Rapper Accused in Murder of Young Dolph Drops Track From Jail

Justin Johnson

One of the four men who stand accused in the murder of rapper Young Dolph lost his phone privileges on Tuesday when it was revealed in court that he had recorded a rap song on YouTube from jail while in custody.

Judge Lee Coffee revoked Justin Johnson’s phone, writing, and visitation privileges for the offense.

“I am ordering that Mr. Johnson not be allowed to use a phone or have any visitation privileges unless it is his attorney because of that inappropriate recording that he allegedly released and recorded while he was in jail,” Judge Coffee said.

Johnson, whose rap name is “Straight Drop,” uploaded the song titled “No Statements” a few days before a Nov. 22, 2022, court hearing for another defendant charged in connection with the murder.

The artwork for the single says it was recorded inside 201 Poplar, the address of the men’s facility for Memphis, Tennessee’s, Shelby County Jail.

Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was shot 22 times while visiting South Memphis' bakery Makeda’s Cookies on Nov. 17, 2021. He died from gunshot wounds to his head, neck and torso.

Johnson was the first suspect arrested in his death and is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Three other men also face charges in his death: Jermarcus Johnson, Hernandez Govan and Cornelius Smith.