42 Dugg

Dion Marquise Hayes, known professionally as 42 Dugg, is an American rapper and singer. In 2019, he signed with Yo Gotti and Lil Baby's respective labels, Collective Music Group (CMG) and Glass Window Entertainment, through a joint venture with Interscope Records.

Fresh off a joint venture that positioned him at the intersection of Detroit grit and Memphis hustle, 42 Dugg emerged from Yo Gotti's CMG empire as a bridge between two regional powerhouses. His 2020 collaboration with Lil Baby on "We Paid" became that year's sleeper anthem—a track that proved his melodic sensibility and street credibility could anchor a chart-ready single without sacrificing either. Working alongside CMG labelmate EST Gee on Last Ones Left, Dugg carved out space as the label's connecting tissue between its heavyweights, bringing a singing cadence that softened the collective's harder edges. His consistency across albums like 4 N.W.A and Free Dem Boyz showed early promise, though his ranking among hip-hop's connector figures reflects the competitive gravity of a label stacked with bolder personalities.