Born Adolph Thornton, Jr. in Chicago, Illinois and transplanted to Memphis, Tennessee, Artist/CEO Young Dolph, and his independently owned label Paper Route Empire (PRE), have added their names to the short list of music industry moguls who have shifted the paradigm when others were just following trends. 

Debuting in 2008 with the mixtape, Paper Route Campaign, Young Dolph would release a staggering amount of mixtapes and albums over the next 10 years, establishing a successful career, and positioning him as one of rap’s elite: South Memphis Kingpin (2013), the 2015 project High Class Street Music (which featured the single “Preach”), 2016’s LP King of Memphis, (which entered the Billboard 200 at #49), Rich Crack Baby (2016, which included guest appearances by: Boosie Badazz, 2 Chainz, and 21 Savage), Gelato (2017), Bulletproof (2017), Thinking Out Loud (2017) and the N****s Get Shot Every Day EP (2018). 

In 2018, Dolph dropped his Gold-selling 3rd studio album, Role Model, which featured the singles “By Mistake” and “Major”, the first of many collaborations with PRE artist Key Glock, and eventually earned a Gold certification from the RIAA. The success of the project sparked sold out International and Domestic tours, proving that fans were excited to see Dolph and Glock on tracks together. The dynamic between Dolph & Glock reached a new artistic and commercial level with the release of the 2019 collaborative project Dum and Dummer, produced by the PRE-signed producer Bandplay, who worked on 19 of the album’s 21 tracks. Fan excitement catapulted the album to a #8 debut on the Billboard 200. 

With celebrity fans like Lebron James and Kevin Durant, Young Dolph has been celebrated industry wide, for his independent hustle, and his decision to forego a major label deal to continue growing his PRE label with the help of his friend and long-time business partner Daddy O. 

An ever-expanding entity, Paper Route Empire has evolved far beyond its banner artist Young Dolph. First out of the gate is Key Glock, a superstar in his own right, whose hard work and independent buzz landed him a Gold plaque for the single “Russian Cream.” Next up are a long list of artists such as: Bino Brown, Kenny Munny, Big Moochie Grape and Jay Fizzle, who’s project Young, Dumb and Don’t Give a F**k is currently available across all streaming platforms. 

A CEO, Philanthropist, Father and Mogul, Young Dolph has carved out a lane for himself in one of the most competitive industries in entertainment. Playing the game by his own rules, and building an undeniable empire, this is just the beginning of his success…and there is no end in sight. 

About Paper Route EMPIRE

Rising out of Memphis to become one of the South’s pre-eminent rap labels, Paper Route EMPIRE embodies the independent hustle. Home to superstar Young Dolph, heatseeker Key Glock, and Tennessee-born upstarts like Jay Fizzle, PRE partners with EMPIRE to provide a nationwide platform for local talent. Generating hundreds of millions of streams in 2018 alone with albums such as Young Dolph’s Major, which peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200, and Key Glock’s Glock Bond and Glockoma, Paper Route EMPIRE is making a major impact as an indie label, and will only grow stronger in the future.