The world lost a legend when Young Dolph passed away in November. Similarly to other leaders of his magnitude, Dolph left behind lasting legacy. That legacy includes Paper Route Empire, a thriving independent record label and video production company with a talented and hungry group of artists eager and equipped to fulfill their mentor’s vast vision. Now, Paper Route Empire announces Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph, a compilation mixtape dedicated to the memory of the label’s co-founder and CEO.

The upcoming mixtape features contributions from the full PRE roster, including Key Glock, Big Moochie Grape, Kenny Muney, Jay Fizzle, Joddy Badass, Snupe Bandz, Paper Route Woo, and Chitana. Though he’s no longer with us, the Dolph’s presence blesses the entire album, whether in snippets of old interviews or on tribute tracks like “Long Live Dolph” by Jay Fizzle. Long Live Dolph also features an unheard verse from Dolph himself, on a collaboration with one of his PRE artists. Following up last summer’s PAPER ROUTE iLLUMINATi, a project that affirmed Dolph’s imperial ambitions and showcased the wide-ranging talents of his disciples, Long Live Dolph releases on January 21st via Paper Route Empire.

“My best friend, brother, and loyal business partner, Dolph was loved and admired by people all over the world,” says Daddyo, Paper Route Empire’s CEO. “He led by example and influenced so many people both near and far. The world will never be the same without Dolph but I know he’d want me to continue his legacy by working hard to push all our artists to the next level and make PRE an international brand. I hope his fans love it as much as I do.”

Along with the announcement of the tape, PRE shares “Long Live Dolph,” a moving single by Paper Route Empire’s longest-tenured artist Jay Fizzle. Adorned with lush harmonies from a gospel choir, “Long Live Dolph” finds Jay Fizzle baring his soul, the South Memphis native audibly emotional when he relays his remembrances. Fizzle raps over dramatic piano chords and faint percussion, speaking on the lessons he learned from his mentor about beats, rhymes, and life, recalling how Dolph noticed his talent and rescued him from the block, expressing gratitude for Dolph’s generosity and giving spirit, and resolving to carry on in Dolph’s name: “Got your face tatted on my back cause you always had me regardless/You took me out the ‘partments and since then I ain’t been starving.” When the emotion becomes too much to bear, singer Ricco Barrino belts out a gospel-inflected verse that pays proper respects to the King of Memphis.

Long Live Dolph is reflective, but it is also triumphant–a statement of resolve from Paper Route Empire and its artists that they will continue building on the foundation that Dolph laid for them. Stay tuned for much more music and announcements in the coming weeks and months. Pre-save Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph: https://music.empi.re/longliveyoungdolph

Buy/Stream Jay Fizzle – “Long Live Dolph”: https://music.empi.re/longliveyoungdolph