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Three 6 Mafia (formerly Triple Six Mafia and before that Backyard Posse) is an Academy Award winning, 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). Their 2005 song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" won Best Original Song at the 78th Academy Awards.
The group released their debut underground album Mystic Stylez in 1995 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. The group has also had numerous lineup changes, and now consists only of original members DJ Paul and Juicy J, It is unknown if Lord Infamous is back with the group on a full-time basis. Nonetheless, they have cultivated a sizeable and diverse cult following that has only increased since their Oscar win. DJ Paul's new solo album Scale-A-Ton was released May 5, 2009, Juicy J's Solo Album Hustle Till I Die was released June 16, 2009. Their latest album entitled Laws of Power was set for release in January but has been pushed back to March 2010.
Three 6 Mafia: History
The group started in 1991 in Memphis with 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" and originally did "horrorcore" music. The group formed through the release of numerous EPs from their own record company with Nick Scarfo, Prophet Entertainment, which were sold around Memphis and the Mid-South. Later DJ Paul and Juicy J formed their own label, Hypnotize Minds Records. During their early career, they also propelled the careers of several other rappers. Eventually added before the release of Mystic Stylez were rappers Koopsta Knicca (Robert Cooper), Gangsta Boo (Lola Mitchell), and Crunchy Black (Darnell Carlton).
The Memphis, TN, group's membership varied from album to album, with the one constant being the duo of Juicy J and DJ Paul, who are producers as well as rappers. Other notable Mafia affiliates at one time or another include Crunchy Black, Gangsta Boo, Lord Infamous, Koopsta Knicca, La' Chat, T-Rock, Project Pat, Killa Klan Kaze, and Indo G. The production acumen of Juicy and Paul also brought about a number of side projects (Tear da Club Up Thugs, Hypnotize Camp Posse, Da Headbussaz) and independent label ventures; the guys initially did business as Prophet Entertainment, later as Hypnotize Minds, working out deals with Relativity Records, Loud Records, and Columbia - all in turn.
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 (Killa Klan 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).
Three 6 Mafia - 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 (the first black artist to do so was Isaac Hayes for Theme from Shaft in 1971) 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.
Three 6 Mafia were credited by their real names, Jordan Houston (Juicy J) and Paul Beauregard (DJ Paul), along with 2 new group members Darnell Carlton (Crunchy Black),and Taylor Dennison (T-Murderin-Money)and label mate 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." Scorsese would finally receive his own Oscar, for Best Director, the following year.
Three 6 Mafia - Events after Academy Award Win
World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Mark Henry uses their song "Somebody's Gonna Get It" from their eighth studio album Most Known Unknown as his entrance theme and can be seen on Monday Night Raw.
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, with most of the material being used for Most Known Unknown. Thereafter Three 6 Mafia consisted just of remaining members DJ Paul and Juicy J.
The two producers of the group had their own reality show, Adventures in Hollyhood, on MTV. The show focused 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.
Three 6 Mafia are featured in Justin Timberlake's "Chop Me Up"- FutureSex/LoveSounds, along with record producer/singer/ rapper Timbaland.
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.
As of early 2009, Lord Infamous was featured on DJ Paul's new solo album Scale-A-Ton. DJ Paul's Scale-A-Ton Album was released On May 5, 2009. Lord Infamous was featured on 8 tracks. Juicy J's Hustle Till I Die album was released on June 16. Juicy J's album featured his brother Project Pat and other rappers such as V-Slash, Gucci Mane, Webbie and Gorilla Zoe.
The group now has their own Youtube pages, DJ Paul's being "djpaulkomtv" and Juicy J's being "juicyjcomic". The group regularly posts information about their new albums on the pages and they have posted many videos of their tour in Germany where they have been to places such as; Mainz, Nuremberg, Passau, Weinheim, Wildeshausen, Stuttgart and Gollhofen. The two members now also both have Twitter pages, Juicy J's being "therealjuicyj" and DJ Paul's being "djpaulkom".
Three 6 Mafia: 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 allegedly 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. Also in the beginning of their song "Easily Executed" Juicy J says "To everbody that be saying Triple Six Mafia Devil Worshipers... You Wrong My Nig." 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. |
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