MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Family and friends of slain rapper Young Dolph remembered him Wednesday as a loving father, skilled businessman and generous philanthropist at a ceremony renaming a street for him in the same area of Memphis where he grew up and also was gunned down last month.
The rapper’s 7-year-old son stood on a ladder and pulled a string to remove the cover off the brown and gold street sign, not far from Young Dolph’s boyhood home and the bakery where he was killed Nov. 17 while picking up cookies in broad daylight. A stretch of road near Memphis International Airport, Dunn Avenue, now has a sign bearing the rap artist’s real name, Adolph Thornton Jr.
Known for his depictions of tough street life and his independent approach to the music business, Young Dolph was admired for charitable works in Memphis. He organized Thanksgiving turkey giveaways, donated thousands of dollars to high schools, and paid rent and covered funeral costs for people in the Castalia Heights neighborhood where he was raised.
Among those attending the ceremony were his parents, his life partner Mia Jaye, their children Adolph III and Aria, 4, other relatives, fans, friends, city officials and members of his music label, “Paper Route Empire.”
“Having this street named after him will leave something visible, will leave something tangible,” said DJ Rock Steddy, who was Young Dolph’s DJ. “When you see that sign, that’s not just a sign for Young Dolph, that’s a sign for the future of this community and this city. You all can see that anything is possible.”