Memphis rapper Young Dolph turns different versions of uttering “hey” and “aye” into a kind of confetti accent that he sprinkles around his rhymes. Memphis has its own sound, heavy on the bass. Young Dolph uses skeletal minor-key figures on piano or strings with beats that stop abruptly using snippets of tape-rewind sounds as part of the rhythm. The blurred, hyper-speed hi-hat programming of trap music is central to most of the tunes on Young Dolph’s 2016 releases (there are several).
Dolph raps for a bit with a steady forceful pulse and then he’ll increase the volume and emphasis like he’s about to come unhinged, switching to fast triplets to set up a contrast to the phrasing. He’s into the standard hip-hop signs of success — cash, jewels and sex, but Dolph’s drug of choice seems to be a drink mixed with codeine-infused cough syrup. Baked into the Dolph story are some grumbles and turf wars about the title of his recent album “King of Memphis,” which pits Dolph against fellow Memphian Yo Gotti. Elvis fans might have their own beefs to register.
Young Dolph plays Toad’s Place, 300 York St., New Haven, Thursday, Aug. 25, 9 p.m. $15-$20. toadsplace.com, 203-624-8623.
![NORTH CANAAN, Conn. (AP) — It was the barking that saved Rippy, a mutt that fell deep into a working rock quarry. After passersby and even a drone failed to locate the lost dog, rescue workers drawn to his barks rappelled down the pit’s walls and lifted him out three days after he went missing, […]](https://www.courant.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Quarry_Dog_45004.jpg?w=526 "NORTH CANAAN, Conn. (AP) — It was the barking that saved Rippy, a mutt that fell deep into a working rock quarry. After passersby and even a drone failed to locate the lost dog, rescue workers drawn to his barks rappelled down the pit’s walls and lifted him out three days after he went missing, […]")
