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Three 6 Mafia is an American hip hop group from
Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mo ...
, formed in 1991. Emerging as a horror-themed underground hip hop group, they would eventually go on to enjoy mainstream success. The group's 1995 debut album ''
Mystic Stylez ''Mystic Stylez'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. Produced completely by founding members DJ Paul and Juicy J, the LP was published via Prophet, an independent record label. In 2001, the album was re-released ...
'' would go on to become an influential
cult classic A cult following refers to a group of fans who are highly dedicated to some person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The lattermost is often called a cult classic. ...
. They have released music on independent labels such as
Prophet Entertainment Prophet is an independent record label based in Memphis, Tennessee, formerly owned by DJ Paul and Juicy J. As a group act, Prophet Entertainment goes by the stage name Prophet Posse. From 1991 to 1994 it launched new independent musical artists ...
and their own
Hypnotize Minds Hypnotize Minds is an American record label created by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia in 1997, in Memphis, Tennessee. The label serves as the successor to Three 6 Mafia's previous label, Prophet Entertainment, which was co-founded by DJ Pau ...
label, as well as Relativity, Loud, and
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...
. Two of their albums are
RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/ ...
-certified
platinum Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver". Pla ...
: '' When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1'' (2000) and ''
Most Known Unknown ''Most Known Unknown'' is the eighth studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. It was released on September 27, 2005, by Hypnotize Minds, Sony Urban Music, and Columbia Records and is the follow-up to the 2003 album '' Da Unbreaka ...
'' (2005), the latter featured their hit single "
Stay Fly "Stay Fly" is the first single from hip hop group Three 6 Mafia's 2005 album ''Most Known Unknown''. The song peaked at number 13 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 to become the group's biggest hit. The track, which samples "Tell Me Why Has Our Love ...
". In 2006 the group won the
Academy Award for Best Original Song The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is presented to the ''songwriters'' who have composed ...
at the
78th Academy Awards The 78th Academy Awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), took place on March 5, 2006, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time Zone, PST ...
for their song "
It's Hard out Here for a Pimp "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" is a song written by American hip hop music, hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, alongside Frayser Boy, Cedric Coleman, as the theme song to the American drama film ''Hustle & Flow'' (2005). It won the Academy Award for ...
" from the film ''
Hustle & Flow ''Hustle & Flow'' is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer and produced by John Singleton and Stephanie Allain. It stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who faces his aspiration to become a rapper. It ...
''. The group's latest studio album, ''
Last 2 Walk ''Last 2 Walk'' is the ninth and latest studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, released on June 24, 2008. The album was named ''Last 2 Walk'' because DJ Paul and Juicy J were the last two members remaining in Three 6 Mafia. Crunchy ...
'', was released in 2008. Three 6 Mafia's worldwide album sales stand at 5.5 million as of 2016.


History


Origins (1988–1990)

Three 6 Mafia's founding members became musicians at young ages. In 1988,
DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and uncle of the late rapper ...
, at age 11, was taking piano lessons, and his brother,
Lord Infamous Ricky T. Dunigan (November 17, 1973 – December 20, 2013), better known by his stage name Lord Infamous, was an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was the half-brother of DJ Paul and one of the co-founders of Three 6 Mafia. His lyrics t ...
, age 15, was a singer practicing bass and electric guitar. Paul could play piano and drums, while Infamous sang and played bass and guitar. With that, the two would compose songs together. At the same time, in North Memphis, Tennessee,
Juicy J Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established i ...
, at age 13, was learning how to DJ as well as rap. He had initially wanted to be a singer, but in the late 1980s and early 1990s he fell in love with the
gangsta rap Gangsta rap or gangster rap, initially called reality rap, emerged in the mid- to late 1980s as a controversial hip-hop subgenre whose lyrics assert the culture and values typical of American street gangs and street hustlers. Many gangsta rappe ...
style, and he, like his future founding group members across town, wanted to make music like popular artists at the time such as
N.W.A N.W.A (an abbreviation for Niggaz Wit Attitudes) was an American hip hop group whose members were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversial figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, and the group is widely considered ...
,
Geto Boys Geto Boys (originally spelled Ghetto Boys) was an American hip-hop group originally formed in Houston, Texas. The Geto Boys enjoyed success in the 1990s with the group's classic lineup consisting of Bushwick Bill, Scarface and Willie D, earni ...
and
A Tribe Called Quest A Tribe Called Quest was an American hip hop group formed in Queens, New York City, in 1985,Q-Tip
. In 1989, DJ Paul and Lord Infamous formed the duo "Da Serial Killaz".


The beginning (1991–1992)

By 1991,
DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and uncle of the late rapper ...
, had already begun to make a name for himself in the local hip-hop scene through DJing at local clubs, such as Club 380 Beale, where he got his first opportunity to perform. His mixtapes, which were gradually evolving to include more and more original content of "Da Serial Killaz", also helped spread word of his talents. At the time, the hip hop scene in Memphis had not taken a fully fledged form yet, but early works by artists such as DJ Spanish Fly and DJ Squeeky were hinting at what was to come. Meanwhile,
Lord Infamous Ricky T. Dunigan (November 17, 1973 – December 20, 2013), better known by his stage name Lord Infamous, was an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was the half-brother of DJ Paul and one of the co-founders of Three 6 Mafia. His lyrics t ...
was still rapping and evolving his lyrical style. Up in North Memphis,
Juicy J Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established i ...
was slowly building a name for himself as well, now that he was making his own songs and distributing them with his mixtapes, as well as DJing at local clubs with his mentor. That same year, DJ Paul and Juicy J first crossed paths after Juicy sought out Paul in 1991 for help making beats. The two quickly grew fond of each-other's musical styles and the two subsequently teamed up with Lord Infamous to form the group "The Backyard Posse". DJ Paul and Lord Infamous still continued work as "Da Serial Killaz" by themselves, and in 1992 released the first legitimate original recording to come out of the eventual Three 6 Mafia camp, "Portrait of a Serial Killa". Featuring dark beats by Paul and
horrorcore Horrorcore, also called horror hip hop, horror rap, death hip hop, or death rap, is a subgenre of hip hop music based on horror-themed and often darkly transgressive lyrical content and imagery. Its origins derived from certain hardcore hip h ...
-styled lyrics from Lord Infamous and DJ Paul, this tape is recognized in its raw form as a pioneering work of horrorcore hip hop. Juicy J in the meantime released his debut hard copy mixtape, ''Volume 5'', that same year, as well as his seminal track in its original form, "Slob on My Knob".


