Key Glock

Biography

Markeyvius LaShun Cathey (born August 3, 1997), known professionally as Key Glock, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. The cousin of late Memphis rapper Young Dolph, Cathey signed with his record label, Paper Route Empire, to release his commercial mixtape, Glock Season (2017). His debut studio album, Yellow Tape (2020), peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200 and received gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His second album, Yellow Tape 2 (2021), peaked at number seven on the chart and spawned the multi-platinum-certified single "Ambition for Cash", as well as "Proud", which was released in the wake of Dolph's death and marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. His third album, Glockoma 2 (2023), spawned the sleeper hit single "Let's Go"—his second entry on the chart.

Early life

Markeyvius LaShun Cathey was born in South Memphis on August 3, 1997. When he was 20 months old, his mother Tameika Cathey was sent to prison, where she would be for the next 15 years. His father was in and out of his life, so he was raised by his grandmother and his aunt. According to Cathey, he and his grandmother occasionally visited his mother in prison during his youth. At 18 years old, he was charged with three counts of aggravated assault related to his involvement in a shooting. Music was a distraction from his oftentimes tumultuous life.
Cathey said he grew up listening to Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, and cites Three 6 Mafia as his largest influence. He was also a big fan of Project Pat, whom he describes as the "Drake of Memphis". According to Glock, Pat's songs "If You Ain't From My Hood" and "Gorilla Pimp" changed his life. The latter's chorus inspired one of his breakout songs, "Dig That". The first track that Glock recorded himself was a freestyle of DJ Drama's 2011 song "Ain't No Way Around It".

Career

Glock released his debut mixtape Whole Lotta Errthang in 2016. In 2017, Young Dolph signed Key Glock to the Paper Route Empire label. On January 25 of that year, Glock released his debut single "Racks Today" featuring American rapper Jay Fizzle. On June 16, 2017, Glock released his second mixtape, Glock Season, under the label. His collaborative album Dum and Dummer with Young Dolph reached number eight on the Billboard 200. Young Dolph's "Major" featuring Key Glock reached number 47 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Following the release of his collaborative album Dum and Dummer with Young Dolph, he went on a European tour across Manchester and London. The pair brought out UK rapper Blade Brown as a supporting act. The two proceeded to start the "No Rules" Tour in 2020, beginning on February 5 in Seattle.
On January 31, Key Glock released his debut studio album titled Yellow Tape, which debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200. On May 22, 2020, Key Glock released his sixth mixtape, Son of a Gun, again with no features.
On March 5, 2021, Key Glock and Young Dolph released the single, "Aspen", and announced the release of their second collaborative album, Dum and Dummer 2, due for release on March 26, 2021. It is a sequel to 2019's Dum and Dummer. The project's cartoon artwork references Beavis & Butthead. On November 5, 2021, Glock released his second studio album Yellow Tape 2, a sequel to Yellow Tape.
On January 18, 2022, Key Glock released the song "Proud", a tribute to Young Dolph. It is included on the Dolph tribute compilation Long Live Young Dolph, released January 21, 2022.
On February 24, 2023, Key Glock released his third studio album, Glockoma 2. It is the sequel to his 2018 mixtape Glockoma.
On March 13, 2025, Key Glock signed to Republic Records.
On May 2, 2025, after facing several delays, Key Glock released his fourth studio album and major-label debut album, Glockaveli.

Personal life

Key Glock is the cousin by marriage of Young Dolph, who was murdered in November 2021. Following Dolph's death, in a since-deleted Instagram post, Key Glock called him "my lefthand man, my brother, my cousin, and my mentor." The same month Young Dolph died he got a tattoo of Young Dolph.