Three 6 Mafia

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Three 6 Mafia

Background information
Also known as Triple 6 Mafia
Origin Memphis, Tennessee
Genre(s) Hip hop
Years active 1991 – present
Label(s) Hypnotize Minds, Prophet Entertainment
Members
Juicy J
DJ Paul
Former members
Koopsta Knicca
Gangsta Boo
Lord Infamous
Crunchy Black

Three 6 Mafia (formerly Triple 6 Mafia) is an American rap group originating from Memphis, Tennessee. Formed in 1991 by DJ Paul, Lord Infamous, and Juicy J, they shortly thereafter recruited fellow Memphian rappers Koopsta Knicca, Gangsta Boo, and Crunchy Black. The group also frequently collaborates with Project Pat (the brother of Juicy J) to the extent that he is often considered a group member. Their 2005 song, "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp", won Best Original Song at the 78th Academy Awards.

The group released their horrorcore debut album Smoked Out, Loced Out in 1994 through Prophet Entertainment, a record label they created but have since relinquished control over. Their musical style—which initially featured dark, menacing beats with equally gritty lyrics—has since moved to a more mainstream sound. Nonetheless, they have cultivated a sizeable and diverse cult following that has only increased since their Oscar win. They are currently working on Last 2 Walk, their ninth studio album scheduled for release in 2008.

Contents

[edit] History

The group started in 1991 in Memphis with three members: DJ Paul (Paul Beauregard), Juicy J (Jordan Houston), and Lord Infamous (Ricky Dunigan). The original name for the hip hop group was "Backyard Posse", followed shortly after by "Triple Six Mafia". The group formed through release of many EPs from their own record company with Nick Scarfo, Prophet Entertainment, later launching their own label, Hypnotize Minds Records; during their early career, they also propelled the careers of several other rappers.

At this point in the group's evolution, having signed to a major label and having scored an admirable hit single, group leaders DJ Paul and Juicy J began extending their brand. They started by releasing group member solo albums (Gangsta Boo, Koopsta Knicca), non-group member solo albums (Project Pat, The Kaze) and also compilation-styled albums (Tear Da Club Up Thugs, Hypnotize Camp Posse, Da Headbussaz, and Prophet Posse). Around this time, they also released collections of tracks from earlier years (Underground Vol. 1: (1991-1994), Underground Vol. 2: Club Memphis, Underground Vol. 3: Kings of Memphis).

[edit] Follow-ups and lineup changes

In 2000, the official Three 6 Mafia follow-up to the Chapter 2 album, When the Smoke Clears, was released. With the success of the lead single, "Sippin’ on Some Sizzurp" in a few non-Southern markets, the album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200. It received little MTV airplay and little national radio rotation.

This era also saw the departure of two members. In 2000, Koopsta Knicca left due to a monetary dispute; In 2001, Gangsta "Lady" Boo left to pursue a solo career, citing religious differences.

The group later began work on the direct-to-video film, Choices: The Movie, and affiliated solo albums. Choices and its accompanying soundtrack (Choices: The Album) were released in 2001. In 2002, there were two solo releases from the group's two producers. One from DJ Paul called Underground Vol. 16: For Da Summa and one called Chronicles of the Juice Man by Juicy J.

In 2003, Three 6 Mafia released the album Da Unbreakables, which features collaborations with Lil' Flip, Pimp C (from UGK), Lil Wyte, Frayser Boy and Project Pat. The album produced the hit "Ridin' Spinners," which featured Lil' Flip. Videos for "Ridin' Spinners" and "Ghetto Chick" were also made.

In 2005, the group released their follow up direct-to-video, Choices II: The Set Up, and their highly-anticipated album, Most Known Unknown. It was notable that Lord Infamous was missing from this album. The generally accepted reason was that he had been incarcerated; however, Three 6 Mafia claimed he was "on vacation." The album includes the hit "Stay Fly", featuring Young Buck and 8 Ball & MJG. They also worked on the movie Hustle & Flow, which would lead them to an award and released a greatest hits album, Most Known Hits.