Debut, ''Mystic Stylez'' and ''Chapter 1: The End'' (1993–1996)

The first notable release from members of the group that dropped in 1993 was
DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and uncle of the late rapper ...
and
Lord Infamous Ricky T. Dunigan (November 17, 1973 – December 20, 2013), better known by his stage name Lord Infamous, was an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was the half-brother of DJ Paul and one of the co-founders of Three 6 Mafia. His lyrics t ...
's ''Come With Me to Hell'', which featured original forms of future Three 6 Mafia hits such as "
Tear da Club Up "Tear da Club Up" is a song by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. It was released as the lead single from their debut studio album ''Mystic Stylez'' (1995) and was produced by members DJ Paul and Juicy J. A remix of the song titled "Tear da ...
" and "Porno Movie". Paul's "DJ Paul Volume 12" mixtape was also released at this time. That same year, while recording music for "The Backyard Posse", Lord Infamous rapped a line referring to his crew as the "Triple Six Mafia". The group later adopted the name, seeing that the name more closely matched the bleak and dark imagery of their music.
Juicy J Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established i ...
had yet to release a notable work of his own at this point, but in 1994 that would change with ''Vol. 9: It's On'' and ''Vol. 10: Chronicles of the Juice Manne''. Similar to Paul and Infamous's works the previous year, these tapes featured what would turn out to be some of the framework of future hit songs. Also in 1994, the group added its fourth official member, rapper Koopsta Knicca (Robert Cooper Phillips). Following the addition, the group released their first unified release with the mixtape '' Smoked Out, Loced Out'', which featured fellow budding local rappers Gangsta Blac, Kingpin Skinny Pimp, Lil Fly, 211, K-9, Lil Glock and S.O.G. That same year, Koopsta Knicca recorded the original version of what would become his first solo album, ''Da Devil's Playground''. 1994 also marked a significant milestone for the group, when Paul and Juicy, alongside local entrepreneur Nick Scarfo, formed
Prophet In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the ...
, their first imprint. Through the label, the "Prophet Posse" was created, which was a looser collective that consisted of several local Memphis rappers who associated closely with Paul and Juicy J and ultimately signed onto the label, but were not members of Triple 6 Mafia. It was at this time when Juicy J's older brother,
Project Pat Patrick Earl Houston (born February 8, 1973), better known by his stage name Project Pat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, the co-founder of Three 6 Mafia. Houston was formerly a member of hip h ...
, emerged with his debut, ''Solo Tape''. In 1995 the group filled out when it officially added rappers
Crunchy Black Darnell Carlton (born August 20, 1974), better known by his stage name Crunchy Black, is an American rapper and hype man. Career He was a longtime member of the Oscar-winning hip hop group Three 6 Mafia from the group's founding until 2006. At th ...
and
Gangsta Boo Lola Chantrelle Mitchell (born August 7, 1979), better known by her stage name Gangsta Boo, is an American rapper, who was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the second female member (after K-9) of the Memphis-based hip hop group Thr ...
. It was later this year when the group shifted its name to Three 6 Mafia and released their debut album ''
Mystic Stylez ''Mystic Stylez'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. Produced completely by founding members DJ Paul and Juicy J, the LP was published via Prophet, an independent record label. In 2001, the album was re-released ...
'' through Prophet. The LP earned them widespread recognition and attention locally and in the southern underground hip hop scene, and as a result, Prophet landed a distribution deal with
Select-O-Hits Select-O-Hits is an American independent record label distributor of music based in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. They have been in business for almost 60 years, and distribute artists that include Johnnie Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, Three 6 Maf ...
. The group's first song on the radio was "Da Summa". In 1996, the group released '' Chapter 1: The End'', their first non-
lo-fi music Lo-fi (also typeset as lofi or low-fi; short for low fidelity) is a music or production quality in which elements usually regarded as imperfections in the context of a recording or performance are present, sometimes as a deliberate choice. The ...
record. At the helm of Prophet, DJ Paul and Juicy J would produce and release a handful of albums of some of the label's other acts, including Gangsta Blac's ''Can It Be?'' and Kingpin Skinny Pimp's ''King of Da Playaz Ball'' in 1996. At the end of 1996 however, DJ Paul and Juicy J had a fallout with Nick Scarfo and a lengthy legal lawsuit ensued between the two sides over Prophet. It was at this time when Paul and Juicy laid the framework for
Hypnotize Minds Hypnotize Minds is an American record label created by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia in 1997, in Memphis, Tennessee. The label serves as the successor to Three 6 Mafia's previous label, Prophet Entertainment, which was co-founded by DJ Pau ...
, their own independent label which would become the powerhouse for Three 6 Mafia music. In 1997, Three 6 Mafia and Hypnotize Minds signed a record label deal with Relativity for distribution.


''Chapter 2: World Domination'' and ''When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6 Sixty 1'' (1997–2000)

In 1997, after forming
Hypnotize Minds Hypnotize Minds is an American record label created by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia in 1997, in Memphis, Tennessee. The label serves as the successor to Three 6 Mafia's previous label, Prophet Entertainment, which was co-founded by DJ Pau ...
, the group signed a deal with
Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...
and began working on what would become their first
RIAA certified In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets.
album, '' Chapter 2: World Domination''. Polishing up their darker sound for a more palatable aesthetic while still retaining their authenticity, ''Chapter 2: World Domination'' went on to reach
RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/ ...
Gold status, selling over 800,000 copies in America. The LP peaked at no. 40 on The Billboard Top 200. The LP included the club anthem "Tear Da Club Up". At this point in the group's evolution,
DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and uncle of the late rapper ...
and
Juicy J Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established i ...
began expanding their brand and focused on developing Hypnotize Minds. Along with Three 6 Mafia, they brought along several artists from Prophet in their transition to Hypnotize Minds, creating the "Hypnotize Camp Posse", the successor of the "Prophet Posse". Over the next few years, the new label would put out and the Prophet Posse's ''Body Parts'',
The Kaze The Kaze is an American hip hop group from Memphis, Tennessee. It started its activities in the year 1990 to 2000 with MC Mack, Lil Corb and Project Pat, the group underwent several changes when Lil Corb's death was announced in 2013. History T ...
(trio of Project Pat, M.C. Mack and Scan Man)'s ''Kamakazie: Timez Up'',
Indo G Tobian Tools, also known as Indo G (born c. 1973 ) is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. First hitting the Memphis rap scene with fellow Memphian, Lil' Blunt, in the mid-1990s, they released two albums on Luke Records, '' Up In Smoke' ...
's, ''Angel Dust'',
Gangsta Boo Lola Chantrelle Mitchell (born August 7, 1979), better known by her stage name Gangsta Boo, is an American rapper, who was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the second female member (after K-9) of the Memphis-based hip hop group Thr ...
's ''
Enquiring Minds ''Enquiring Minds'' is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Gangsta Boo. It was released on September 29, 1998 via Hypnotize Minds/Relativity Records. Recording sessions took place at Cotton Row Recording Studio in Memphis. Production ...
'',
Project Pat Patrick Earl Houston (born February 8, 1973), better known by his stage name Project Pat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, the co-founder of Three 6 Mafia. Houston was formerly a member of hip h ...
's ''
Ghetty Green ''Ghetty Green'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Project Pat. It was released on September 14, 1999, through Hypnotize Minds/ Loud Records with distribution via RED Distribution. Recording session took place at Hypnotize Minds Studio ...
'', and Hypnotize Camp Posse's self titled album ('' Three 6 Mafia Presents: Hypnotize Camp Posse''). In 1999, Tear Da Club Up Thugz, a subgroup of Three 6 Mafia members in the founding trio of DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Lord Infamous, released ''
CrazyNDaLazDayz ''CrazyNDaLazDayz'' is the only studio album by American hip hop trio Tear Da Club Up Thugs, consisting of DJ Paul, Lord Infamous and Juicy J. It was released on February 2, 1999, via Hypnotize Minds/ Relativity. Recording sessions took place at ...
'', which is recognized as one of if not the first album made entirely in the "
crunk Crunk is a subgenre of hip hop music that emerged in the early 1990s and gained mainstream success during the mid 2000s. Crunk is often up-tempo and one of Southern hip hop's more dance and club oriented subgenres. An archetypal crunk track fre ...
" production style. The album included Juicy J's solo, "Slob On My Knob", and went on to be certified Gold by the RIAA. ''CrazyNDaLazDayz'' peaked at no. 18 on the Billboard Top 200 music chart. Later that year group member Koopsta Knicca's debut album, ''Da Devil's Playground: Underground Solo'', was released independently, though like all the Hypnotize Minds albums, was still produced by DJ Paul and Juicy J. In 2000, the group soared to new heights in the crunk music genre, carried by their most 2nd successful LP, '' When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1''. The album went on to achieve RIAA Platinum status, a 1st for the group, and spawned the single "
Sippin' on Some Syrup "Sippin' on Some Syrup", sometimes known as "Sippin' on Some Purple drank, Sizzurp", is the second single from Three 6 Mafia's fourth studio album ''When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1''. It features UGK and Project Pat. The song samples the s ...
", which featured UGK 2000 represented a troubling year for the group. The Prophet Posse, which to this point had still been working closely with Hypnotize Minds in an auxiliary-type relationship, disbanded, and its members who had not made the transition to Hypnotize Minds ceased making music with Three 6 Mafia and the rest of Hypnotize Minds. Moreover, group member Koopsta Knicca was forced out of Three 6 Mafia due to ongoing legal issues which culminated with his 2000 robbery incarceration, which voided his contract with Sony and forbade him from recording with the group. Koopsta Knicca was notably absent from the album cover of ''When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6 Sixty 1'' and music videos that accompanied tracks on the album due to his incarceration, despite still being a member of the group at the time of the album's release.


