A new children’s book co-authored by the young son of Detroit rapper 42 Dugg is drawing praise for its heartfelt approach to autism awareness. My Kind of Normal, written by D’aire Hayes, who is on the autism spectrum, and his mother, was released in late July 2025 and has quickly become a talking point across social media and autism advocacy communities.
The book, announced on July 28 via music outlet My Mixtapez on X, is available through BeamingBrains.org and aims to help children and families understand autism from a child’s lived perspective.
“This book is for the kids and parents who know how hard it is but keep going anyway,”
42 Dugg (real name Dion Marquise Hayes) wrote in a widely shared Instagram post on July 29.
“We want families to know they are not alone.”
42 Dugg, a 30-year-old rapper signed to Collective Music Group and Interscope, rose to fame with hits like “We Paid” and “Grace.” The artist has recently sought to refocus public attention after serving time for a firearms-related case, and this project marks a personal milestone.
D’aire, whose age has not been publicly released, was unable to speak until the age of six, reports several sources including BET and Reddit forums commenting on the book release. His mother, the author of the book alongside herself, translated his experiences into a book that would speak to both the neurodivergent and the neurotypical child.
Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a pediatric condition that arises in the area of communication and behavior. In 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 1 in 31 eight-year-olds in the United States has received an autism diagnosis, a rate that is increasing, in no small measure in historically under-served communities.
My Kind of Normal provides a glimpse of autism through the life of a young person with sensory challenges, speech delay, and social miscommunications. Teachers and families have found the book effective as a teaching tool in classrooms and in the therapy room.
Reaction online has been largely positive. One Reddit user wrote on r/hiphopheads:
“That’s actually pretty sweet… good to see guys like Dugg doing this.”
Another added:
“It’s really cool to see an artist use their platform for something genuinely good.”
However, there has also been critical commentary. Some readers of the book objected to the use of puzzle piece imagery, imagery that is widely understood within the autism community to be stigmatizing or even antiquated. Others questioned whether the book’s cover art allegedly AI-generated felt too commercial.
While modest in scale, My Kind of Normal represents a significant cultural contribution. It offers an authentic perspective on autism from a child who has lived it, while leveraging 42 Dugg’s celebrity platform to broaden awareness.
A tweet from X.
The book fills the gap in children’s books for most families by validating the autistic experience and encouraging acceptance. As one of the social media commenters said,
“Autism is more normal than people make out. Books like this make everyone realise that.”
At a time when representation in media matters more than ever, D’aire Hayes’ debut as an author signals a powerful step forward for his family, for autism advocacy, and for the many children who will see their own stories reflected in its pages.
