Young Dolph: Rape feud led to murder, prosecutor says

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Prosecutors said Monday that the man on trial for the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph wanted to be the next big rapper from the Bluff City.

The trial of Justin Johnson, known by the rap name “Straight Drop,” began on Monday, September 23, 2024. He is charged with first-degree murder, illegal carrying and possession of a firearm, and theft in connection with the death of Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr.

In opening arguments, prosecutors said Cornelius Smith Jr., who is also charged with murder, will testify against Johnson. The defense said Hernandez Govan, who is accused of ordering Dolph's murder, will also testify against Johnson.

In his opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman said Dolph was trying to strike out on his own and help other artists under the Paper Route Empire (PRE) label. The attorney said Dolph had turned down those at another music label, CMG, who wanted him on their label.

CMG stands for Collective Music Group, also known as the “Cocaine Muzik Group” according to Hagerman. CMG is the label of Memphis rapper Yo Gotti, which also features other artists such as Moneybagg Yo, Blac Youngsta and EST Gee.

Hagerman said Govan would try to find young rappers to offer to CMG. The assistant district attorney claimed Johnson and Smith did not get along well and only knew each other from the rap scene.

During his opening statement, Hagerman said Dolph had “diss tracks” against CMG and claimed CMG had made threats against Dolph. The assistant district attorney claimed that “Big Jook,” Yo Gotti's brother who was murdered in January 2024, offered a $100,000 reward for Dolph's murder and that Johnson was hoping for “rap fame” for completing the job.

Johnson's attorney, Luke Evans, fired back in his opening statement, claiming that Govan took advantage of Johnson by taking him to Atlanta to meet with a CMG representative and leaving Johnson there when Johnson said he was “not going to go your way.” Evans claimed that Govan threatened to “destroy” Johnson, and if “he doesn't get a piece, no one can.”

A friend of Young Dolph also testified on the first day about the rivalry between CMG and PRE, stating that Dolph had been shot in Charlotte and then in California by people with ties to CMG.

Online, Johnson, also known as “Straight Drop,” has released several songs. Straight Drop's Instagram page has more than 60,000 followers and 11 posts, the last of which appeared in May 2024.

His YouTube channel features 19 videos, seven of which were released in April 2024 while he was in prison awaiting trial for Dolph's murder.

In November 2022, Johnson's phone, writing and visitation privileges were revoked after he allegedly posted a song on YouTube. The judge called it an inappropriate recording and ordered Johnson to be placed in “administrative solitary confinement” and stripped of his phone, writing and visitation privileges. District Attorney Paul Hagerman called it “just a rap song.”

Young Dolph was shot and killed at Makeda's Cookies on Airways Boulevard on November 17, 2021. Police said two men got out of a stolen Mercedes-Benz and fired shots at Makeda's Homemade Cookies, where Young Dolph was making a purchase. Police released photos from surveillance video documenting the shooting, which they say led to the arrests.

Under Tennessee law, if convicted, Johnson faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

RELATED: Trial for murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph begins | Live stream Monday, September 23

RELATED: Two suspects expected to testify against third suspect in Memphis rapper Young Dolph's murder trial