''Choices'' and ''Da Unbreakables'' (2001–2004)

Despite losing Koopsta Knicca from its ranks and cutting ties officially with Prophet, Three 6 Mafia and Hypnotize Minds were still successful. In 2001, the group released the soundtrack to the
DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and uncle of the late rapper ...
,
Juicy J Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established i ...
and
Hypnotize Minds Hypnotize Minds is an American record label created by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia in 1997, in Memphis, Tennessee. The label serves as the successor to Three 6 Mafia's previous label, Prophet Entertainment, which was co-founded by DJ Pau ...
-produced film, ''Choices''. The soundtrack was released as a studio album and ('' Choices: The Album''), kept the Three 6 name and
Hypnotize Minds Hypnotize Minds is an American record label created by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia in 1997, in Memphis, Tennessee. The label serves as the successor to Three 6 Mafia's previous label, Prophet Entertainment, which was co-founded by DJ Pau ...
brand growing. Moreover, Juicy and Paul successfully positioned
Project Pat Patrick Earl Houston (born February 8, 1973), better known by his stage name Project Pat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, the co-founder of Three 6 Mafia. Houston was formerly a member of hip h ...
to become the new star of Hypnotize Minds, with his 2001 LP '' Mista Don't Play: Everythangs Workin'' hitting #4 on the
Billboard 200 The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine and is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of ar ...
and being certified Gold by the RIAA, being thus far the only Three 6 Mafia affiliate or member to release an RIAA-certified solo album. 2001 also saw
Gangsta Boo Lola Chantrelle Mitchell (born August 7, 1979), better known by her stage name Gangsta Boo, is an American rapper, who was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the second female member (after K-9) of the Memphis-based hip hop group Thr ...
leave Three 6 Mafia following the release of ''Choices: The Album'', citing a variety of reasons including group dynamics, religion, alleged financial mismanagement and her desire to pursue a solo career. In 2002, Juicy J and DJ Paul re-released their remastered and dramatically updated "Vol. 10" and "Vol. 16" albums respectively as ''
Chronicles of the Juice Man ''Chronicles of the Juice Man'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Juicy J, released on July 16, 2002 via North North with manufacturing and distribution from Hypnotize Minds. The album features guest appearances from Three 6 Mafia's Cr ...
'', and '' Underground Volume 16: For da Summa''. These LPs represented their solo studio LP debuts and the last piece of some of their older sound, effectively giving way to full on Crunk. In 2003, the latest incarnation of Three 6 Mafia, in DJ Paul, Juicy J,
Lord Infamous Ricky T. Dunigan (November 17, 1973 – December 20, 2013), better known by his stage name Lord Infamous, was an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was the half-brother of DJ Paul and one of the co-founders of Three 6 Mafia. His lyrics t ...
, and
Crunchy Black Darnell Carlton (born August 20, 1974), better known by his stage name Crunchy Black, is an American rapper and hype man. Career He was a longtime member of the Oscar-winning hip hop group Three 6 Mafia from the group's founding until 2006. At th ...
, released their album ''
Da Unbreakables ''Da Unbreakables'' is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. The album was released on June 24, 2003 by Hypnotize Minds and Columbia Records. The album features Lord Infamous, DJ Paul, Juicy J and Crunchy Black. Gangst ...
''. Spawning hit singles such as "Ridin' Spinners" and "Testin' My Gangsta", the album was a success, with the RIAA certifying it Gold by the RIAA. In 2004, Three 6 Mafia began to mobilize for what would become their domination over hip-hop. They were working on a sequel to their 2001 movie, with it another studio LP, and DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Hypnotize Minds's
Frayser Boy Cedric Coleman, professionally known by his stage name Frayser Boy, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was formerly signed to Hypnotize Minds, the record label run by Three 6 Mafia founders DJ Paul and Juicy J, and had released t ...
, were about to ink a deal with the directors of ''
Hustle & Flow ''Hustle & Flow'' is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer and produced by John Singleton and Stephanie Allain. It stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who faces his aspiration to become a rapper. It ...
'' to write an original track for the film that would ultimately result in the group winning an Oscar.


Academy Award, ''Choices II: The Setup'' and ''Most Known Unknown'' (2005–2006)

