2020's Rich Slave was not only Young Dolph's most critically acclaimed album but his most commercially successful to date, and on 2021's PAPER ROUTE iLLUMINATi, the rapper shares the success with his Paper Route Empire protégés. Continuing the early-2020s string of label showcase tapes like Slime Language 2, So Icy Gang, Vol. 1, and Lil Durk Presents Loyal Bros -- this Dolph-hosted compilation gives his associates a high-profile platform from which to develop strong fan bases, with mixed results. As can be expected with the Memphis honcho, the tracks on PRI hover around the region's circling trap sound, with core collaborator BandPlay ensuring that Dolph's signature sound retains its weighty presence. While the PRE mogul is featured on 11 of the album's 24 cuts, the spotlight is focused firmly on his roster, with the striding Big Moochie Grape, the staccato-flow of Joddy Badass, the frosty Bigg Unccc and airier Snupe Bandz, and the thick-accented PaperRoute Woo. Unccc ends up with the best showing of all: "Back to Back" and "Beat It" are a strong testament to the MC's gift for flow, while he demonstrates strong chemistry with Dolph and Woo on "Dead Body." Unfortunately, PRE's remaining roster has a more varied showing. Snupe is a distant superstar on "Remember" but wobbly-voiced on "Show Out," Big Moochie Grape raps triumphant on "Standing Ovation" but squanders the menacing production of "Non Stop," and Joddy Badass veers from the self-assured "Dance" to the stagnant flow of "333." What's lacking here is the collective identity that made compilations like So Icy Gang so compelling: there's very little back-and-forth between PRE's signees with each new talent left to wade in their own waters. And with Dolph and Glock's appearances feeling thoroughly half-hearted, PRE's first showcase leaves a lot to be desired.