videos – he taught me to take my music more seriously and pay attention to all my opportunities.

Tell us about your current project.

Young and Turnt 2 has a little bit for everyone – that turnt music and the deep shit about what I’ve been through in my life. We got a video for “Not A Rapper” with Gotti and Baby that just dropped from the project too.

For new listeners, what song of yours would you pick as an introduction to you as an artist?

If you want know what I go through, then probably “World On My Shoulder” or “Hard Times.” But if you wanna see how I turn up, then listen to “Y&T 2” or “Habit.”

Tell us a bit about your work and passions OUTSIDE of music…

I love dirtbiking, I go to the racetrack sometimes to watch some competitions. I got a few different bikes that I can’t wait to ride once all this quarantine stuff is over. Same for cars – I have a few cars that I love to drive and keep in good condition.

Last but not least, HYPE wants to know…What’s your CRAZIEST “Where they do that at?!” aka WTF?! moment…

Having all these people I fuck with show me love and supporting me and my music. Young Thug hits me up from time to time, just like, “where you at?” That shit’s crazy.


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About the Author

Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.


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