During 2005, many members had left including
La Chat Chastity Daniels (born March 21, 1978), known professionally as La Chat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. She is best known for her association with the Hypnotize Minds record label. She was one of the two female members of Memphis- ...
and
Lord Infamous Ricky T. Dunigan (November 17, 1973 – December 20, 2013), better known by his stage name Lord Infamous, was an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was the half-brother of DJ Paul and one of the co-founders of Three 6 Mafia. His lyrics t ...
, and with that even more affiliates, but into the fold other acts such as
Project Pat Patrick Earl Houston (born February 8, 1973), better known by his stage name Project Pat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, the co-founder of Three 6 Mafia. Houston was formerly a member of hip h ...
,
Frayser Boy Cedric Coleman, professionally known by his stage name Frayser Boy, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was formerly signed to Hypnotize Minds, the record label run by Three 6 Mafia founders DJ Paul and Juicy J, and had released t ...
, and Lil Wyte cropped up as successes to keep the camp moving forward. This moving forward reached its zenith in 2005-06 for Three 6 Mafia, wherein they became superstars of hip-hop. Firstly, they dropped the sequel to their ''Choices'' movie, '' Choices II: The Setup'', and a studio album to go along with it that sold 400,000 copies. Secondly, they released their most commercially successful LP, ''
Most Known Unknown ''Most Known Unknown'' is the eighth studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. It was released on September 27, 2005, by Hypnotize Minds, Sony Urban Music, and Columbia Records and is the follow-up to the 2003 album '' Da Unbreaka ...
'', which charted at #3 on the Top 200 and went on to sell 1,600,000 copies in the United States, becoming their second album to go Platinum in America and their best selling overall. The LP featured 3 successful singles: "
Side 2 Side "Side 2 Side" is a song by Three 6 Mafia, which was released as the third official single from the album ''Most Known Unknown''. A music video was released for the song using a remix, and includes appearances by Project Pat and Bow Wow in ad ...
", " Poppin' My Collar", and "
Stay Fly "Stay Fly" is the first single from hip hop group Three 6 Mafia's 2005 album ''Most Known Unknown''. The song peaked at number 13 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 to become the group's biggest hit. The track, which samples "Tell Me Why Has Our Love ...
". "Stay Fly" is Three 6 Mafia's most commercially successful song, being certified Double Platinum in America. The song featured 8Ball & MJG and Young Buck. The song also peaked at no. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 music charts. "Poppin' My Collar", the remix which featured Project Pat, was certified Platinum by the RIAA and peaked at no. 21 on the Billboard Top 100. Also in 2005, they released an additional film, the comedy, ''Clean Up Men''. Three 6 Mafia's rise came to a head in 2006 when they became the first hip hop group to win the
Academy Award for Best Original Song The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is presented to the ''songwriters'' who have composed ...
with "
It's Hard out Here for a Pimp "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" is a song written by American hip hop music, hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, alongside Frayser Boy, Cedric Coleman, as the theme song to the American drama film ''Hustle & Flow'' (2005). It won the Academy Award for ...
" (which they co-wrote with Frayser Boy) as one of the theme songs for ''
Hustle & Flow ''Hustle & Flow'' is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer and produced by John Singleton and Stephanie Allain. It stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who faces his aspiration to become a rapper. It ...
''. They were also the first hip hop group to perform at the ceremony, which they did with ''Hustle & Flow'' actress
Taraji P. Henson Taraji Penda Henson ( ; born September 11, 1970) is an American actress. She studied acting at Howard University and began her Hollywood career in guest roles on several television shows before making her breakthrough in '' Baby Boy'' (2001). Sh ...
reprising her chorus. It was the second hip hop song to win an Oscar, after
Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing Hip hop music, hip hop in Middle America (United Sta ...
's "
Lose Yourself "Lose Yourself" is a song by American rapper Eminem from the soundtrack to the 2002 motion picture '' 8 Mile''. The song was composed and produced by Eminem, longtime collaborator Jeff Bass, one half of the production duo Bass Brothers and Lui ...
" in 2002 from his film '' 8 Mile''. Right before presenter
Queen Latifah Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970), known professionally as Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, actress, and singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989 and released her debut album ''All Hail the Que ...
announced that they had won, she chuckled and sang the refrain from the song. The energy from DJ Paul, Juicy J,
Crunchy Black Darnell Carlton (born August 20, 1974), better known by his stage name Crunchy Black, is an American rapper and hype man. Career He was a longtime member of the Oscar-winning hip hop group Three 6 Mafia from the group's founding until 2006. At th ...
, and Frayser Boy's on-stage presence and acceptance speech was infectious, causing that year's Oscar host
Jon Stewart Jon Stewart (born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz; November 28, 1962) is an American comedian, political commentator, and television host. He hosted '' The Daily Show'', a satirical news program on Comedy Central, from 1999 to 2015 and now hosts '' ...
to quip "How come they're the most excited people here tonight? Why is that? They're thrilled! They're thrilled!.... ''That's'' how you accept an Oscar!"


''Last 2 Walk'' (2007–2011)

On June 7, 2007, Sony announced the departure of
Crunchy Black Darnell Carlton (born August 20, 1974), better known by his stage name Crunchy Black, is an American rapper and hype man. Career He was a longtime member of the Oscar-winning hip hop group Three 6 Mafia from the group's founding until 2006. At th ...
. He stated his primary reason for departing was to make a solo LP that DJ Paul and Juicy J had allegedly put off for years, as much of the material that he'd wanted on his solo LP was used for ''
Most Known Unknown ''Most Known Unknown'' is the eighth studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. It was released on September 27, 2005, by Hypnotize Minds, Sony Urban Music, and Columbia Records and is the follow-up to the 2003 album '' Da Unbreaka ...
''. Crunchy also later cited frustration over alleged financial mismanagement. Thereafter Three 6 Mafia consisted officially of
DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and uncle of the late rapper ...
and
Juicy J Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established i ...
. The pair was featured along with
Timbaland Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He has received widespread acclaim for his innovative production work and distinc ...
on fellow Memphis artist,
Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...
's single, "Chop Me Up" from his 2007 album ''
FutureSex/LoveSounds ''FutureSex/LoveSounds'' is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake, released on September 8, 2006 by Jive Records and Zomba Group of Companies, Zomba. Following a three-year writing hiatus, Timberlake conceived ...
.'' In 2007, DJ Paul and Juicy J landed their own
reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1 ...
show, '' Adventures in Hollyhood'', on
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
. The show focused on the pair balancing fun and studio work after their Oscar win.
Project Pat Patrick Earl Houston (born February 8, 1973), better known by his stage name Project Pat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, the co-founder of Three 6 Mafia. Houston was formerly a member of hip h ...
and Lil Wyte along with friends Big Triece & Computer co-starred. The show premiered on April 5, 2007 on MTV & aired for 1 season. Three 6 Mafia released their 9th studio album ''
Last 2 Walk ''Last 2 Walk'' is the ninth and latest studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, released on June 24, 2008. The album was named ''Last 2 Walk'' because DJ Paul and Juicy J were the last two members remaining in Three 6 Mafia. Crunchy ...
'' on June 24, 2008, after multiple delays. The album featured collaborations with
Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam (; born April 16, 1973), known mononymously as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of " Locked Up" (featuring Styles P ...
,
Good Charlotte Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 2005, the band's lineup has consisted of twin brothers Joel Madden (lead vocals) and Benji Madden (guitar and vocals), Paul Thomas (bass), Billy Martin ( ...
,
Lyfe Jennings Chester Jermaine "Lyfe" Jennings (born June 3, 1978) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist. He plays the guitar, Double bass, bass, and piano which he integrates into his music. T ...
, UGK, and
8Ball & MJG 8Ball & MJG is an American hip hop duo from Memphis, Tennessee. They met at Ridgeway Middle School (Memphis, Tennessee) in 1984. In 1993, the duo released their debut album ''Comin' Out Hard''. They went on to release ''On the Outside Looking I ...
among others. After leaving Three 6 Mafia in 2005,
Lord Infamous Ricky T. Dunigan (November 17, 1973 – December 20, 2013), better known by his stage name Lord Infamous, was an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was the half-brother of DJ Paul and one of the co-founders of Three 6 Mafia. His lyrics t ...
was featured on DJ Paul's second solo album ''
Scale-A-Ton ''Scale-a-Ton'' (pronounced ''Skeleton'') is the second solo studio album by American rapper and record producer DJ Paul. It was released on May 5, 2009, via Scale-A-Ton Entertainment/Hypnotize Minds. Recording sessions took place at Scale-A-Ton ...
'', which was released on May 5, 2009. Lord Infamous was featured on eight tracks. Juicy J's second solo album '' Hustle Till I Die'' was released on June 16, 2009. The LP featured Project Pat and other rappers such as V-Slash,
Gucci Mane Radric Delantic Davis (born February 12, 1980), known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and record executive. He helped pioneer the hip hop subgenre of trap music alongside fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Young Jeez ...
,
Webbie Webster Gradney, Jr. (born September 6, 1985) who performs under the mononym Webbie, is an American rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He's been signed to the independent Trill Entertainment label since 2003. In 2005 he came into the hip hop ...
and
Gorilla Zoe Alonzo Keith Mathis Jr. (born January 27, 1981), better known by his stage name Gorilla Zoe (), is an American rapper originally from East Point, Georgia. He is best known for being a member of the rap group Boyz N Da Hood. His solo debut album ...
. In 2011, DJ Paul and Juicy J starred in VH1's cooking show '' Famous Food'' together with 7 other celebrities and eventually won 1st place. In an interview, published in July 2011 DJ Paul cleared up some controversy from the show, involving
Ashley Alexandra Dupré Ashley is a place name derived from the Old English words '' æsc'' (“ash”) and '' lēah'' (“meadow”). It may refer to: People and fictional characters * Ashley (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name ...
, best known from the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal. In December 2011, Juicy J confirmed that he was the newest member of
Wiz Khalifa Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987), better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He released his debut album, ''Show and Prove'', in 2006 and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 20 ...
's Taylor Gang – as an A&R and co-owner.


