Young Dolph’s Retirement

3.31.21

Young Dolph

Last new music Friday, Young Dolph released a new mixtape, Dum and Dummer 2, along with his good friend and music partner, Key Glock. Yesterday, he shared the project artwork on his Instagram Page, and suggested that it was the last project that Dolph would be putting out. This is not the first that he has announced he is done with music. Could this be the end, for real this time? Or, could this be a build up for something more to come?

Just last year, Young Dolph has told Instagram that he was highly considering quitting music, to spend more time with his song. He later confirmed that this was plan during a Complex Networks interview, though that clearly did not last long. Dolph’s album Rich Slave dropped shortly after this announcement, on August 14th of 2020. He has since released a Deluxe version of the project, and now Dum & Dummer 2.

This sequel comes about two years after the original Dum & Dummer project, where I feel the guys really set the bar high and got a lot of positive feedback on the collaborations. Young Dolph had been in the game for a number of years since, but each were able to put out successful solo projects after their joint mixtape which really consisted of nothing but hits. The duo has gone viral over the weekend, of memes of listeners in a delightful shock of the bangers that come from the album.

The duo from the south is truthfully a perfect match of style and flow. Definitely a bit more aggressive than most, if you are used to listening to Lil Baby and Gunna. However, their punchlines are witty and there is no blurred lines between rap music and pop or anything else that has been entering the realms of this music.

If Young Dolph were to step away from music, I can see him being more involved in other aspects of music, like growing Paper Route. It just doesn’t seem like something he can give up completely. While I would not put him on the same level as Gucci Mane, I can see him doing something similar. Building a strong foundation of new artists, and teaching and growing with them til their success. He has already received success in Key Glock, and talent pours from the south like no tomorrow.

I am a fan of Young Dolph and how far he has come, but I think he realizes his peak when it comes to making music and selling records. It is clear that he has done something with Key Glock, and perhaps he can continue to build on that, and with other artists. Since these dual projects have gone over so well for Dolph so far, why not continue to build an empire, and be the Gucci Mane on these tracks, like the So Icy Summer project.

On the other hand, this could be a whole bluff for more music, just as he did last year. The announcement seemed so nonchalant and half-hearted, I would not be surprised if there was more new music on the way, because of how well the mixtape went over.

Either way, I do not think it is complete the end of Young Dolph. What do you think his next move should be?