Key Glock is taking cues from his late cousin, Young Dolph, and launching his own record label this summer to carry the Paper Route Empire founder’s legacy forward. At 28, he is ready to mentor the next generation the same way Dolph mentored him, creating a legacy that extends far beyond his own music career.
When Key Glock talks about his new signee Zo Trapalot, also from Memphis, the connection is immediate and personal. “He reminded me of me,” Glock told Esquire. “He listens. We’ve got a budding relationship outside of music, so I’m just taking him under my wing, just like Dolph did with me. He’s like the little brother I never had.”
This isn’t just business talk. It’s the continuation of a mentorship that shaped Glock’s entire trajectory in Hip-Hop, and now he’s determined to pass that same guidance forward to the next wave of Memphis talent. The Memphis rapper’s move mirrors the blueprint that Young Dolph established with Paper Route Empire, the label that signed Glock back in 2017 when he was barely out of his teens.
The weight of this moment cannot be separated from the tragedy of November 17, 2021, when the Memphis legend was shot and killed outside a cookie shop in South Memphis. Justin Johnson was later convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy, receiving a life sentence plus 35 years. Testimony revealed the hit was orchestrated by Hernandez Govan, acting on orders from Anthony Mims, known as Big Jook, the brother of rapper Yo Gotti.
Glock’s decision to launch his label comes as he is also building momentum in other areas. He has become the official face of True Religion’s “Make It True” campaign alongside Megan Thee Stallion, and he recently recorded two new tracks, “Loco” and “Go.” His upcoming album Project X is already generating significant buzz. Ultimately, Glock is taking what he learned from Dolph’s business acumen and applying it to build something that will outlast any single album or collaboration.
