Remaining fiercely independent throughout his rise to fame, Memphis rap figurehead Young Dolph released his extensive catalog via Paper Route Empire, an independently owned label he founded in 2008. By the mid-2010s, Dolph was using Paper Route to shepherd in the next generation of local talent, signing the likes of Key Glock, Jay Fizzle, and Big Moochie Grape ahead of the group's debut compilation, Paper Route Illuminati (2021). While Paper Route Empire initially served as a home for Young Dolph's barrage of mixtapes, the Memphis rapper's label took on a greater purpose during the 2010s, providing a pathway to national success for a smattering of local talent. Dolph's first move was to sign his protégé, Key Glock, and cousin Jay Fizzle, who both made their Paper Route debuts in 2017 with respective mixtapes Glock Season and Life of a Lul Gangster. While continuing to release his own work, alongside that of Glock and Fizzle, Dolph began amassing a substantial roster: Kenny Muney and Big Moochie Grape were among the label's first signees, joined in 2021 by Snupe Bandz and PaperRoute Woo. With the roster fleshed out, Dolph brought together Paper Route's artists and collaborators for Paper Route Illuminati, the label's first compilation album. With contributions from all of the label's signees, alongside new talents like Bigg Unccc and Joddy Badass, the project embodied the group's hard-hitting, looping take on the Memphis trap sound. After Dolph's tragic passing in late 2021, the group set to work on a tribute EP, Long Live Young Dolph, which was released the following January. ~ David Crone, Rovi

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