Hiatus, Da Mafia 6ix and independent endeavors (2012–2018)

By the end of 2012,
Juicy J Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established i ...
had moved completely away from Three 6 Mafia work to focus on his solo career. During this time he released a number of solo mixtapes such as ''Rubba Band Business'' and ''Blue Dream & Lean''. He also had begun frequently collaborated with
Wiz Khalifa Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987), better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He released his debut album, ''Show and Prove'', in 2006 and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 20 ...
, appearing on a number of his mixtapes. After a number of mixtapes,
DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and uncle of the late rapper ...
released his third solo studio album '' A Person of Interest'' on October 22, 2012. He announced that the album was a mix of gangsta rap and crunk music, with it also incorporating influences from dubstep and electronic dance music. The album featured past collaborators Lil Wyte and
Gucci Mane Radric Delantic Davis (born February 12, 1980), known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and record executive. He helped pioneer the hip hop subgenre of trap music alongside fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Young Jeez ...
, and also came with a bonus DVD including a self-titled short movie, music videos and behind the scenes footage. On November 26, 2013, DJ Paul released ''Volume 16: The Original Masters'', a remaster of his 1994 mixtape ''4 Da Summer of '94'', on
iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mu ...
. After releasing a series of singles, including the chart topping "
Bandz a Make Her Dance "Bandz a Make Her Dance" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Juicy J. It was released on September 11, 2012, as the lead single from his third studio album ''Stay Trippy'' (2013). The song, produced by Mike WiLL Made It and co-produc ...
" which featured
2 Chainz Tauheed K. Epps (born September 12, 1977), known professionally as 2 Chainz (or Tity Boi), is an American rapper. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, he initially gained recognition as one-half of the Southern hip hop duo Playaz Circle, a ...
and
Lil Wayne Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining ...
, Juicy J released his third solo studio album '' Stay Trippy'' under Taylor Gang Records,
Kemosabe Records Kemosabe Records is an American record label founded by American record producer and songwriter Dr. Luke and owned by Sony Music Entertainment. The label is based in Los Angeles, California. History In November 2011, Sony Music Entertainment an ...
and
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...
on August 27, 2013. Juicy J has since stated that he would still "love to" participate in a Three 6 Mafia album in the future. In 2013, it was announced that five of the six original members of Three 6 Mafia – DJ Paul, Crunchy Black, Koopsta Knicca,
Lord Infamous Ricky T. Dunigan (November 17, 1973 – December 20, 2013), better known by his stage name Lord Infamous, was an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was the half-brother of DJ Paul and one of the co-founders of Three 6 Mafia. His lyrics t ...
and
Gangsta Boo Lola Chantrelle Mitchell (born August 7, 1979), better known by her stage name Gangsta Boo, is an American rapper, who was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the second female member (after K-9) of the Memphis-based hip hop group Thr ...
– were reuniting to form a new group, to be known as Da Mafia 6ix, with plans to release an album which was scheduled for a March 2014 release. At the time of the formation of Da Mafia 6ix,
DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and uncle of the late rapper ...
clarified that the collective was "not a Three 6 Mafia reunion" and described it as "a totally new group". The new group opted for a style reflecting their roots, focusing largely on the horrorcore foundations of their early works. Recording began in
Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Veg ...
in late 2013. On November 12, 2013, Da Mafia 6ix released their first mixtape ''
6iX Commandments ''6ix Commandments'' is the debut mixtape by American rap group Da Mafia 6ix and hosted by Trap-A-Holics. The mixtape was released on November 12, 2013 as well as a no DJ version with Two bonus tracks on iTunes and later on a physical copy on Jan ...
''. The tape was almost entirely produced by DJ Paul and featured
Yelawolf Michael Wayne Atha (born December 30, 1979), better known by his stage name Yelawolf, is an American rapper. Born in Alabama and raised in Tennessee, he embarked on his career independently in 2005, releasing one extended play (EP) and four mixta ...
,
8Ball & MJG 8Ball & MJG is an American hip hop duo from Memphis, Tennessee. They met at Ridgeway Middle School (Memphis, Tennessee) in 1984. In 1993, the duo released their debut album ''Comin' Out Hard''. They went on to release ''On the Outside Looking I ...
,
Krayzie Bone Anthony Henderson (born June 17, 1973), better known as Krayzie Bone, is an American rapper, singer, producer, and entrepreneur. He is a member of the rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Personal life Henderson comes from a fourth generation fami ...
,
Bizzy Bone Bryon Anthony McCane II (born September 12, 1976),Whitburn, Joel (2008) ''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–2006'', Record Research, , p. 97 better known by his stage name Bizzy Bone, is an American rapper, singer and the youngest member ...
,
SpaceGhostPurrp Markese Money Rolle (born April 1, 1991), known professionally as SpaceGhostPurrp, is an American rapper and record producer from Miami, Florida. He was the founder of the American hip hop group Raider Klan and Black Money Boys. Famous Raider ...
and old HCP affiliates Lil Wyte, Kingpin Skinny Pimp and
La Chat Chastity Daniels (born March 21, 1978), known professionally as La Chat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. She is best known for her association with the Hypnotize Minds record label. She was one of the two female members of Memphis- ...
, among others. Juicy J and
Project Pat Patrick Earl Houston (born February 8, 1973), better known by his stage name Project Pat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, the co-founder of Three 6 Mafia. Houston was formerly a member of hip h ...
also appeared as surprise guests on the posse song "Body Parts", being credited just as "& more" in the track listing. The mixtape was supported by the lead single "Go Hard" featuring Yelawolf. The mixtape also received a retail release and debuted at number 34 on the US ''Billboard'' Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The group is managed by DJ Paul's management team, TBA Worldwide. On December 20, 2013, Lord Infamous died of a
heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...
at home in Memphis. Gangsta Boo would leave Da Mafia 6ix in May 2014. DJ Paul explained it saying, "It was what we thought was going to be best for everybody. It just happened. Nobody forced nobody. It was a gut feeling." The reunited group's debut album, '' Watch What U Wish...'', featured the three remaining members of the group as well as Lord Infamous, who appeared on a handful of tracks through several verses he had recorded prior to his death. The album was released on March 17, 2015. A month later, Crunchy Black was arrested for drug possession in
Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Veg ...
. He had an outstanding arrest warrant stemming from a domestic violence charge and was sentenced to a total of 7 months in prison. On October 9, 2015, Koopsta Knicca died after several days in urgent care following a
stroke A stroke is a disease, medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemorr ...
and
intracranial aneurysm An intracranial aneurysm, also known as a brain aneurysm, is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel. Aneurysms in the posterior circula ...
.


