In the sordid absence of Tennessee music artist Dolph, Key Glock’s formidable career and long-term success has an even greater meaning to Paper Route’s legacy and the fans that have supported over the years.
It has never been the question of whether Dolph’s younger cousin could match or surpass the Dum and Dummer artist’s work ethic, but moreso if Markeyvius Cathey could hold under the surmounting pressure formulating as an eventual catalyst to the hip hop throne. His task — to continue to make the hard-hitting, goal-oriented music that made him stand out, all while simultaneously elevating the Memphis imprint and staying alive in spite of sabotage from his own.
“The world is yours, young n—-, it ain’t no limit / Young n—- live it / Whatever you do, make sure you get it.”
– Key Glock, Yellow Tape 2 (Deluxe), “No Choice”
Not a conventional rapper, Key Glock doesn’t shy away from real life topics. No, not the real life of being in the streets, but that of not being ashamed to love his parents, as he demonstrates on the prophetic track “Grammys” from his latest release Yellow Tape 2 (Deluxe). Nor is he too proud to honor his mentors as he did in “Gucci & Dolph.”
Both songs are part of 10 bonus tracks added to the Deluxe album, making a total of 30 tracks. The new tracks include “No Rap Cap,” “No Choice,” “I Be,” “Proud,” “GMFB,” “No Love,” and leading singles “Play for Keeps” and “Pain Killers.”
Already on The MouthSoap Playlist is “No Choice,” a sonically satisfying track in which Glock uses his signature cadence as a vessel for motivational music, and the equally consistent “I Be,” where Glock raps about the paper chase.
Key Glock’s Yellow Tape 2 (Deluxe), currently available across streaming platforms, is a well-rounded body of work that surprisingly is infused with an energy that feels optimistic in the face of Dolph’s loss. In fact, it makes the music listener want Key Glock to win even more. Meanwhile, Key Glock continues to honor Dolph in his live performances, recently showing out in a one-man set at Ohio University where he performed songs he was featured on with the late rapper.
Dolph was also memorialized by the football program at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi — ran by coach Deion Sanders — when the team proclaimed their stadium tunnel the “Paper Route Tunnel.” Before Dolph’s passing in 2021, the “100 Shots” rapper was captured with the team singing his hit single in celebration of a homecoming win.
It’s clear that Key Glock is on a mission, and as he says on “I Be,” “God can’t even stop it.”
Key Glock is currently on the Yellow Tape Tour, presented by Sirius XM Hip Hop Nation. His next dates will land him in Atlanta, Georgia on April 4th, followed by Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina, Silver Spring, Maryland, Worcester, Massachusetts, and New York, New York, to name a few.
For a complete list of tour dates, visit TicketMaster.