[edit] Academy Award win

On March 5, 2006, Three 6 Mafia made history as they became the first black music group to win an Academy Award for Best Song and also became the first hip-hop artists to ever perform at the ceremony.[1] The group was nominated for the song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" from the Hustle & Flow soundtrack. This marked the second time a rap act has won an Academy Award, following Eminem in 2002.[2]

Three 6 Mafia were credited by their real names, Jordan Houston (Juicy J) and Paul Beauregard (DJ Paul), along with Cedric Duane Coleman (Frayser Boy), although host Jon Stewart did refer to them as "Three 6 Mafia" after their victory, saying "To recap, Three 6 Mafia: 1. Martin Scorsese: 0."[2] Scorsese won the next year.

[edit] Recent events

On June 7, 2006, Sony officially acknowledged the departure of original Three 6 Mafia member, Crunchy Black. He stated his reason for departure was to make a solo album that DJ Paul and Juicy J had allegedly put off for years. Thereafter Three 6 Mafia consisted of remaining members DJ Paul and Juicy J. It is uncertain if Lord Infamous will ever return, he has started his own label called Black Rain Entertainment.

The two producers of the group now have their own reality show, Adventures in Hollyhood, on MTV. The show will focus on what it's like to be a member of the Three 6 Mafia, balancing the increased fame after their Oscar win while attempting to stay true to their loyal fans. The show premiered on April 5, 2007 at 10 p.m. Eastern time on MTV.[3]

The group made an appearance in Jackass Number Two, where they offered to pay Dave England $200 if he would eat horse dung. England did so, and the group paid up.

In December 2006, Three 6 Mafia contributed the song "It's a Fight" to the soundtrack of the movie Rocky Balboa.

Three 6 Mafia are currently working on their newest album, Last 2 Walk, which is due for release in spring 2008.[4] Also as heard from the Project Pat's album, Walkin' Bank Roll. Three 6 Mafia has stated, that there will be three "undated" new movies coming out,under the Hypnotize Film Production which are: Choices 3: The Return of Big Pat, Hollyhood The Movie and Streets of Memphis.

DJ Paul and Juicy J appeared in the May 9th, 2008 episode of the CBS television series "NUMB3RS," which revolves around the murder of a rapper. The group also performed "Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)" on the show.

[edit] Controversy

[edit] Satanic imagery controversy

Three 6 Mafia's name has been a topic of controversy because of some people's belief that their name refers to the Number of the Beast (supported by their former name "Triple Six Mafia"). They are known to have mentioned the occult in song topics and this, with their name, has potentially affected their amount of television and radio play (until their success with "Stay Fly"). In their first full length horrorcore LP, Mystic Stylez, the groups references to the occult reached its climax. The most notable example of the group's occult references can be found in the song "Fuckin wit Dis Click." Lord Infamous states "No I'm not a Christian," and DJ Paul's verse is filled with blatant Satanic lyrics, such as "I'm on a cross, Lucifer, please cut me free," and "A mind for murder but the barrel couldn't tell you half about this antichrist; Look into my eyes tell me what you see; The demonic man about scarecrowism; Saints can you feel me." Also on the track "Murder On My Mind," the distorted voice of DJ Paul identifies "Lucifer" as "the leader of the Three 6 Mafia." However the group has never claimed to worship Satan, and in their acceptance speech at the 2006 Academy Awards group member Juicy J thanked Jesus for their nomination and win for Best Song in a motion picture.[5] The name's meaning is attributed to the fact that "it started with three people in the group, [and] ended up with six; Three 6 Mafia" according to an interview with Juicy J.[6]

Their 2005 single, "Stay Fly," was also referenced in the argument of Three 6 Mafia's satanic "shoutouts" for the high pitched, almost female voice, in the background at the beginning of the song. The voice was assumed, by at least some, to be saying "You're My God, "You're My King" You're My Father". However, the track was actually derived from the classic song "Tell Me Why Has Our Love Turned Cold" by funk/soul singer, Willie Hutch. The actual track says "You're my pride, you're my dream, you're my dar-ling."

Juicy J and DJ Paul recently conducted an interview with Chris Loos in which they were again asked about allegations regarding the "Stay Fly"'s lyrical content, with Juicy J maintaining that Three 6 Mafia were not devil worshippers, mentioning that his father is a preacher - also referenced in the song "Father Houston" - and that if he ever did worship Satan, his father would "kill him".