Reunion performances and tour (2019–present)

In August 2019, group leaders
DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and uncle of the late rapper ...
and
Juicy J Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established i ...
announced they would soon be reviving Three 6 Mafia and reuniting for performances together for the first time in several years. The slate of performances kicked off with a show on October 12, 2019 at the
Landers Center The Landers Center is an 8,400-seat multi-purpose arena in Southaven, Mississippi. It is home to the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League, a minor league basketball team affiliated with the Memphis Grizzlies. History The center was built in 2000 ...
in the Memphis metropolitan area, where the group hails from. The performance featured many of the group's biggest hits and included the other two living members of the original group,
Crunchy Black Darnell Carlton (born August 20, 1974), better known by his stage name Crunchy Black, is an American rapper and hype man. Career He was a longtime member of the Oscar-winning hip hop group Three 6 Mafia from the group's founding until 2006. At th ...
and
Gangsta Boo Lola Chantrelle Mitchell (born August 7, 1979), better known by her stage name Gangsta Boo, is an American rapper, who was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the second female member (after K-9) of the Memphis-based hip hop group Thr ...
, as well as three fellow Hypnotize Camp Posse members who were so synonymous with the group that they were often incorrectly or unofficially labeled as members,
Project Pat Patrick Earl Houston (born February 8, 1973), better known by his stage name Project Pat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, the co-founder of Three 6 Mafia. Houston was formerly a member of hip h ...
,
La Chat Chastity Daniels (born March 21, 1978), known professionally as La Chat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. She is best known for her association with the Hypnotize Minds record label. She was one of the two female members of Memphis- ...
and Lil Wyte. The series of performances, mostly taking place in the
Southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also referred to as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical List of regions in the United States, region of the United States. It is located broadly on the eastern portion of the south ...
, continued into 2020, and were successful to the point where DJ Paul and Juicy announced on February 12 an organized official reunion tour at locations across the United States would begin the following month. In April, the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
forced the postponement of the remainder of the tour. The reunion performances and subsequent tour have further fueled speculation that Three 6 Mafia may come out with new music or ultimately a tenth studio album, but no timetable has been revealed.


Members


Members

*
DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and uncle of the late rapper ...
(1991–2012, 2019–present) *
Juicy J Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established i ...
(1991–2012, 2019–present)


Past members

* Koopsta Knicca (1994–2000) (deceased) *
Gangsta Boo Lola Chantrelle Mitchell (born August 7, 1979), better known by her stage name Gangsta Boo, is an American rapper, who was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the second female member (after K-9) of the Memphis-based hip hop group Thr ...
(1995–2001) *
Lord Infamous Ricky T. Dunigan (November 17, 1973 – December 20, 2013), better known by his stage name Lord Infamous, was an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was the half-brother of DJ Paul and one of the co-founders of Three 6 Mafia. His lyrics t ...
(1991–2005) (deceased) *
Crunchy Black Darnell Carlton (born August 20, 1974), better known by his stage name Crunchy Black, is an American rapper and hype man. Career He was a longtime member of the Oscar-winning hip hop group Three 6 Mafia from the group's founding until 2006. At th ...
(1995–2006)


Timeline

ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:25 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:60 top:0 right:60 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:1991 till:2021 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:prod value:purple legend:Production id:lines value:black legend:Studio_albums id:lines2 value:gray(0.75) legend:Other_releases id:bars value:gray(0.9) Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom BackgroundColors = bars:bars ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1991 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1991 LineData = at:05/25/1995 color:lines layer:back at:12/03/1996 color:lines layer:back at:11/04/1997 color:lines layer:back at:06/13/2000 color:lines layer:back at:08/28/2001 color:lines layer:back at:06/24/2003 color:lines layer:back at:03/29/2005 color:lines layer:back at:09/27/2005 color:lines layer:back at:06/24/2008 color:lines layer:back at:12/24/1994 color:lines2 layer:back at:11/21/1995 color:lines2 layer:back at:02/24/1998 color:lines2 layer:back at:02/02/1999 color:lines2 layer:back at:01/25/2000 color:lines2 layer:back at:02/15/2002 color:lines2 layer:back BarData = bar:Paul text:"DJ Paul" bar:J text:"Juicy J" bar:Infamous text:"Lord Infamous" bar:Koopsta text:"Koopsta Knicca" bar:Crunchy text:"Crunchy Black" bar:Boo text:"Gangsta Boo" PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Paul from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/2012 color:vocals bar:Paul from:01/01/2019 till:end color:vocals bar:Paul from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/2012 color:prod width:3 bar:Paul from:01/01/2019 till:end color:prod width:3 bar:J from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/2012 color:vocals bar:J from:01/01/2019 till:end color:vocals bar:J from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/2012 color:prod width:3 bar:J from:01/01/2019 till:end color:prod width:3 bar:Infamous from:01/01/1991 till:06/01/2005 color:vocals bar:Koopsta from:01/01/1994 till:09/01/2000 color:vocals bar:Crunchy from:01/01/1995 till:06/07/2006 color:vocals bar:Boo from:01/01/1995 till:10/01/2001 color:vocals


Extended Crew

Three 6 Mafia never officially expanded beyond the six original members of the group, but it had an expanded version, known initially as ''Prophet Posse'' and later as ''Hypnotize Camp Posse'' (in reference to the Three 6 Mafia-created and sponsored labels
Prophet In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the ...
and
Hypnotize Minds Hypnotize Minds is an American record label created by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia in 1997, in Memphis, Tennessee. The label serves as the successor to Three 6 Mafia's previous label, Prophet Entertainment, which was co-founded by DJ Pau ...
). Artists from the extended crew were featured heavily on Three 6 Mafia works, contributing significantly to the group's ascension. *
Project Pat Patrick Earl Houston (born February 8, 1973), better known by his stage name Project Pat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, the co-founder of Three 6 Mafia. Houston was formerly a member of hip h ...
(1994–2012) * Lil Wyte (2002–2012) *
Frayser Boy Cedric Coleman, professionally known by his stage name Frayser Boy, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was formerly signed to Hypnotize Minds, the record label run by Three 6 Mafia founders DJ Paul and Juicy J, and had released t ...
(2001–2008) *Chrome (2005–2008) *Yung D (2008–2009) *Grandaddy Souf (2005) *
La Chat Chastity Daniels (born March 21, 1978), known professionally as La Chat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. She is best known for her association with the Hypnotize Minds record label. She was one of the two female members of Memphis- ...
(1994–1995, 1999–2003) * T-Rock (1997–2001) * Mr. Del (1999–2000) *Nigga Creep (1997–2000) *Droopy Drew Dog (1997–1998) *M-Child (1996–1999) * M.C. Mack (1994–2000) * Scan Man (1994–2000) * K-Rock (1994–1998) *
Indo G Tobian Tools, also known as Indo G (born c. 1973 ) is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. First hitting the Memphis rap scene with fellow Memphian, Lil' Blunt, in the mid-1990s, they released two albums on Luke Records, '' Up In Smoke' ...
(1996–1998) * Kingpin Skinny Pimp (1994–1996) * Gangsta Blac (1994–1996) * Lil Fly (1994–1995)


