Memphis man gets life in prison for murder of Young Dolph | News

On November 17, 2021, the hip hop community was rocked by the tragic murder of a rapper Young Dolphwhose real name was Adolph Robert Thornton Jr. The 36-year-old Memphis native was shot in broad daylight while visiting Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies, a local bakery he frequented in his hometown.

According to CBS News, Justin Johnson was found guilty of murder on Thursday after a jury heard explosive testimony indicating that the murder was part of a larger feud between rival record labels. The trial, held in Shelby County Criminal Court, provided new information about the circumstances leading to Young Dolph's murder on November 17, 2021.

The jury deliberated for nearly four hours before returning a verdict finding Johnson guilty of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and possession of a firearm. Judge Jennifer Mitchell sentenced Johnson to life in prison, bringing some closure to a case that captivated the Memphis community and the hip-hop world.

During the trial, co-defendant Cornelius Smith testified that the murder was ordered by Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, the brother of fellow Memphis rapper Yo Gotti. According to Smith's statement, Mims placed a $100,000 bounty on Young Dolph and also other artists signed to Dolph's independent label, Paper Route Empire. The statement suggested that the rivalry between Young Dolph's label and Yo Gotti's camp had escalated into deadly violence.

The young Dolph started his career by releasing a series of mixtapes starting in 2008 Paper route campaign. Over the years he built a reputation for his raw lyrics and independent engagement. His debut studio album, King of Memphiswas released in 2016 and cemented his place in Southern hip-hop. Throughout his career, Dolph has worked with prominent artists such as Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, TI, Gucci Mane and 2 Chainz, proving his versatility and influence in the industry.

Three of Young Dolph's albums made the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart, with his 2020 album ” Rich slaveand reached an impressive number 4. This success underlines his rise from the underground scene to mainstream prominence.