Rapper Young Dolph died Wednesday after a shooting Wednesday in Memphis, local news outlets confirmed.
The artist, whose real name is Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr., was shot and killed Wednesday in South Memphis after walking into Makeda’s Butter Cookies, a local bakery, FOX 13 Memphis reported. The news station said employees alleged the rapper had been shot by someone in a vehicle that pulled up shortly after he entered around 1 p.m.
One other person was with Dolph when he was shot, Memphis Police said. It's unclear if that man was shot as well.
A crowd gathered at the scene after the shooting, many expressing their grief over the beloved rapper they said was known for promoting local businesses and encouraging people in the community. He generally gives away turkers to needy Memphis families every Thanksgiving through a local charity, said WHBQ.
"Lord, help us as a people stop the hate, the violence, and the hopelessness," tweeted Jackson State University head football coach Deion Sanders.
Young Dolph released his debut album King of Memphis in February 2016, the first of five solo albums in his career. His most recent record was Dum and Dummer 2, his second collaborative album with Key Glock.
Dolph’s last solo album, Rich Slave, was his highest-charting record debuting at number four on the Billboard 200 chart and peaking at number three on the Top Rap Albums and Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums charts.
His highest-charting single was the Rich Slave track “RNB,” which featured Megan Thee Stallion. The song was certified Gold by the RIAA and peaked at the number five position on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip Hop chart.
In 2017, Young Dolph was shot at least three times outside a store in Hollywood. First responders took him to the hospital in critical condition, but he recovered after two weeks in the hospital.
Young Dolph is survived by two children, a son and daughter. His extended family includes fellow Memphis rapper Key Glock. His children's mother posted a video with Dolph brushing his daughter's hair to Instagram in August with the caption "#BlackMenandBoysDeserveToGrowOld."
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