The late rapper Young Dolph is survived by son Tre Tre Thornton and daughter Aria Ella Thornton, born to Mia Jaya.
Young Dolph, whose real name is Adolph Thornton Jr., was an American rapper and songwriter. He was born on August 11, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois, but was raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He started rapping in his teenage years and released his first mixtape, “Paper Route Campaign,” in 2008. However, he gained mainstream recognition in 2016 with his mixtape “King of Memphis,” which included the hit single “Get Paid.”
Young Dolph went on to release several successful albums and mixtapes throughout his career, including “Bulletproof,” “Role Model,” and “Rich Slave.” He was known for his hard-hitting lyrics and trap-style beats, which often referenced his experiences growing up in Memphis and his street life. His music often highlighted themes of hustle, determination, and overcoming adversity.
Aside from his music career, Young Dolph was also an entrepreneur and businessman. He owned his own record label, Paper Route Empire, and launched several successful merchandise lines. He also gave back to his community through charitable work, including a $20,000 donation to a Memphis high school in 2018.
Young Dolph tragically passed away on November 17, 2021, after being shot multiple times in Memphis. His death sparked an outpouring of grief and condolences from fans and fellow artists in the music industry. He will be remembered as a talented rapper, entrepreneur, and community leader who left a lasting impact on the hip-hop genre.
Who killed Young Dolph?
Young Dolph, a well-known rapper from Memphis, was tragically killed on November 17, 2021, while visiting a bakery he frequented. According to reports, Young Dolph was in the process of purchasing cookies at Makeda’s Butter Cookies in Memphis when a vehicle arrived outside and gunfire was aimed at him through the window.
Young Dolph was shot by two gunmen in a white Mercedes-Benz, sustaining 22 gunshot wounds to his forehead and back. Hundreds of people gathered at the scene, and police had to prevent individuals from entering the area during the investigation. In response to his death, Tennessee House Representative London Lamar and Memphis councilman J.B. Smiley called for a curfew in Memphis to prevent civil unrest and violence.
Young Dolph was laid to rest on November 30, 2021, with a service held at First Baptist Church Broad Street. His family’s caravan was escorted by security and Memphis Police to the cemetery across from Hamilton High School, where Young Dolph had graduated.
On January 5, 2022, police identified one of the suspects in the murder as 23-year-old Justin Johnson and issued a first-degree murder warrant. Johnson was a rapper under the name Straight Drop, and had a history of criminal charges and violence, as well as “ties to organized criminal gangs.” Another suspect, 32-year-old Cornelius Smith, was indicted on first-degree murder, weapons possession, and theft charges on January 11, and Johnson was captured by police in Indiana on the same day. A third suspect, 43-year-old Hernandez Govan, was indicted on November 10, 2022, for the murder of Young Dolph and the conspiracy to murder Thornton.
Both Johnson and Smith pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder on February 11, 2022. It is likely that the trial for those accused of murdering Young Dolph will not occur until 2024 due to the severity of charges and the discovery procedures by the defendants’ attorneys.
Young Dolph – wife Mia Jaya, son Tre Tre Thornton and daughter Aria Ella Thornton
Young Dolph had two children with his long-term girlfriend Mia Jaye, a son named Tre Tre Thornton, born in June 2014, and a daughter named Aria Ella Thornton, born in April 2017.
Despite dating for years, Dolph and Jaye never got married. Mia Jaye is an entrepreneur and the CEO of her own retail brand, Shop Momeo, which advocates for social causes while promoting the importance of motherhood, CEOship, and homemaking.
Mia Jaye graduated from the University of Memphis in 2012 with a B.S in Real Estate Finance and has written her first book titled ‘No Way Tré You Can’t Have Your Way, Fruit Instead of Junk Food Today.’ She also hosts a podcast called ‘Mia Jaye’s Toolbox,’ where she encourages women to prioritize themselves and discover their true voice.