Three 6 Mafia
Template:Mustard Template:Infobox musical artist 2
Three 6 Mafia is the first hip-hop group from Memphis, TN to go platinum, the second hip-hop act to win an Oscar (1st was Eminem's "Lose Yourself"), and second act to be nominated for one. They are the originators of certain types of crunk music. The group has primarily consisted of four members: DJ Paul, Juicy J, Lord Infamous, and Crunchy Black ,who left the group in June, 2006, but has since been replaced by Project Pat. They commonly feature members of their extended collective of rappers, referenced to as the Hypnotize Camp Posse, in their projects.
Career
Three 6 Mafia started in 1991 with two brothers, DJ Paul and Lord Infamous who chose to collaborate with Juicy J under the name Triple 6 Mafia. The hip hop group formed through release of many EPs off of their own record company Prophet Entertainment (Later renamed Hypnotize Minds Records). During their early career, they also were able to propel the careers of several other rappers.
In 1995, the group released its first official album, Mystic Stylez. It had recorded this album by using the profits from its highly successful underground tape Smoked Out, Loced Out. This was followed by the Live by Yo Rep EP, which took lyrical jabs at Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and their second album Chapter 1: Da End.
In 1997, they were signed to Relativity Records where they released the first major record release Chapter 2: World Domination. During this time, they were able to develop their technical style to gain some attention from major hip hop audiences with the single “Tear Da Club Up '97”. At this point in the group’s evolution, having signed to a major label and having scored an admirable hit single, group leaders Juicy J and DJ Paul began extending their brand by releasing group member solo albums (Gangsta Boo, Koopsta Knicca), non-group member solo albums (Project Pat, the Kaze, etc.), 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: Kins of Memphis).
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 Syrup" in a few non-Southern markets, The album debuted at number six on Billboard’s album charts. It received no MTV and little national radio rotation. They, 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
The year of 2002 saw two solo releases from the group's two super 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' Spinnaz," which featured Lil' Flip.
In 2005, Three 6 Mafia 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 "holiday.” Recently, he has officially returned to Three 6 Mafia. The album includes the hit "Stay Fly," featuring Young Buck, 8-Ball, and MJG. They, also, worked on the movie, Hustle and Flow, which would lead them to an award and released a greatest hits album Most Known Hits.
On June 7th 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 put off for years.Story
In 2006 Three 6 Mafia & Hypnotize Minds Records signed a direct deal with Warner Brothers Records who was interested in their large underground followings.
Controversy
Their name has been a topic of controversy because of some people's belief that their name refers to the Mark of the Beast. They are known to have mentioned the occult in song topics and this, with their name, has potencially effected their amount of television and radio play (utill their success with "Stay Fly"). They have never claimed to worship Satan and claim to be Christians.[1] The name's meaning is attributed to "it started with three people in the group, ended up with six, Three 6 Mafia" according to an interview with Juicy J.[2] The group is now at 3 members again with Lord Infamous in jail and Project Pat filling in.
On the 1995 single "Live By Yo Rep", the group had accused a 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" on their album Art of War that speaks critical remarks against Triple 6 Mafia. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony paid insult to Three 6 Mafia on the song "Notorious Thugs" with The Notorious B.I.G..
The group also was able to make a number of other enemies with former members such as Playa Fly, Gangsta Blac, and Kingpin Skinny Pimp. They also lost several members such as Koopsta Knicca left due to a monetary dispute, while La Chat and Gangsta Boo are currently pursuing solo careers and both are rumored to have converted to a more conservative form of Christianity.
Awards
On March 5, 2006, Three 6 Mafia made history as they became the first African-American hip-hop group to win an Academy Award for Best Song and also became the first hip-hop artists to ever perform at the ceremony. The group was nominated for the song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from the Hustle & Flow soundtrack. This marked only the second time that a hip-hop act was nominated following Eminem. The Oscar-winning members of 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.
Trivia
- Recently, Three 6 Mafia recorded a song, "Some Bodies Gonna Get It", for the WWE Wreckless Intent CD. Three 6 Mafia also gave WWE.com an interview and on May 26, 2006 they performed live on SmackDown! sponsored by Wrestler Mark Henry. [3].
- Paris Hilton has sought out and obtained Three 6 Mafia to help her not only produce but write tracks for her upcoming album. Her album, “Paris is Burning”, has been a trendously hyped pop album that she has failed to deliver on for over 3 years now.