Discography


Studio albums

*''
Mystic Stylez ''Mystic Stylez'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. Produced completely by founding members DJ Paul and Juicy J, the LP was published via Prophet, an independent record label. In 2001, the album was re-released ...
'' (1995) *'' Chapter 1: The End'' (1996) *'' Chapter 2: World Domination'' (1997) *'' When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1'' (2000) *''
Choices A choice is the range of different things from which a being can choose. The arrival at a choice may incorporate motivators and models. For example, a traveler might choose a route for a journey based on the preference of arriving at a give ...
'' (2001) *''
Da Unbreakables ''Da Unbreakables'' is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. The album was released on June 24, 2003 by Hypnotize Minds and Columbia Records. The album features Lord Infamous, DJ Paul, Juicy J and Crunchy Black. Gangst ...
'' (2003) *'' Choices II: The Setup'' (2005) *''
Most Known Unknown ''Most Known Unknown'' is the eighth studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia. It was released on September 27, 2005, by Hypnotize Minds, Sony Urban Music, and Columbia Records and is the follow-up to the 2003 album '' Da Unbreaka ...
'' (2005) *''
Last 2 Walk ''Last 2 Walk'' is the ninth and latest studio album by American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, released on June 24, 2008. The album was named ''Last 2 Walk'' because DJ Paul and Juicy J were the last two members remaining in Three 6 Mafia. Crunchy ...
'' (2008)


Subgroup albums

* ''
CrazyNDaLazDayz ''CrazyNDaLazDayz'' is the only studio album by American hip hop trio Tear Da Club Up Thugs, consisting of DJ Paul, Lord Infamous and Juicy J. It was released on February 2, 1999, via Hypnotize Minds/ Relativity. Recording sessions took place at ...
'' as Tear Da Club Up Thugs (1999) * '' Watch What U Wish...'' as Da Mafia 6ix (2015)


Collaboration albums

*'' Body Parts'' with Prophet Posse (1998) *'' Hypnotize Camp Posse'' with Hypnotize Camp Posse (2000) *''
Dat's How It Happen to'M ''Dat's How It Happen to'M'' is the only studio album by Da Headbussaz, a collaboration between Three 6 Mafia and Fiend. Da Headbussaz is a trio consisting of DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Fiend. Three 6 Mafia member Crunchy Black is featured on "U ...
'' with Fiend (2002)


Filmography


Feature films

*'' Choices: The Movie'' (2001) *'' Choices II: The Setup'' (2005) *''Clean Up Men'' (2005)


Film appearances

*''
Hustle & Flow ''Hustle & Flow'' is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer and produced by John Singleton and Stephanie Allain. It stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who faces his aspiration to become a rapper. It ...
'' (2005) – "
It's Hard out Here for a Pimp "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" is a song written by American hip hop music, hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, alongside Frayser Boy, Cedric Coleman, as the theme song to the American drama film ''Hustle & Flow'' (2005). It won the Academy Award for ...
" is the official song of the movie *''
Jackass 2 ''Jackass Number Two'' is a 2006 American reality slapstick comedy film directed by Jeff Tremaine. It is the sequel to '' Jackass: The Movie'' (2002), both based upon the MTV series '' Jackass''. Like its predecessor and the original television s ...
'' (2006) – they made an appearance in the movie, where they pay
Dave England David Joseph England (born December 30, 1969) is an American stunt performer and former professional snowboarder. He was born in 1969 to Bonfield and Winnifred England. He is best known as one of the stars of the reality stunt show '' Jackass'' ...
$200 to eat horse dung *''
Rocky Balboa Robert "Rocky" Balboa (also known by his ring name The Italian Stallion), is a fictional title character and the protagonist of the ''Rocky'' film series. The character was created by Sylvester Stallone, who has also portrayed him in all eight ...
'' (2006) – "It's a Fight" is on the official soundtrack to the movie. *''
Jackass 2.5 ''Jackass Number Two'' is a 2006 American reality slapstick comedy film directed by Jeff Tremaine. It is the sequel to '' Jackass: The Movie'' (2002), both based upon the MTV series '' Jackass''. Like its predecessor and the original television s ...
'' (2007) *'' The Campaign'' (2012) – "Azz and Tittiez" is on the official soundtrack to the movie


Television series

*'' Adventures in Hollyhood'' (2007) *'' Famous Food'' (2011)


