The Context: Since breaking out with last year’s minimalist “We Paid,” Detroit’s 42 Dugg has been on a relentless streak, giving his dedicated fans a string of turnt-up anthems (“Not a Rapper,” “4 Da Gang”) alongside the explosive mixtape Young & Turnt 2.
Now, with his knack for speaker-thumping bangers solidified, Dugg turns his signature drawl to strong introspective ideas on Free Dem Boyz: the lamenting grief of “Alone,” the downbeat shuffle of “Maybach,” and the pleading piano-trap of “Judge Please.” While much of the tape is weighed down by one-dimensional production, Dugg’s gift on the mic still produces a drove of highlights, resulting in a project shaped by its peaks and troughs.
I wrote a full review of the album for AllMusic.com, which you can read here:
Genres: Detroit Rap, Trap, Contemporary Rap
Top 3: “Alone,” “Free Woo,” “4 Da Gang”
david-crone.com 
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