Three 6 Mafia Members
- DJ Paul (1991-present) -Producer, Rapper
- Juicy J (1991-present) -Producer, Rapper
- Lord Infamous (1991-present) (incarcerated 2005-present) -Rapper
- Project Pat (with Hypnotize Minds: 1998-present)(incarcearated 2002-2006)(with 36 Mafia: 2006-present) -Rapper
Former Three 6 Mafia Members
- Crunchy Black (1991-2006) -Rapper, left to pursue a solo career
- Gangsta "Lady" Boo (1991-2001) -Rapper, left to pursue a solo career (also citing religous differences)
- Koopsta Knica (1991-2000) -Rapper, left due to moneatary dispute
Three 6 Mafia Discography
-for Hypnotize Camp Posse Discography, please see Hypnotize Minds
| Album Cover | Album information |
|---|---|
Mystic Stylez
| |
|
Live By Yo Rep EP
|
Chapter 1: The End
| |
| File:Ch.2wd.jpg | Chapter 2: World Domination
|
Underground Vol. 1: (1991-1994)
| |
| File:Clubmemphis.jpg | Underground Vol. 2: Club Memphis
|
| File:Whenthesmoke.jpg | When the Smoke Clears
|
| File:Kingsofmemphis.jpg | Underground Vol. 3: Kings of Memphis
|
| File:Choices-thealbum.jpg | Choices: The Album
|
| File:Daunbreak.jpg | Da Unbreakables
|
Choices II: The Setup
| |
Most Known Unknown
| |
| File:Mostknownhits.jpg | Most Known Hits
|
Three 6 Mafia (solo) Discography
-for Hypnotize Camp Posse (solo) Discography, please see Hypnotize Minds
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
| File:Ofthejuiceman.jpg | Chronicles of the Juice Man
by Juicy J
|
| Underground Vol.16 For Da Summa
by DJ Paul
|
Hypnotize Camp Posse (group) Discography
-for the Hypnotize Camp Posse (solo) Discography, please see individaul member's page from Hypnotize Minds page
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
| File:Prophet posse.jpg | Body Parts
|
| File:Crazyndalazdayz.jpg | CrazyNDaLazDayz
|
| File:36m hcp.jpg | Three 6 Mafia Presents: Hypnotize Camp Posse
|
| File:Headbussaz.jpg | Dat's How It Happened To'M
|
Singles
-for Hypnotize Camp Posse Singles, please see Hypnotize Minds
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | US Rap | UK Singles | |||
| 2005 | "Stay Fly" (feat. Young Buck & Eightball & MJG) | #13 [Platinum] | #9 | #3 | #33 | Most Known Unknown |
| 2006 | "Poppin' My Collar" | #22[Gold] | #10 | #7 | - | Most Known Unknown |
| 2006 | "Roll Wit It" (feat. Project Pat) | - | - | - | - | Most Known Unknown |
| 2006 | "Side 2 Side" (Remix) (feat. Project Pat & Bow Wow) | TBR | TBR | TBR | TBR | Most Known Unknown |
Music Videography
-for Hypnotize Camp Posse Music Videography, please see Hypnotize Minds
- Tear da Club Up '97
- Late Nite Tip
- Who Run It
- Sippin on Some Syrup
- Baby Mama
- 2-Way Freak
- Ridin Spinners
- Ghetto Chick
- Who I Is
- Stay Fly
- Poppin' My Collar
- Tongue Ring
- Side 2 Side
- Hit a Mothaf***a
Mixtapes
- DJ Black - Best Of Three 6 Mafia & HCP (Chopped and Screwed)
- DJ Smallz - Southern Smoke 18
- DJ Smallz - Southern Smoke 18 (Chopped and Screwed)
- DJ Smallz - Southern Smoke Instrumentals 6 (Hosted By Juicy J)
- DJ Kool Kid - I Got Dat Drank Part 2 (Hosted By Three 6 Mafia)
- DJ Drama - Gangsta Grillz 15 (Hosted By Project Pat)
- DNA & Rob - Get On My Level (Hosted By Crunchy Blac)
Filmography
- Choices: The Movie (DVD)
- Choices II: The Setup (DVD)
- Hustle and Flow
- Ultimate Video Collection (DVD)
- Choices III: Return Of Big Pat (DVD)