Hip-HopVibe.com Staff Writer
Young Dolph released his new album titled Role Model which featured 14 tracks with appearances by Snoop Dogg, Kash Doll, Offset, and his Key Glock. Prior to the project’s release, Dolph took to social media to announce that he passed on a $22 million deal from a label but did end up doing a partnership with Empire.
The leading singles for Role Model as its release neared were By Mistake and Major featuring fellow Paper Route Empire artist Key Glock. Videos were also released for the singles.
Role Model opened up with the song Black Queen which featured vocals from Dolph’s mom, Moma Gabbana. Dolph details his success in hip-hop and how he’s able to give his mom and his dad everything they couldn’t have when he was younger on the hook. The Memphis rapper also notes how even though his hood wasn’t helping his parents’ situation, he was still able to make ends meet by trappin’ on the block.
Dolph got right back to the trap beats as the single By Mistake served as the second track on the album. Dolph boasts about his stardom and how he blows money effortlessly at places like Magic City in Atlanta and Barney’s in Los Angeles. While Dolph celebrates his success around the country, he still rides on Elvis Presley Boulevard in his hometown of Memphis in sports cars also.
Major featuring Key Glock followed shortly after the By Mistake record. The instrumental is a solid one you can ride to in your car. Dolph had a slow start in bringing the energy on the opening verse but got right back in the game on the second as he stamps his name as one of the best trappers in his hood and how he thanks his plug for putting him on. The hook on the song was on point as Dolph celebrates his come up and notes that his accomplishments have been nothing short of major. Key Glock finished the record off strong as he proclaims Paper Route Empire as one of the best record labels out and makes it known that he’s always strapped no matter the situation.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdMW1Ya0nHM]
Lipstick features Dolph showing love to the women who are all over him. He lets them know that if they hop up in his Mercedez-Benz, they know what they’re getting into. He adds that they’re so in love with him that they roll blunts and knows that his game’s so smooth that he could drive his drop top car in the rain and still not get wet. He also shows love to the skinny women but prefers the thick ones. Lipstick was definitely smooth and served as that one record dedicated to the ladies on this project.
Dolph teamed up with super producer Honorable C.N.O.T.E. on the record How U Luv Dat. Dolph continues to be confident on the hook as he says he has unlimited racks. He also addressed the incident at Duke University where two baristas were fired for playing Dolph’s hit record ‘Get Paid’ in Starbucks. Dolph said his blue jewelry resembles the Duke Blue Devils and that he might just enroll in the school and smoke with the students every Friday. He ended up giving those two students $20,000 each at his show at the Rolling Loud festival in Miami so they can use that until they get new jobs.
Dolph created the ultimate stoner record by coming together with Snoop Dogg on the record ‘I Think I Can Fly.’ Dolph thinks he can fly as soon as he hits the blunt and Snoop goes on to say that he can supply any kind of weed. It’s a solid record that any smoker can vibe to while in the car or even at the house with friends.
Break The Bank featured a guest appearance by Offset and the record as a whole was definitely the hardest one on Role Model. The Beatmasters served up the beat for the song and Dolph and Offset bodied it. Dolph cashes out on cars as it drives itself and even cops a fishtank that costs him a quarter milion. He also made the dope pop reference about none of his friends needing jobs like Martin Payne off the show Martin. Offset comes off strong on the final verse and still claims his roots in the trap as he said he has birds like Falcons owner Arthur Blank. His success soon translates into the music game as he elevates his status to $20 million bank statements, Patek Phillipe watches, and his higher work ethic overall.
On God features Dolph claming that he brought his success on his own by staying independent on the lines “Went and bought my momma a crib. Bought my dad another Rollie. Independent but he global. How the f*ck did he do it? I front a n*gga 33 pounds, it ain’t no Patrick Ewing.” He also says he’s on his CEO s*it and there’s no check like a Dolph check.
Still Smell Like It tells how even though Dolph made it, he still smells like his old trap ties. He’s still in his old hood with all his jewelry on and is confident about his chances with Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian on the lines “Should I go f*ck a Kardashian? Maybe should I just smash Nicki?” He continues to stand by his claim of being able to succeed as an independent artist by not needing record labels such as Interscope, 300, or Def Jam. This also plays into why Dolph passed up on a $22 million deal that he still boasts about as he’s made millions on his own and has successfully become a self made artist.
Whole World features a guest verse by Kash Doll and is also produced by Zaytoven, arguably one of the best producers in the south of all-time. Dolph discusses that even though he wants a certain woman, it can be risky but it comes with its benefits such as his desired women smashing him like a stripper and cooking for him like his mama. Kash Doll soon hops on her verse and takes advantage of the situation as she would give the guy that wants her a chance but she’d mess up his world by giving him the sex and possibly his money. The record is solid overall and I’d rank it as second behind Break The Bank on Role Model.
Playin Wit A Check features some of the best trap beats on the project as producer Buddah Bless came through with the assist. The only downside to the song was that it was only 1:50 long but Dolph made the most of his time as he spends stacks effortlessly, spends money on his women, and makes coming up from nothin’ to somethin’ look easy also.
Dolph proclaims himself as the champ on the record Muhammad as he details that where he comes from, how trappin’ was the only way out and there were no handouts at all. Dolph also thinks the life he lives is too good to be true as he thinks everything around him is a dream.
Buddah Bless came through with the production again on Space Jam and this record even captured the attention of LeBron James as he played the record on his Instagram page. It’s ironic considering the fact that James will be in the sequel of the movie Space Jam. Dolph says on the record that his cars are so big that he feels that he is also starring in the movie. He even takes another opportunity to stand by him staying independent as an artist as he says he wipes his behind with other rappers’ record deal contracts. The record could’ve brought the same energy that Muhammad did but the consistent confidence by Dolph here makes up for it.
Role Model concluded with the song Trap Baby featuring long-time collaborator and producer Izze The Producer. Dolph recalls his days in the trap as he would skip school to sell drugs and he didn’t want a boss so a job wasn’t an option. Instead of the 9-5s, he’s easily getting sacks and fast money.
Role Model served as another solid album by Young Dolph. He always brings the energy on his projects and continues to make a name for himself as one of the best independent rappers in the game. What’s next for Dolph could be a possible sixth installment of his High Class Street Music mixtape series.
