Free Dem Boyz Explained

Free Dem Boyz
Type:	mixtape
Artist:	42 Dugg
Cover:	42 Dugg - Free Dem Boyz.png
Length:	49:03
Label:	4PF CMG Interscope
Producer:	808Melo Antt Beatz Carlo Anthony Chosen 1 DaBoyDame DJ Swift DMacTooBangin Einer Bankz Flex OTB Foreverolling G1 G Koop Helluva HitmanAudio ItsLrz Monique Winning Mook on the Beat Murda Beatz Nash Beats Nick Papz Noah Pettigrew OkTanner Pooh Beatz Rio Leyva Ry Louis Sacaii Section 8 StoopKid TayTayMadeIt Taz Taylor Too Dope Turbo TyMaz TyyMachine Veno the Builder WristyBoi Woodpecker Xander Yung Dee Yung Talent
Prev Title:	Young & Turnt 2
Prev Year:	2020
Next Title:	Last Ones Left
Next Year:	2022

Free Dem Boyz is the fourth mixtape by American rapper 42 Dugg. It was released on May 21, 2021, by 4 Pockets Full (4PF), Collective Music Group (CMG) and Interscope Records. The mixtape features guest appearances from Roddy Ricch, Future, Lil Durk, Rylo Rodriguez, EST Gee, Fivio Foreign, and Rowdy Rebel. Executive produced by rappers and label heads Lil Baby and Yo Gotti, record producers who contribute to the mixtape consist of TayTayMadeIt, DJ Swift, Helluva, Einer Bankz, Section 8, AnttBeatz, TyyMachine, Carlo Anthony, 808Melo, Taz Taylor, Murda Beatz, Pooh Beatz, Flex OTB, and more. The title of the mixtape refers to pleading for 42 Dugg's friends and family who are currently incarcerated to be freed from jail or prison.^[1]

Background

The mixtape is a tribute to the people that 42 Dugg knows who are serving time in jail or prison and the known people that are dead. Every song from 'Free Dem Boyz' is a tribute to them, even the "uptempo songs".^[2] On the cover of the mixtape, names of his friends and family that were locked up at the time of the mixtape's are there, such as MD, Mery, Onte, Rico, Skeet, Nell, Dirt, Wild, KWE, and Dunk.

Release and promotion

On May 13, 2021, 42 Dugg revealed the cover art of the mixtape, which gave its title. He revealed the release date on May 17, 2021. The following day, he posted a list of the guest artists on the mixtape, while also putting a pre-order link on Apple Music with the complete track listing.

Singles

42 Dugg released the mixtape's lead single, "Free Merey", on August 21, 2020.^[3] "Free Woo" was released as the second single on November 6, 2020.^[4] He released the third single, "Free Me" on November 26, 2020.^[5] The fourth single, "4 Da Gang", a collaboration with fellow American rapper Roddy Ricch, was released on April 2, 2021.^[6] The fifth single, "Maybach", featuring fellow American rapper Future, was released along with the mixtape on May 21, 2021.^[7]

Commercial performance

During the chart week of May 29, 2021, Free Dem Boyz debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200, making 42 Dugg's highest-charting project.

Personnel

Musicians

• 42 Dugg – primary artist
• Roddy Ricch – primary artist
• Future – featured artist
• Lil Durk – featured artist
• Rylo Rodriguez – featured artist
• EST Gee – featured artist
• Fivio Foreign – featured artist
• Rowdy Rebel – featured artist
• Arabian McWilson – featured artist
• Moneybagg Yo – featured artist
• Nardo Wick – featured artist

Technical

• Khaya "Macxsn" Gilika – engineering, mixing, recording, studio personnel
• Leo Goff – mixing, mastering, studio personnel
• Helluva – engineering, studio personnel
• Chris Dennis – engineering, studio personnel
• Derek Ali – mixing, studio personnel
• Chris Athens – mastering, studio personnel
• Julien Suleiman – engineering, studio personnel
• Ari Morris – mixing, studio personnel
• Matthew "Mattazik Muzik" Robinson – engineering, studio personnel
• Antt Beatz – mixing, recording, studio personnel
• Logan Schmitz – assistant mixing, studio personnel

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"

Position
US Billboard 200^[8]	144
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[9]	56

Notes and References

1. Web site: 42 Dugg Releases New Project 'Free Dem Boyz'. The Source. Grant. Shawn. May 21, 2021. May 21, 2021.
2. Web site: Listen to 42 Dugg's New Project 'Free Dem Boyz'. Complex. Rose. Jordan. May 21, 2021. May 21, 2021.
3. Web site: Watch 42 Duggs' New Video for "Free Merey". Complex. Espinoza. Joshua. August 21, 2020. May 21, 2021.
4. Web site: Watch 42 Dugg's New Video for "Free Woo". Complex. Mahadevan. Tara C.. November 6, 2020. May 21, 2021.
5. Web site: 42 Dugg Drops New Single "Free Me". Complex. Espinoza. Joshua. November 25, 2020. May 21, 2021.
6. Web site: 42 Dugg and Roddy Ricch Share New Song "4 Da Gang". Strauss. Matthew. April 2, 2021. May 21, 2021.
7. Web site: 42 Dugg Has Another One With "Maybach" featuring Future. Zidel. Alex. May 21, 2021. May 21, 2021.
8. Web site: Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 3, 2021.
9. Web site: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 3, 2021.