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S1 E31 | Young Dolph
00:54:55
DJ Scream and Big Bank share nothing but “Big Facts” in their podcast, as they chop it up with today’s popular figures in the entertainment industry.
DJ Scream and Big Bank return with another serving of the “Big Facts” podcast with special guest host Young Dolph. The Tennessee native stopped by to discuss a slew of things including his career as an independent artist, retirement, and more.
Rappers often talk about retiring from the music industry and venturing into other endeavors, whether it’s acting or investing in other businesses. However, like fans have seen with artists like JAY-Z and Too Short, they can never really stay retired.
Dolph expressed those same sentiments on the show when asked about his social media post from late March when he revealed that his project, Dum & Dummer 2, would be his final release. At the time, the “100 Shots” emcee said he would’ve kept the news to himself but figured, “Y’all should know I’m done with music.”
At the height of the pandemic, Dolph, whose real name is Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr., revealed that he invested in two major unspecified companies, which seemingly fueled his decision to quit rapping. But, the announcement was quickly met with backlash from fans and loved ones. However, after giving it some thought, the 36-year-old realized he couldn’t commit to retiring.
“I can’t do it, real talk. I can’t do,” he expressed. “It’s like I’m the spokesperson for all of the street niggas and all of the niggas that’s on some independent shit… And really come in the game on some shit… The nigga that really want to do this shit, like, I don’t really wanna tie myself to no major label—do this shit on my own. I’ma hustle this shit. I’ma grab that. It’s just like with everything else. You got some nigga who don’t really want to take the route that everybody else take… The nigga that be like I’ma do this shit like my way. I can’t let those folks down. It’s like I’m they motivator. They be needing that shit.”
Dolph is focused on having fun just as much as he’s dedicated to being successful when it comes to his artistry. The rapper really garnered fan’s attention with his 2014 hit record “Preach,” but he believes it’s the career moves he took after that solidified his place on the scene.
“‘Preach’ was cool but I felt like even ‘Get Paid’ turned the notch up a little more,” he explained. “I just feel like you gotta have that catalog. Those hit records, them shits is cool, but you gotta be focus on having fun with this shit. You having fun, the hit song gone come. The booking gone come, money, all that shit.”
The music industry is an extremely competitive environment with one artist saying that they’re better than the next. However, it seems like there’s at least one thing most artists can agree on, and that is an excessive amount of false support among acts. When asked if there was something that he could change about the music business, the “Water on Water on Water” emcee said he wishes he could eliminate dickriding.
“That shit at an all-time high, man…” he said. “Bruh, it’s like everybody I fuck with, everybody I show love to. I fuck with niggas ‘cause I fuck with them. I’m happy for niggas… Bruh, folks, be doing shit for not that reason. It be a motive behind everything… Because I want to do a song or I want to be around. I want to be in the pictures. Niggas just be on some dickriding shit.”
The rapper believes the same applies to social media. He was disappointed at the lengths that people would go to gain support and attention on the internet. “A nigga will god damn risk it all to go viral. Niggas would give themselves all kinds of charges to go viral,” Dolph explained.
The artist feels as though social media makes it so easy for people to see what others are doing in their day-to-day that it actually causes envy. Often, the rapper says he’ll take breaks from logging on his social media accounts in order to regroup. “I’ma keep it one hundred. A nigga an entertainer, but I like being by myself,” he explained. “I like peace and quiet. It’s like I’m a loner. I do better and come up with shit better. I make money and do a lot of shit better just being by myself.” He said though his friends may complain, he enjoys the moments of solidarity.
As always, if you like what you heard, be sure to stay tuned every week for new episodes of “Big Facts.” Also, don’t forget to watch the latest show above!