In an issue of Entertainment Weekly[citation needed], Juicy J defended the group, saying that the group's name was decided for entertainment purposes: "Back then in the '90s, nobody knew who we were. We had to get ourselves out there and be known; put something that would draw attention, and it did."

Ex-group member Kingpin Skinny Pimp said in a recent interview (2008[when?]) with Dwayne Jefferson, a local radio host at a station[which?] in Memphis, that Lord Infamous practiced witch craft and Demonology/Satanism at midnight for their success in the mid 90's. This was one of the reasons he left the group in 1996.

[edit] Dispute with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

While many will argue the origin of the original dispute with the group, the initial beef was spurred when Bone referred to the entire city of Memphis as a "bunk ass town" in the February 1995 edition of Vibe Magazine. This infuriated not only Three 6 Mafia but other local rappers and citizens in Memphis.

As a form of retaliation; several Memphis artists struck back lyrically and musically: Tommy Wright III recorded and released "Thuggish Ruggish Busters" while Kingpin Skinny Pimp, Lord Infamous, and Koopsta Knicca recorded a song called "Lay It Down" with where Kingpin Skinny Pimp says "So fuck you Bone, biting our fuckin' style".

On the 1995 single Live by Yo Rep (song), Three 6 Mafia accused Cleveland group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony of stealing its style (a mix of quasi-harmonic rapping and blatant references to the occult). A rebuttal from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony came on the track "All Original" and "U Ain't Bone" on their album, The Art of War, that speaks critically of Three 6. Bone continued to insult them on the song "Notorious Thugs", with The Notorious B.I.G..

The dispute is over now. Krayzie Bone has been featured on a Project Pat album and in the video for Lil Jon's "I Dont Give A Fuck", you can see Juicy J, DJ Paul, and La Chat standing next to Krayzie Bone as he begins his verse. DJ Paul & Juicy J have also produced a song for Bone called "We Workin" for their latest album Strength & Loyalty, however it did not make the final cut for the album.

[edit] Disputes with Hypnotize Minds/Prophet Entertainment artists

The group was also able to make a number of enemies out of the members of their own record label. Three of these people, Koopsta Knicca, Gangsta Boo, and Crunchy Black, were also Three 6 Mafia members. According to some former members, the problems within the record label and the group itself came about due to financial disputes which were caused by the producers DJ Paul and Juicy J.

[edit] Discography

Main article: Three 6 Mafia discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Feature films

[edit] Television series

[edit] DVDs

  • Choices: The Movie (2001)
  • Choices II: (2005)
  • Clean Up Men (2005)
  • Adventures in Hollyhood (2007)
  • Choices III: The Return of Big Pat (2008)
  • Streets of Memphis (2008)

[edit] Original television series

[edit] Video Games

[edit] References

  1. ^ Three 6 Mafia, Santaolalla Win Musical Oscars Jonathan Cohen, March 06, 2006
  2. ^ a b Three 6 Mafia Wins Oscar Kim Osorio and Ivory M. Jones, March 06, 2006
  3. ^ Official MTV site for Adventures in Hollyhood
  4. ^ Triple 6 Mafia official site. No direct link to information due to Flash site
  5. ^ Three 6 Mafia: Award Tour
  6. ^ Interviews: Three 6 Mafia, EightBall, MJG & Yo Gotti - True Hustlers of Memphismemphisrap.com, July 29, 2005

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Three 6 Mafia
DJ Paul · Juicy J
Project Pat · Lord Infamous · Crunchy Black · Gangsta Boo · Koopsta Knicca
Albums
Compilations
Singles
"Late Nite Tip" · "Tear Da Club Up '97" · "Who Run It" · "Sippin' on Some Syrup" · "Tongue Ring" · "Baby Mama" · "2-Way Freak" · "Ridin' Spinners" · "Who Gives A...Where You From" · "Stay Fly" · "Poppin' My Collar" (Remix) · "Side 2 Side" (Remix) · "Doe Boy Fresh" · "I'd Rather" · "Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)"
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