Television appearances

*'' Jackass'' (2002) *'' Rap City'' (2003) *'' Wildboyz Deep South'' (2005) – episode 307 *''
Flavor of Love ''Flavor of Love'' is an American reality television dating game show starring Flavor Flav of the rap group Public Enemy. While not a direct spin-off, the show was a result of Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav's failed relationship on ''Strange ...
'' (2006) *'' MTV's Jamie Kennedy's Blowin' Up'' (2006) – episode was banned due to controversy after the first time it aired *'' The Simple Life'' (2006) *''
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip ''Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip'' is an American comedy-drama television series created and primarily written by Aaron Sorkin. The series was about the production of a live comedy series, similar to ''Saturday Night Live''. Produced by Warner Br ...
'' (2006) – episode: "Pilot" – musical guest on the fictional sketch comedy show within ''Studio 60'' *''
WWE Friday Night SmackDown ''WWE SmackDown'', also known as ''Friday Night SmackDown'' or simply ''SmackDown'', is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that as of currently airs live every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Fox Deportes sim ...
'' (2006) – performed "Some Bodies Gonna Get It" (a song they made for WWE Wrestler
Mark Henry Mark Jerrold Henry (born June 12, 1971) is an American former powerlifter, Olympic weightlifter, strongman, and professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a commentator/analyst, coach, and talent scout. He is b ...
from the album
WWE Wreckless Intent ''WWE Wreckless Intent'' is a compilation album released by WWE on May 23, 2006. The album is the sequel to the previously released ''WWF Forceable Entry'', and like its predecessor it featured rock and metal artists performing versions of the wr ...
) live when
Mark Henry Mark Jerrold Henry (born June 12, 1971) is an American former powerlifter, Olympic weightlifter, strongman, and professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a commentator/analyst, coach, and talent scout. He is b ...
wrestled
Chris Benoit Christopher Michael Benoit (; May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler. He worked for various pro-wrestling promotions during his 22-year career including most notably the World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestlin ...
in May 2006. Henry continues to use the song as his entrance music. *''
Entourage An entourage () is an informal group or band of people who are closely associated with a (usually) famous, notorious, or otherwise notable individual. The word can also refer to: Arts and entertainment * L'entourage, French hip hop / rap collecti ...
'' (2006) – in the episode "What about Bob?" *''
My Super Sweet 16 ''My Super Sweet 16'' is an American reality television series documenting the lives of teenagers, usually in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom, generally with wealthy parents who throw lavish, excessive and expensive coming-of-age ce ...
'' (2006) Three 6 Mafia was the musical performance at the party *''
MTV Cribs ''MTV Cribs'' (also known as ''Cribs'') is an American documentary television show that originated on MTV and features tours of the private homes of celebrities. It originally aired from 2000 to 2010. In 2017, MTV produced short-form episodes o ...
'' (2006) – season 12, episode 7 *'' 1 vs. 100'' (2006) *''
Criss Angel Mindfreak ''Criss Angel Mindfreak'' is an American reality television series that aired on A&E from July 20, 2005, to September 8, 2010. It centers on stunts and street magic acts by magician Criss Angel Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos ( el, Χρισ� ...
'' (2006) – episode: "Celebrity Séance" *''
Rob & Big ''Rob & Big'' is an American reality television series following the lives of professional skateboarder, actor, and producer Rob Dyrdek and his best friend and bodyguard Christopher "Big Black" Boykin. It premiered on November 4, 2006, and co ...
'' (2006) – Three 6 Mafia rapped at a party on episode 1 of season 1 *''
Punk'd ''Punk'd'' is an American hidden camera–practical joke reality television series that first aired on MTV in 2003. It was created by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, with Kutcher serving as producer and host. It bears a resemblance to both th ...
'' (2006) – Juicy J sets up DJ Paul * ''MTV Spring Break'' (2007) *'' Wrestling Society X'' (2007) – episode 2 *''
Wild 'n Out ''Wild 'N Out'' is an American sketch comedy and improv game show series that was created and is hosted by musician and comedian Nick Cannon currently airing on VH1. It debuted on July 28, 2005 on MTV. In April 2019, the series had been rene ...
'' (2007) – Spring Break edition *''
The Andy Milonakis Show ''The Andy Milonakis Show'' is an American sketch comedy television show starring Andy Milonakis, which aired on MTV2, the first season having aired on MTV. The program premiered on June 26, 2005 and ended with its three-season run when it was ...
'' (2007) *''
Mind of Mencia ''Mind of Mencia'' is an American comedy television series on the cable channel Comedy Central. Hosted by comedian Carlos Mencia, it aired from July 6, 2005 to July 23, 2008. History The first season of ''Mind of Mencia'' ran from July 6, 2005 ...
'' (2007) – season 3, episode 2 *''
Beauty and the Geek ''Beauty and the Geek'' is an American reality television series that premiered on The WB on June 1, 2005. It has been advertised as "The Ultimate Social Experiment" and is produced by Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg and J.D. Roth. The show's ti ...
'' (2007) – episode 2
DJ Paul Paul Duane Beauregard (born January 12, 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and uncle of the late rapper ...
and
Juicy J Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established i ...
are judges in a rapping contest between the geeks *''
Numb3rs ''Numbers'' (stylized as ''NUMB3RS'') is an American crime drama television series that was broadcast on CBS from January 23, 2005, to March 12, 2010, for six seasons and 118 episodes. The series was created by Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heu ...
'' (2008) – Juicy J and DJ Paul perform "Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)" on the CBS drama *''
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson ''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish actor and comedian Craig Ferguson. This was the third iteration of the The Late Late Show (American talk show), ''Late Late Show'' franchise, airing ...
'' (2008) – Juicy J and DJ Paul perform "Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)" * ''Paris Hilton's My New BFF'' (2009) – season 2, episode: "Learn From Your Mistakes" Three 6 Mafia interviewed Paris Hilton's Potential BFF's *''
The Mo'Nique Show ''The Mo'Nique Show'' is an American talk show hosted by comedian and actress Mo'Nique. Aired on BET, the series began October 5, 2009. The show's second and final season premiered on Monday, October 4, 2010. Overview The show ran all-new episo ...
'' (2010) – Three 6 Mafia performs "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" *''Los Twiins'' (2010) – episode 4


DVDs

*''Choices: The Movie'' (2001) *''Choices II: The Setup'' (2005) *''Clean Up Men'' (2005) *''Ultimate Video Collection'' (2006)


Musical inclusions in video games

*'' Saint's Row'' – "Who I Iz" *'' NFL Street'' – "Who Gives a Fuck Where You From (Radio Edit)" *''
Fight Night Round 4 ''Fight Night Round 4'' is a boxing video game developed by EA Sports. It is the sequel to '' Fight Night Round 3'', released in 2006. It was released in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry. The game's featured boxer ...
'' – "Shove It (Three 6 Mafia Remix)" (
Santigold Santi White (born September 25, 1976), known professionally as Santigold (formerly Santogold), is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. '' Billboard'' presented her in 2022, saying: "Spanning punk rock, hip-hop, and dance music, S ...
featuring
Project Pat Patrick Earl Houston (born February 8, 1973), better known by his stage name Project Pat, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, the co-founder of Three 6 Mafia. Houston was formerly a member of hip h ...
) *''
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 ''WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ in 2006. It is the third game under the '' WWE SmackDown vs Raw'' name, the eighth game overall in the video game series based on the Wo ...
,
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 ''WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008'' (sometimes subtitled with ''featuring ECW'') is a professional wrestling video game published by THQ in November 2007, and developed by Yuke's for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation Por ...
,
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 ''WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009'' (sometimes subtitled with ''featuring ECW'') is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, and Xbox 360 video game ...
, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011, WWE '12,
WWE '13 ''WWE '13'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii. It was released on October 30, 2012, in North America and November 2, 2012, in United Kingdom. It is the fourteent ...
, WWE 2K14,
WWE 2K15 ''WWE 2K15'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K Sports for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. It is the sequel to ''WWE 2K14'', and was succeeded by ''WWE 2K16''. ...
,
WWE 2K16 ''WWE 2K16'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K Sports for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. It is the sequel to ''WWE 2K15'', and was succeeded by ''WWE 2K17''. ...
,
WWE 2K17 World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vari ...
and
WWE 2K18 ''WWE 2K18'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K Sports. It is the nineteenth installment in the WWE game series (fifth under the ''WWE 2K'' banner) and a follow-up to '' WWE 2K17''. It was released wo ...
for
Mark Henry Mark Jerrold Henry (born June 12, 1971) is an American former powerlifter, Olympic weightlifter, strongman, and professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a commentator/analyst, coach, and talent scout. He is b ...
's theme music – "Some Bodies Gonna Get It"


Awards and nominations


References


External links


Official website
* {{Authority control Hip hop groups from Memphis, Tennessee American crunk groups African-American musical groups American musical duos Best Original Song Academy Award-winning songwriters Columbia Records artists Gangsta rap groups Horrorcore groups Musical groups established in 1991 1991 establishments in Tennessee Southern hip hop musicians