Free Dem Boyz

Free Dem Boyz
Mixtape by
ReleasedMay 21, 2021 (2021-05-21)
Length49:03
Label
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
42 Dugg chronology
Young & Turnt 2
(2020)
Free Dem Boyz
(2021)
Last Ones Left
(2022)
Singles from Free Dem Boyz
  1. "Free Merey"
    Released: August 21, 2020
  2. "Free Woo"
    Released: November 6, 2020
  3. "Free Me"
    Released: November 26, 2020
  4. "4 Da Gang"
    Released: April 2, 2021
  5. "Maybach"
    Released: May 21, 2021

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]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]

Background

[edit]

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".[3] 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

42 Dugg released the mixtape's lead single, "Free Merey", on August 21, 2020.[4] "Free Woo" was released as the second single on November 6, 2020.[5] He released the third single, "Free Me" on November 26, 2020.[6] The fourth single, "4 Da Gang", a collaboration with fellow American rapper Roddy Ricch, was released on April 2, 2021.[7] The fifth single, "Maybach", featuring fellow American rapper Future, was released along with the mixtape on May 21, 2021.[8]

Commercial performance

[edit]

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.

Track listing

[edit]
Free Dem Boyz track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"
TayTayMadeIt1:51
2."Turnest Nigga in the City"
  • Hayes
  • Damion Williams
DJ Swift2:27
3."We Know"Helluva2:13
4."4 Da Gang" (with Roddy Ricch)TayTayMadeIt2:36
5."Maybach" (featuring Future)
  • Yung Dee
  • G1
  • Chosen 1
  • DaBoyDame
  • G Koop
3:19
6."Bestfriends"
  • Bankz
  • DMacTooBangin
2:12
7."Alone" (featuring Lil Durk)
3:46
8."Still Miss My Niggas" (featuring Rylo Rodriguez)
Veno the Builder2:58
9."Free Merey"
  • Hayes
  • Carter
TayTayMadeIt2:20
10."Quez Free"
  • Hayes
  • Anthony Mathis
Antt Beatz2:10
11."Please"
  • Hayes
  • Aleksandr Poroshin
  • Monique Diamond
  • Tyler McCann
  • WristyBoi
  • Monique Winning
  • TyyMachine
2:06
12."Rose Gold" (featuring EST Gee)
Carlo Anthony3:05
13."Judge Please"
  • Hayes
  • D. Williams
  • Brayon Nelson
  • DJ Swift
  • Mook on the Beat
2:03
14."Still Catching Cases" (featuring Fivio Foreign and Rowdy Rebel)808Melo2:53
15."It Get Deeper Pt. 2"
3:41
16."And I Gangbang"
2:13
17."Free Woo"
  • Hayes
  • Aaron Butler
Flex OTB2:26
18."Free Skeet"
  • Hayes
  • Ry Louis
Louis2:09
19."Free Me"
  • Hayes
  • Mathis
Antt Beatz2:28
Total length:49:03
Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
20."Free Dem Boyz, Pt. 2"
  • Hayes
  • R. Williams
  • Levi de Jong
  • Section 8
  • Woodpecker
2:18
21."Freshman of the Year"
2:36
22."Free RIC" (with Lil Durk)
  • Hayes
  • Banks
  • Jeffrey Jones Jr.
  • Butler
  • Lesidney Ragland
  • Oscar Garcia
  • Foreverolling
  • Flex OTB
  • Too Dope
  • TyMaz
2:25
23."Real Niggas Never Die" (featuring Arabian McWilson)
  • Hayes
  • McWilson
  • Mathis
Antt Beatz3:12
24."On Tank"
2:48
25."On My Son" (featuring Moneybagg Yo)
  • TyyMachine
  • ItsLrz
3:02
26."Opp Pack" (featuring Nardo Wick)
  • HitmanAudio
  • StoopKid
4:13
Total length:81:28

Personnel

[edit]

Musicians

[edit]

Technical

[edit]
  • Khaya "Macxsn" Gilika – engineering (tracks 1–6, 8, 9), mixing (track 2, 21, 24), recording (tracks 10, 14, 16), studio personnel (tracks 1–6, 8–12, 14–19, 21, 24)
  • Leo Goff – mixing (tracks 1, 3, 7, 9, 12–14, 18, 20, 22–23, 26), mastering (tracks 6, 10, 14, 16), studio personnel (tracks 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12–14, 16, 18, 20, 22–23, 26)
  • Helluva – engineering (track 3), studio personnel (track 3)
  • Chris Dennis – engineering (track 4), studio personnel (track 4)
  • Derek Ali – mixing (track 4), studio personnel (track 4)
  • Chris Athens – mastering (track 4), studio personnel (track 4)
  • Julien Suleiman – engineering (track 5), studio personnel (track 5)
  • Ari Morris – mixing (tracks 5, 6, 8, 11, 15–17, 19, 25), studio personnel (tracks 5, 6, 8, 11, 15–17, 19, 25)
  • Matthew "Mattazik Muzik" Robinson – engineering (track 7), studio personnel (track 7)
  • Antt Beatz – mixing (track 10), recording (track 7), studio personnel (track 10)
  • Logan Schmitz – assistant mixing (track 17), studio personnel (track 17)

Charts

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Grant, Shawn (May 21, 2021). "42 Dugg Releases New Project 'Free Dem Boyz'". The Source. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Free Dem Boyz Review by David Crone". allmusic.com. May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  3. ^ Rose, Jordan (May 21, 2021). "Listen to 42 Dugg's New Project 'Free Dem Boyz'". Complex. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (August 21, 2020). "Watch 42 Duggs' New Video for "Free Merey"". Complex. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  5. ^ Mahadevan, Tara C. (November 6, 2020). "Watch 42 Dugg's New Video for "Free Woo"". Complex. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  6. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (November 25, 2020). "42 Dugg Drops New Single "Free Me"". Complex. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Strauss, Matthew (April 2, 2021). "42 Dugg and Roddy Ricch Share New Song "4 Da Gang"". Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  8. ^ Zidel, Alex (May 21, 2021). "42 Dugg Has Another One With "Maybach" featuring Future". Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "42 Dugg Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "42 Dugg Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "42 Dugg Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  12. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  13. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.