Steve 'Flash' JuonMarkeyvius Cathey a/k/a Key Glock is described online as “a protege of Young Dolph” and it isn’t hard to see why. There’s the obvious fact that both rappers are from Memphis, and that both had an upbringing where they got more parental guidance from their grandparents. Dolph’s parents were chasing a fix instead of chasing their toddler around the house, and Glock’s mom went to jail on a 16 year sentence when he was only 18 months old. Although they are only cousins through marriage, Dolph undoubtedly looked at Glock rapping as a younger version of himself, and the two formed a natural bond. Dolph signed him to Paper Route Empire three years ago and the haters have been mean mugging him ever since.
Those same haters will undoubtedly claim “Yellow Tape” only got released due to nepotism, but Glock was already freestyling on the block when he was only 13 (nine years ago) and like his cousin had a few scrapes with the law that made him re-evaluate his rap music options. I’m happy to see that Key Glock channeled his energy in a more positive direction, but as cuz-o will no doubt tell him, it doesn’t get any easier when you’re a Memphis emcee. Dolph has already survived numerous attempts on his life that may or may not stem from a bitter feud with a fellow local rapper/entrepreneur. Unless somebody finds a way to squash the beef and bring peace to the city he may be looking over his back his whole career, but “Mr. Glock” suggests he’s not too worried about it.
“I been gettin bag after bag after bag
Presidential shit, I ride my Maybach matte black
Call me Mr. Glock, shooters in the front and back
Yeah I’m on my Memphis shit these bitches comin in a pack
All these niggaz pussycats straight coward, cat in hat
Yeah baby I’m a player and my daddy was a mack
Yeah, and that’s a motherfuckin fact
Never leave the house without my motherfuckin strap
I was 14 years old, with that motherfuckin sack
I don’t fuck with none of these rappers they know that”
Glock describes his influences as Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne and Project Pat, but you can also hear him referencing Snoop Dogg on “Dough” when he raps “One to the two, to the three and to the fo’/big Glock is all about his motherfuckin dough/Ready to make an entrance, where my back end bruh?/Because you know I’m bout to turn shit up”. He even sings like Snoop did on “G Thang” and if he had just done the entire song as a straight up cover I would have been fine with it, but he gives the entire presentation his own Memphis flair.
What’s Glock all about though besides the “Dough” he stacks? Much like his mentor there’s not a whole lot of depth to be mined from the lyrics. On songs like the Kenny Beats produced “Loaded” it’s all about the heavy hitting bass beats and the big swagger. “Whats up doggy I got karats/Diamonds on my wrist jump around like a rabbit/Catch me out in traffic with them choppers I’m a savage/Chilling with a baddie now my ex bitch jealous”. Making ends by any means and flexing the wealth once he has it is the sole motive.
That’s not to say this disqualifies Glock from succeeding in the rap game. The swagger of tracks like “I’m Just Sayin'” has its own appeal. Glock’s shit talking is delivered with a smooth almost mechanical precision, separating him from legions of so-called “mumble mouth” rappers who rely heavily on production and AutoTune to make their music into something palatable. Glock is almost a throwback in the straight forward matter of fact way he spits the bars, sounding like a Southern version of a 90’s NY rapper doing the exact same thing — bragging about his bitches, blunts and big Benz.
I can’t say Key Glock reinvents the rap game on “Yellow Tape” but he doesn’t break the game either. If you want tracks that thump extra hard you can rely on “Stop Playin”, “Word on the Streets” and “Flyest Highest Coolest Smothest” to deliver the OOMPH. If you want to hear somebody rapping about political and social discourse though please look elsewhere. It would not be outside of Glock’s wheelhouse to attempt such songs, but the young man isn’t presently interested in changing the world. He just wants to stack up some “blue bills” and chill and if you manage your expectations about what he delivers then this album is a respectable effort.