The Break Presents: 42 Dugg

You can't ignore your calling: When it's your time, its your time. During a stretch in solitary confinement while imprisoned, a then 20-year-old 42 Dugg decided to start writing rap songs to kill time. A return to the hole at age 22 made Dugg take rap seriously. Once free from jail a few months later in 2017, he felt more comfortable showing off his still-budding talents, rapping and dropping his own projects. The ramp up led to the creation of his 2018 song "The Streets," a Babyface Ray-assisted tribute to Dugg's fallen friend and fellow rapper, Team Eastside Snoop. The haunting song resonated and allowed Dugg's talents—his penchant for wit while vividly rapping about his experiences in the street—to shine.

Dugg's hard work and street credibility caused Lil Baby to take notice, then later Yo Gotti. Now jointly signed to Gotti's CMG and Lil Baby's 4PF, Dugg is next up, with his new mixtape, Young and Turnt, marking his debut as a signed artist.

Learn more about 42 Dugg's journey in the latest edition of XXL's The Break.

Age: 24

Hometown: Detroit

I grew up listening to: "Jeezy, [Yo] Gotti, shit like that. I was a hood nigga and they was hood niggas."

My style’s been compared to: "A lot of motherfuckas always be calling me Eazy-E and shit. I don't know why. [They] be saying I sound like him. I don't even know none of Eazy's shit, for real."

My standout records to date have been: "'The Streets', 'STFU,' 'You Da One,' [and] 'Free Mine.'"

My most slept-on song: "Probably a song called 'Never.' I don't know how that bitch slept on. I ain't shoot no video. I'm still shooting it, but I ain't never shoot the video because I was like motherfuckers don't like listening to just audio. That's what it had to be."

Most people don’t know: "I did six years [in prison] at 15. A lot of motherfuckers don't know that."

I’m going to blow up because: "Shit, I don't know! I'm trying like every other nigga, shit could go south. I'ma just keep doin' me, hopefully real recognize real."

I’m going to be the next: "Rich motherfucker."

Follow 42 Dugg on Instagram and SoundCloud.

Standouts:

Young And Turnt

"The Streets" Featuring Babyface Ray

"STFU" With Peezy, EWM Kdoe, Bagboy Mel, Cashkidd and Ewm Buck

"You Da One" Featuring Yo Gotti

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