42 Dugg is with the s**ts in “4eva Us Neva Them.”
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TOP 5 SONGS
Honorable Mention. Org
Flipping Missy Elliott’s very slept-on “Sock It To Me” confirms that 42 Dugg knows ball.
Can we give Missy Elliott and Timbaland their flowers? Some of the best beats I’ve heard are featured on Missy’s debut album, Supa Dupa Fly. One is the “Sock It To Me” beat, which is sampled in “Org.” Kudos must go to 42 Dugg, too. Though he doesn’t say anything groundbreaking, I f**k with the free-flowing rap style he uses over the beat.
5. Megan (Ft. Blac Youngsta)
Damn, these two crazy negroes know one another (In my Ryan Garcia voice)?
Do you know how hard it was for me not to like this song? At the end of the day, I think it features a scary-ass, uptempo trap beat that I absolutely love, dope “Get Your Roll On”-like flows by 42 Dugg and Blac Youngsta, and laidback gangsta lyrics I respect. Good s**t by these two underdogs.
4. BMF (Ft. Jeezy)
I can tell Young Jeezy can see some of him in 42 Dugg (Probably his side that does evil things).
One thing you have to appreciate about Jeezy is his willingness to stay on brand. That said, “BMF” features a title the Atlanta legend is familiar with, a jubilant trap beat that gives me Thug Motivation 101: Let’s Get It vibes, and lots of drug-dealing talk. While Jeezy shines in his lone verse, 42 Dugg’s frantic, Big Tymers-like flow is excellent (That’s clearly his go-to and best flow).
3. No Love (Ft. Lil Baby)
I feel like 42 Dugg brings out the best in Lil Baby.
“No Love” is another solid collaboration between 42 Dugg and Lil Baby. The track features one of Baby’s grittiest verses in a while, backed by a classic-sounding Atlanta trap beat reminiscent of something ’06 Gucci Mane would have killed. While 42 Dugg’s laidback verse may be forgettable, it complements the overall vibe.
2. Go Again Pt 2
42 Dugg raps like the rent is due in “Go Again Pt 2.”
You can tell that “Go Again Pt 2” was one of the first tracks 42 Dugg made after his release from jail. Not only does he sound hyped as hell, but his verses cover a bunch of wild topics, like catching folks lacking and ensuring the people he shot are dead, that could land him right back in jail. At the end of the day, I am a fan of a hyped-up 42.
1. Win With Us
How comfortable are you with winning alongside killers?
“You weren’t with me shooting in the gym” must be 42 Dugg’s favorite motto. In “Win Wit Us,” he tells us why people like you and I can’t kick it with him and his crew, bringing up the shooters he knows and the codes he lives by.
I love how “Win Wit Us” sounds. The song is driven by a menacing, booming beat designed to make the Myles Turners of the world shake in their boots. Over it, 42 Dugg delivers a catchy hook and raps with a trill delivery that will convince you he’s at least six feet tall.
SONG-BY-SONG RATING
1. Intro (3.5/5)
2. Win With Us (4/5)
3. 4 x 4 (Ft. Meek Mill) (3.5/5)
4. Fresh From The Feds (3.5/5)
5. Case Closed (Ft. Rylo Rodriguez) (3/5)
6. Wrong Right (3.5/5)
7. N.P.O. (Ft. Sexyy Red) (3.5/5)
8. If I Can’t (3/5)
9. Megan (Ft. Blac Youngsta) (3.5/5)
10. Org (5/5)
11. Catch 1 (3/5)
12. My Mama (3.5/5)
13. Since When (Ft. EST Gee) (3.5/5)
14. Get In Your Bag (3.5/5)
15. BMF (Ft. Young Jeezy) (4/5)
16. Go Again Pt. 2 (4/5)
17. No Love (Ft. Lil Baby)
18. 4eva Us Freestyle (3.5/5)
19. Need You (3.5/5)
20. Still Bout U (3.5/5)
21. Real Ones (Outro) (3.5/5)
RGM RATING
(C)
42 Dugg is one of the hardest artists in the game today. If he didn’t sound super young, I think more people will see him as that.
My favorite thing about 4Eva Us Neva Them is the beats. They mainly feature old-school, dramatic Atlanta trap vibes. Since I grew up listening to those kinds of beats, I have no issue with nearly all the tracks on this project boasting them. However, if you’re not a fan of these beats, you might feel like the project has many tracks that sound the same.
42 Dugg’s time in jail did not change him at all. For those of you who thought he would be on some positive s**t, think again. Throughout 4Eva Us Neva Them, Dugg talks about sliding, throwing people out of windows, hanging out with killers, and more. What’s alarming is that he describes these activities in vivid and intimate ways. To Dugg’s defense, his words definitely come across as authentic (You can’t say he isn’t about that life).
I actually believe 42 Dugg is a solid rapper. In 4eva Us Neva Them, I enjoy the various flows he uses and believe he delivers clever punchlines here and there. However, I find his voice can sometimes sound a bit too cold-blooded and dull (Especially when he sings). Listening to 21 tracks in a row by him might get monotonous. Shuffle this project with your other 2024 trap records.
Will this album be appreciated by the masses? Probably not. However, if you’re a fan of classic trap beats and strong street lyrics, you will appreciate it.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
