On Monday, Shelby County prosecutors unveiled startling allegations in court, asserting that Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, the deceased brother of rapper Yo Gotti and a pivotal figure in Gotti’s CMG record label, orchestrated a $100,000 contract for the murder of fellow Memphis hip-hop artist Young Dolph, leading to his untimely demise in 2021.
This revelation surfaced during the opening statements of Justin Johnson’s trial, who stands accused of being involved in Young Dolph’s murder, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr.
Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman of Shelby County detailed the purported roles of both Big Jook and Johnson, known in the music world as Straight Drop, in the fatal incident that transpired in November 2021. Prosecutors allege that Big Jook proposed the contract on Dolph to secure Johnson’s signing with CMG.
Cornelius Smith, another individual charged in connection with Dolph’s death, testified Monday that he participated in the plot due to the promise of financial reward.
The Commercial Appeal has sought comments from CMG regarding these developments.
The prosecution’s theory marked the first authoritative confirmation that Dolph’s murder stemmed from an ongoing feud within the hip-hop scene, pitting Gotti’s CMG camp against Dolph’s Paper Route Empire.
2014: The Origins of the Yo Gotti and Young Dolph Feud
The animosity between Dolph and Gotti traces back over a decade. In 2014, Dolph, then emerging as a mixtape artist, publicly disclosed that he had rejected an offer to join Gotti’s CMG label.
Despite this, the tension between the two rappers simmered in the background as Gotti’s career surged. Having commenced his musical journey in the mid-’90s as a quintessential street rapper, Gotti achieved significant acclaim with his breakout album “The Art of Hustle” in 2016, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard charts and ascended to No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts. The album also birthed the platinum-certified hit “Down in the DM,” garnering support from notable artists like Lil Wayne, Pusha T, and Kanye West, who performed with Gotti at a release event in Los Angeles.
Throughout 2016, the conflict primarily manifested between Dolph and members of Gotti’s camp, particularly CMG artist Blac Youngsta, who directed a diss at Dolph in one of his tracks and was seen brandishing firearms while prowling Dolph’s South Memphis neighborhood. Gotti remained relatively aloof, even attempting to downplay the rivalry in a video released that September.
2017: Young Dolph Faces Multiple Assassination Attempts
As 2017 commenced, speculation arose that the Gotti/Dolph rivalry might be a cleverly orchestrated publicity stunt. More plausibly, it was Dolph’s strategic maneuver to elevate his profile by challenging the more established Gotti.
In February 2017, Dolph reignited the feud with a biting diss track targeting Gotti, scornfully dubbing him “Ho Gotti.” The track “Play Wit Yo’ B****” insinuated intimate relations with Gotti’s child’s mother.
2024: The Fatal Shooting of Big Jook
In January 2024, tragedy struck again as Anthony “Big Jook” Mims was shot and killed outside a restaurant in the Hickory Hill area.
The murder, occurring on January 13, of the 47-year-old Mims — Yo Gotti’s brother and a significant figure within CMG — appeared to be executed with intent.
Although authorities promptly released images of a vehicle believed to be connected to the crime, no suspects have been identified or apprehended in Mims’ assassination.
Officials have not publicly indicated whether they suspect a link between Big Jook’s death and the murder of Young Dolph.