Known as one of the pioneers of the crunk sound, Three 6 Mafia has the distinction of being the first rap group from Memphis to garner enough of a fan base to go Platinum. Beginning as an underground rap collective, the group’s six core members include — Crunchy Black, Gangsta Boo, Lord Infamous, Koopsta Knicca, Juicy “J,” and DJ Paul — and give it its dark image, “vividly rapping about drug use, violent aggression, pornographic sex, and anything else remotely evil.” Three 6 Mafia's beginnings date back to the early '90s, when they were known as Triple Six Mafia. I
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n 1995 they came out with their groundbreaking debut album Mystic Stylez, which gave them the tag “horrorcore.” Three 6 eventually signed to Columbia, though the group's label debut, Da Unbreakables (2003), didn't break into mainstream awareness. That would happen with Most Known Unknown (2005), thanks to "Stay Fly," the first major hit for the group. Many doors opened for Three 6 thereafter, including a surprising
Oscar win in early 2006 (for "Hard out There for a Pimp," from the film Hustle & Flow). Capitalizing on the success, Sony reissued Most Known Unknown in 2006 with some new tracks, including a remix of "Side 2 Side," that featured
Kanye West.
According to one of their fan sites, much has changed in the lives of DJ Paul, Juicy J, Crunchy Black and Lord Infamous since their humble days of hawking TDK mix tapes on the streets of Memphis’ world-renowned chit’lin circuit. It’s been more than a decade since the group released its first indie album, Mystic Stylez, and Three 6 Mafia has gone from being known as a local phenomenon to creating one of the most consistent catalogs in hip-hop history. Whether or not Three 6 Mafia is ever recognized as one of the most consistent and prolific groups to arise from the south, the Three 6 legacy will continue to speak for itself. “We ain’t gone say we started it, but we are a part of the down south movement,” Juicy has. “
Even if you don’t see it on TV or hear about it, we’re still selling.” With that, Three 6 Mafia’s moving ahead full-speed, putting the world on notice that the group is for real and for keeps.
