Young Dolph Murder Trial: Rapper Big Jook Allegedly Had $100K Hit to Kill

One of the men accused of killing rapper Young Dolph corroborated the prosecution’s claim that rapper Big Jook allegedly had a $100,000 hit to kill Dolph in November 2021.

Cornelius Smith testified against his co-defendant Justin Johnson in a Memphis courtroom on Monday, agreeing with Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman that he and Johnson shot and killed Dolph in broad daylight at a strip mall.

Hernandez Govan, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the shooting death, has also been charged with murder.

“It’s my best out to be honest, to be truthful,” Smith said. “Why play with these folks, they already know.”

Johnson and Smith are accused of firing the shots that killed the Memphis rapper, while Govan is accused of conspiring and planning the murder. No motive for the murder has been disclosed.

After Hagerman showed a video of two men shooting into the window of Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies, Smith confirmed, “That was the day we had shot Young Dolph.”

The up-and-coming Dolph gained recognition with his mixtapes, including High Class Street Music series and Rich Slave. Before his death, Dolph was celebrated for his independent approach to music and his authentic lyrics reflecting his life experiences.

Suspected Gunman ‘Wasn’t Feeling Nothing’

Smith identified himself as the first gunman captured on camera getting out of a white Mercedes and Johnson as the second before they allegedly shot at Dolph through the store’s window.

“I wasn’t feeling nothing at the time,” Smith replied about his thought in that moment. “I was just trying to get some money…I saw him standing by the window. I just got out of the car and started shooting.”

Smith testified that both he and Johnson knew Govan, who was working to secure a deal for Johnson with CMG, the record label linked to brothers Yo Gotti and Big Jook.

There was a growing rivalry between Gotti and Dolph which primarily stemmed from their differing affiliations and the competitive nature of the Memphis rap scene. The tension escalated over time, with both artists exchanging subliminal disses in their music and engaging in public back-and-fourths. The rivalry was marked by a series of tracks that seemed to target each other directly or indirectly, as well as incidents of violence.

In September 2017, Dolph was shot outside of a Los Angeles hotel during a fight with three men. This was initially believed to have stemmed from his feud with Gotti, who was also staying at the hotel but the LAPD denied that Gotti was a person of interest in the investigation.

A few days after the shooting, Corey McClendon, a known Corey McClendon associate to Gotti, was arrested, but never charged.

Smith claimed Govan told him and Johnson about Big Jook’s $100,000 “hit on Dolph.” The men allegedly both agreed to help carry out the plan which they had discussed over several weeks.

Smith added they planned to pay Govan $10,000 after the hit, while each gunman would take home $40,000. He claims he only received $800 of that promise before his January 2022 arrest.

Smith Decides To ‘Tell The Truth’

Smith started his testimony by telling the prosecution that he knows he will serve prison time for his role in Dolph’s death and has decided to finally “tell the truth” because he “had a conscious.”

Johnson’s defense attorney Luke Evans told the jury that they would be hearing conflicting past statements from Smith because he is trying to save himself from serving jail time.

Evan alleged Smith wrote a letter to his family saying he didn’t kill Dolph but will say whatever he had to to get a deal. Smith denied writing a letter to his sister where he allegedly stated he didn’t do anything wrong but would lie anyway.

Smith said he and Johnson knew Dolph would be in Memphis at the time of the shooting because his record label, Paper Route Empire, held a turkey drive every year.

Dolph’s brother can be seen running out of the store with a gun of his own after Smith and Johnson ran back toward the Mercedes. Smith was shot in his shoulder, arm, and leg, and says he nor Johnson shot back at Dolph’s brother.

Smith testified that the day he and Johnson “caught” Dolph was also his daughter’s birthday.

“You went and killed a man on your daughter’s birthday?” Evans asked Smith during cross-examination.

“I’m trying to make it rain for her,” Smith said. “I wanted to make a beautiful day for her.”

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