Young Dolph passed away aged 36
(Picture: Getty Images for BET)Rapper Young Dolph, 36, was killed in a shooting in Memphis, Tennessee. He was best known for his 2020 album Rich Slave and collaborations with fellow Memphis rapper and cousin Key Glock.
According to local station FOX News 13, the incident occurred at Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies in South Memphis on Wednesday afternoon. Young Dolph stepped inside the business to purchase cookies when he was shot and died at 1pm, according to the store owner.
Dolph, whose birth name was Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr., was born in Chicago, Illinois but relocated to Memphis when he was a child.
His cousin was rapper Juice Wrld, who died in December 2019 at the age of 21, after a drug overdose at Chicago’s Midway International Airport.
Dolph released his first studio album, King of Memphis, in 2016, which charted at No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. From 2016 to 2021, he released seven albums, the most recent of which was Dum and Dummer 2 with Key Glock, which reached No. 8.
He also released more than a dozen mixtapes and EPs between 2008 and 2017.
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In September 2017, Dolph was shot outside a Hollywood retail store and was hospitalized in severe condition.
He was in the hospital for two weeks recovering from three bullet wounds.
When the news of his death broke, celebrities and fans alike took to social media to share their condolences.
Check out the responses below.
Lord please cover the entire @YoungDolph family, friends and loved 1z. We thank u in advance Lord in Jesus name Amen. pic.twitter.com/36fpPFlV6J
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) November 17, 2021
R. I.P. to my friend Dolph this broke my heart
— Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) November 17, 2021
Gone Way Too Soon Smfh Rest Easy Young Dolph 🕊 pic.twitter.com/N6S65Oe7E1
— DJ First Class™ 🏁 (@1DJFirstClass) November 17, 2021
RIP to Young Dolph!
— Hip Hop By The Numbers (@HipHopNumbers) November 17, 2021
Dolph was an independent pioneer
He created Paper Route Empire in 2010 & signed legends like Key Glock who just sold 36k 1st week independently & charted No. 7 on the BB200 under the label
Young Dolph will be deeply missed & never forgotten
RIP 🙏💙
Rest In Peace King Young Dolph 👑 🙏 😢🥺 pic.twitter.com/zHtcEoAKt8
— TrendSetter ⭐️ (@coi_leray) November 17, 2021
damn..RIP Young Dolph 🙏🏼
— RUSS (@russdiemon) November 17, 2021
RIP Young Dolph, the Memphis people's champ--the answer to what if the Delta Blues was rap and funny. An antihero whose hysterical punchlines and flashiness often overshadowed a deep conscience, introspection, generosity and dedication to building an independent empire. A legend. pic.twitter.com/X51frc4oeb
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) November 17, 2021
Rest easy, Young Dolph. pic.twitter.com/0Crr5AgJrZ
— Spinrilla (@spinrilla) November 17, 2021
Last year, Young Dolph gifted his $400k lambo to a super fan whose nail business suffered because of the pandemic.
— Navjosh (@Navjosh) November 17, 2021
Dolph also gave the green light to the pregnant fan to sell the car so she can support her growing family 🙏🏽🐬 pic.twitter.com/rfErmoGqgh
Remembering Young Dolph as a great rapper and a proud father.
— Evan Rytlewski (@Evanryt) November 17, 2021
Here he is talking about all the extra time he got with his kids during quarantine and hanging out in his daughter's play castle. Absolutely beautiful. pic.twitter.com/eJSwjp9f72
The rapper is known for giving turkeys out during Thanksgiving time to families in Memphis through the Memphis Athletic Ministries charity.
He also spoke to children in schools and donated money to his former high school Hamilton High School.
