Adolph Thornton Jr. grew up in Castalia Heights, one of the toughest neighborhoods in Memphis. He started releasing mixtapes in 2008 and built Paper Route Empire from the ground up — no major label, no co-sign required. When a reported $22 million deal came his way, he turned it down. He could see what the label could not: what he had built was already worth more than what they were offering.
King of Memphis dropped February 19, 2016. Eleven tracks. Zero guest features. It peaked at number 49 on the Billboard 200 on independent terms entirely his own. Memphis already knew. The record just confirmed it for everyone else.
November 17, 2021, he was gone. Two days before, he had been handing out turkeys in the neighborhood where he grew up.
The 10th anniversary pressing of King of Memphis is in the shop now. Royalty Blue and Gold Galaxy Vinyl. Limited run. Read the full story at the link below.
From the Crate
"He founded Paper Route Empire in 2010, inspired by the independent models of Master P and Baby, two men who proved the major label system was optional if you were disciplined enough to build your own infrastructure. That discipline defined everything Dolph did."
One More Thing
The King of Memphis 10th Anniversary LP is pressed on Royalty Blue and Gold Galaxy Vinyl in a gatefold jacket. The CD edition and Bulletproof are also in the shop. Every title chosen with a reason behind it.
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— Diony C.