Hernandez Govan claims a famous NBA player tried to broker peace between Yo Gotti and Young Dolph, but the effort collapsed when Dolph shut it down with a blunt refusal. In a revealing interview on August 23, 2025, Govan, recently acquitted in the Young Dolph murder case, shared new details about the failed attempt to end the bitter feud between the two Memphis rappers. The disclosure sheds light on the deep-rooted tensions that marked one of hip-hop’s most tragic rivalries.
Govan, speaking publicly for the first time since his acquittal on August 21, 2025, in Memphis, Tennessee, explained that a prominent NBA player from the city stepped in to mediate. The unnamed athlete reached out to both rappers, hoping to arrange a meeting to squash their beef. Yo Gotti, whose real name is Mario Mims, was open to the idea, Govan said. However, born Adolph Thornton Jr., Young Dolph rejected the proposal outright, reportedly saying “fk no” before hanging up the phone and blocking the mediator.
The feud between Yo Gotti and Young Dolph began in 2014 when Dolph declined an offer to join Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG) label. This decision sparked a rivalry that played out through diss tracks, social media jabs, and violent incidents. In 2016, Dolph’s debut album King of Memphis challenged Yo Gotti’s claim to the city’s rap crown. The conflict escalated in 2017 with Dolph’s diss track “Play Wit Yo’ B*tch” and two shooting incidents targeting Dolph in Charlotte and Los Angeles, which some linked to the feud.
In his VladTV interview, Govan dismissed rumors that the beef stemmed from a personal dispute over a woman. Instead, he pointed to a failed business deal and clashing egos as the root causes. He suggested Dolph’s refusal to meet was driven by pride, which prevented any chance of reconciliation. The exact timing and location of the NBA player’s mediation attempt remain unclear, leaving questions about when this call took place and why Dolph reacted so strongly.
The identity of the NBA player was not revealed, though Memphis has produced stars like Ja Morant and Penny Hardaway. Without a name, the claim remains unverified, but it highlights a rare effort to resolve a conflict that turned deadly. Young Dolph was killed on November 17, 2021, at Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies in Memphis. Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith were identified as the shooters, with Johnson convicted in September 2024.
Prosecutors alleged that Yo Gotti’s brother, Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, placed a $100,000 bounty on Dolph, with Govan acting as a middleman, though Govan was cleared of all charges. The failed mediation underscores the intensity of the Yo Gotti-Young Dolph rivalry, which had far-reaching consequences. Big Jook’s death in a targeted Memphis shooting in January 2024 further deepened the tragedy surrounding the feud. Govan’s account offers a glimpse into what might have been a turning point if Dolph had agreed to talk.
