42 Hustle Boyz (Detroit, MI)

The 42 Hustle Boyz—commonly referred to as 4 Gang, 42HB, or simply “42”—are documented as one of Detroit’s more widely recognized criminal street gangs. They are locally identified as an east-side Crip-aligned set, with historical ties to the Houston–Whittier corridor. While federal authorities have not uniformly classified the gang as formally Crip-affiliated, available records and community accounts note longstanding conflicts with Blood-affiliated gangs, particularly on Detroit’s east side.

The gang gained broader notoriety during the 2010s following a series of violent conflicts with the 55 Seven Mile Bloods (55 SMB). Despite this history, the 42 Hustle Boyz are more frequently associated in reporting with narcotics trafficking activity. The gang has also received increased public attention due to the widely purported association of rapper Dion Marquise Hayes, known professionally as 42 Dugg, whose music references the gang and its identity.

This page provides an overview of the gang’s documented aliases, territorial associations, affiliations, activities, rivalries, and broader cultural footprint within Detroit.

For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.

For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.

*In No Particular Order*

For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.

Eastside Detroit, primarily ZIP codes 48224 and 48205, centered around the Houston Whittier corridor (Gratiot → Kelly).

For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.

*In No Particular Order*

For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.

*In No Particular Order*

  • Hand Signs involving the number 4 (referencing their ‘4 Gang’ affiliation), C (‘Crip/Crips’)
  • Blue Bandannas (Royal Blue)

For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.

*In No Particular Order*

  • Racketeering
  • Large-scale narcotics trafficking
  • Street-level disputes
  • Fraud
  • Money laundering
  • Reported disruptions of lawful or public meetings
  • Carjackings
  • Loitering
  • Public intoxication
  • Theft
  • Coehercion
  • Transit fare evasion
  • Shootings
  • Murder

For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.

  • Blood-affiliated gangs, especially 55 Seven Mile Bloods / RedZone Bloods

For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.

The 42 Hustle Boyz (42HB) are documented as a predominantly African American, long-standing Eastside Crip set active since the early 2000s. Their profile expanded through ongoing territorial conflicts with the 55 SMB (RedZone Bloods) and through a sustained presence in local street culture. The gang gained broader national visibility with the rise of rapper 42 Dugg, whose music frequently references 42HB-associated neighborhoods, identities, and alliances.

Organizationally, 42HB functions through a decentralized but interconnected structure, with multiple cliques operating under the wider “4s” identity. Reports from local media and law-enforcement sources have often highlighted the gang’s involvement in narcotics distribution and vehicle-related offenses, contributing to its prominence in discussions of Eastside street organizations.

Before his music career gained national attention, 42 Dugg had prior felony convictions, including charges related to carjacking and firearm possession, according to publicly available court records. Since becoming an established artist, he has continued to reference “4 Gang,” “42,” and “Hustle Boyz” as elements of his lyrical and cultural identity.

For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.

*In No Particular Order*

  • HGH / 444 / 4224 alliance
  • 24 BossHoggs
  • 42 Gutta Boys
  • Mapleridge Boys
  • Chedda Grove
  • M-Block
  • STK
  • Exit 218
  • TG / 1000
  • BTN
  • PJC
  • AOG

For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.

42HB maintains a major presence in Detroit’s rap scene. Members and affiliates broadcast neighborhood identity through music, social media, slang, and visual branding connected to the “4s” identity.

For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.

Notes & Verification Status
Information is compiled from public records, community reports, and law enforcement sources.
Use of this page is for informational and historical purposes; it is not legal documentation.

Sources:

*Sources are listed in no particular order. Numerical placement does not indicate priority, authority, or primary-source status.*

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