Young Dolph’s son is honoring his late father via a clothing collection designed in his honor. Titled “King of Memphis” as a reference to the rapper’s nickname, the collection includes T-shirts with details representing Young Dolph.
The collection was launched over the weekend and would have marked the rapper’s 38th birthday.
Mia Jaye, Tre Tre Thornton’s son and the rapper’s fiance, says designing the collection helped her son cope with the loss of his father.
“When I say I’m so proud of my son, I truly mean it… I’m actually proud of both of my children and how they have been growing through their hurt, pain and grief… The journey hasn’t been peaches and cream… and we have actually had some rough times, especially with Tre being a young boy losing his hero,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
“Being inspired to create artwork to help express his most inner feelings instead of leaning into anger and inappropriate behavior (which would be rightfully justified due to the adversity/ hurt he has faced at such a young age) is a major life accomplishment which I am so proud of as his mother and biggest cheerleader,” she added.
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The 9-year-old was photographed posing with the merchandise and was filmed while preparing orders to be shipped. His younger sister, 6-year-old Aria, designed her collection in the past. The Aria collection features her drawings and a poem written with her mother entitled “Children Deserve Their Fathers.”
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Both collections were released via the “Black men Deserve To Grow Old” campaign launched by Jaye. She started it following her brother’s death from gun violence. Jeremy Jerdine was shot by a customer while working as his car salesman.
“Every man that’s losing their life, every Black man, every Black boy — when they step outside, [it’s] a risk,” she told Essence.
The campaign aims to raise awareness concerning issues of violence directed toward Black men. Twenty-five percent of profits go toward a fund for families impacted by these issues.
Young Dolph was shot and killed in 2021 while visiting Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies in Memphis. Two men, Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith, have been charged with the rapper’s murder. They have pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder. They are currently awaiting trial, due March 11, 2024.
