With his major label debut, Key Glock continues to pay homage to the late Young Dolph and prepares for even more success: “I always try to do something better than the last thing I’ve done.”
After delivering a series of trunk-rattling hits and Billboard Top 20 projects, Key Glock stepped away from music in 2024 for personal and creative realignment. Upon his return this year, the Memphis rapper had inked a deal with Republic Records. While it was perhaps an uncharacteristic move for the independent star, it fulfilled an important promise.
Born Markeyvius Cathey, Key Glock followed in the footsteps of his cousin and mentor Young Dolph. And one week before the late rapper was fatally shot in their hometown in 2021, Dolph urged Glock to sign a major label deal if anything ever happened to him. In the years since, Glock has continued to praise Dolph in his music and carry on the independent label the “Major” rapper co-founded, Paper Route Empire — and with his new venture, he’s able to honor Dolph’s legacy and take his own career to the next level.
The partnership deal with Republic allows the “Let’s Go” rapper to maintain his long-standing relationship with PRE while granting him a wider musical audience. As he declared to Billboard upon announcing the deal, “I feel like I exceeded my goals as an independent artist… In this next chapter, I’m planning on getting platinum albums and more plaques.”
Glock formally kicked off his major label era on May 2 with Glockaveli, his fourth studio album. Inspired by 2Pac’s Makaveli persona, the project channels the same trap-infused sound and motivational anthems that have become parables to his artistry — from the soulful “Watch Da Throne” to the booming, DJ Paul-produced “3AM in ToKEYo.”
