The rapper, whose real name is Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., was shot around 1 p.m. CST at Makeda’s Butter Cookies, a bakery in Memphis, Tennessee, according to WHBQ-TV. The shop’s owner, Maurice Hill, told the news station that Young Dolph, 36, entered the store to buy cookies when someone drove up and fatally shot him.
In a statement, the Agency for the Performing Arts, a talent agency that represented Young Dolph, said it is “shocked and deeply saddened” by the rapper’s death.
“All of us at APA are shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of our dear friend and client, Young Dolph,” an APA representative said in a statement to Variety. “The world has lost an icon, a great man and beloved artist who has been taken too soon. His dedication, drive, hard work and loyalty to all those around him always came first and he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this most difficult time.”
Other entertainers also weighed in on social media.
“Always showed love every time I seen him, this is tragic,” Chance the Rapper tweeted. “God bless his family, man.”
Gucci Mane said the rapper was a close friend, adding that his heart was broken.
Former college football and NFL star Deion Sanders, now the head football coach at Jackson State University, offered condolences and prayers.
Young Dolph released his debut studio album “King of Memphis” in 2016 according to The Guardian. The album peaked at No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Variety reported. The rapper followed up with the 2020 album, “Rich Slave,” which featured the single “RMB” with Megan Thee Stallion. That album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and was his highest-charting release, the website reported.
Young Dolph released seven albums between 2016 to 2021, most recently “Dum and Dummer 2″ with Key Glock, which peaked at No. 8, according to Variety.
Young Dolph used brushes with death through the years as inspiration for his music. In 2017, the rapper’s SUV was hit by bullets in Charlotte, North Carolina, The Guardian reported.
That led to his April 2017 album, “Bulletproof” and single “100 Shots.” In September 2017 Young Dolph was shot outside a retail store in Hollywood, California, and spent two weeks in a hospital, Variety reported.
Remembering Young Dolph. LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Young Dolph at day 2 of the Radio Broadcast Center, sponsored by Sprite, during the 2017 BET Awards at Microsoft Square on June 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for BET) (Maury Phillips/Getty Images for BET)
Remembering Young Dolph. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 05: Young Dolph
attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2019 at Cobb Energy Center on October 05, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Remembering Young Dolph. LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Young Dolph attends night three of the STAPLES Center Concert, sponsored by Sprite, during the 2017 BET Experience at Staples Center on June 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET) (Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)
Remembering Young Dolph. LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Young Dolph performs onstage at night three of the STAPLES Center Concert, sponsored by Sprite, during the 2017 BET Experience at Staples Center on June 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET) (Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)
Remembering Young Dolph. LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 25: Rapper Young Dolph performs onstage at night four of the Late Night Concert during the 2017 BET Experience at The Novo by Microsoft on June 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET) (Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
Remembering Young Dolph. PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 29: Young Dolph from Young Dolph & Key Glock performs at Le Trianon on November 29, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns for ABA) (David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns)
Remembering Young Dolph. NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 14: Musician Young Dolph attends the Luar fashion show during New York Fashion Week September 2016 at The Standard, Highline on September 14, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MADE Fashion Week) (Jamie McCarthy)
Remembering Young Dolph. ATLANTA, GA - JULY 22: Rapper Young Dolph performs on stage at Gucci and Friends Homecoming Concert at Fox Theatre on July 22, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Atlantic Records) (Paras Griffin)
Remembering Young Dolph. COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA - AUGUST 23: Rapper Young Dolph performs on stage during the Parking Lot Concert series at Gateway Center Arena on August 23, 2020 in College Park, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Young Dolph Young Dolph performs during Rolling Loud New York 2021 at Citi Field on October 30, 2021 in New York City. (Jason Mendez/Getty Images, File)